AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
With a government shutdown looming, Senate Republicans and Democrats are blaming each other. Republicans like Senators Schmitt and Hawley accuse Democrats, particularly Chuck Schumer, of holding the government hostage over Obamacare subsidies. They claim there’s no reason for a shutdown. Conversely, Democrats like Senator Welch argue Republicans have refused to negotiate, marking a breakdown in Senate operations. Adding to the tension, Senators Blumenthal and Durbin criticized Trump’s social media post mocking Democratic leaders, calling it inappropriate and unhelpful to negotiations. The political atmosphere is fraught, casting doubt on averting the shutdown.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
Democratic and Republican senators are blaming colleagues from the opposing party for the government shutdown that appears likely to happen tomorrow.
“Whatever comes after midnight is on Chuck Schumer,” Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said about the Senate minority leader. He added about Democrats’ demands to address Obamacare subsidies in the bill, “If you want to have a debate on health care, we can have a debate on health care,” Schmitt said. “You don’t hold the government hostage over that.”
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said he doesn’t know if there’s any way to avert the shutdown at this point. “That’s what worries me … I just say to my Democrat colleagues, there is no reason for a shutdown.”
Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said this looming shutdown has been unique because, unlike previous years, Republicans weren’t willing to negotiate with Democrats. “It indicates a breakdown in how this place operates,” he said.
Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., both slammed Trump’s social media post last night of a manipulated video of Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., showing Jeffries wearing a sombrero and mustache.
“President Trump is totally out of touch,” Blumenthal said. “This kind of theatrical approach to negotiation, posting AI content that mocks and degrades the other side is not the way to negotiate.”
