November 3, 2025
Tomorrow will be the 35th day of this government shutdown. That means we will officially be tied for the longest shutdown in history. And honestly – I think we’re going to beat the record because we are nowhere near a deal. The house has been on recess for the last 45 days and the senate has no plan to get us out of this mess.
But there are a few things happening this week that may shake a deal loose.
So first – it’s very important for you to understand that pretty soon – like this week – Republicans will no longer be able to say that Democrats in the Senate should just pass the House’s continuing resolution to reopen the government. That’s just not gonna fly…because the House’s continuing resolution is going to expire in just 18 days. So even if today – Senate Democrats said ok – let’s forget those health care subsidies — we’ll vote for the House’s CR– which they won’t – we’re going to have another government shutdown in on November 21st. In 18 days. We’ll be right back here. That’s not going to work.
So – logistically – Republicans – since they are the majority party in both the House and the Senate – need a new plan to reopen the government. The CR the House passed back in September has to go. So what are the options? Well – today — Senate majority leader John Thune suggested that the Senate should just change the expiration date on the existing House continuing resolution to a later date – but that too is going to require 60 votes. Which – at least right now – the Republicans in the Senate don’t have. And even if by some miracle that can get those votes and pass it in the senate – the House would also have to come back into session and pass it too. And if that bill with the extended date can’t pass, then there has to be a completely *new* plan which means regardless — House Speaker Mike Johnson will be forced to bring the House back into session very soon. Which means he’s going to have to swear in that new Democrat from Arizona and the House will be voting on that Epstein discharge petition – but that’s a whole other topic…I can talk about in another video.
I want to stick with this shutdown because it’s important for you to understand what these lawmakers are up against. The other thing happening this week that may shake a deal loose is the chaos at the airports. For the record – chaos at airports across the country is what ended the last government shutdown during President Trump’s last term. Today – things are getting progressively worse at airports nationwide. Air traffic controllers are calling out sick – they’re not getting paid. TSA agent staffing is wearing thin – they too are not being paid – and that’s leading to delays and ground stops. We’re seeing hours long wait times at security checkpoints – and the busiest travel season –is upon us. This thanksgiving – airlines are expecting to fly 31 million passengers which is 2 million more than last year. And let me tell you – nothing lights a fire under a lawmaker’s ass quite like a complaining constituent who is missing thanksgiving because of a government-forced delay or cancelation at the airport.
One more thing this week that may shake out a deal. I’m not saying it will but – depending on how tomorrow’s elections go it may give whichever party wins some momentum to keep up their position on this government shutdown. For example if democrats have blow out victories in New Jersey and Virginia and Prop 50 overwhelmingly wins in California – it may give Democrats the momentum to keep withholding the votes and keep fighting for those affordable care act subsidies. But if Republicans win tomorrow – Democrats may see their stance as a miscalculation.
And that leads me to the last point of this video which is – just because the House and Senate Republican and Democratic leadership are not talking to each other about a shutdown solution – doesn’t mean the rank and file aren’t talking to each other. They are. And today – a bipartisan group of House representatives released what they are calling a statement of principles on those ACA premium subsides. The group of Democrats and Republicans say they have agreed to a temporary two -year extension of the ACA premium subsidies but have added an income cap that phases out for those making more than $200,000 a year. Their deal would crack down on ACA marketplaces to make sure that recipients getting those subsidies are who they say they are. Since this deal was just announced, the leadership has not yet said whether they support it – but it may be a step in the right direction to keep the subsidies and reopen the government.
Read the bipartisan agreement on ACA subsidies here.
