Shutdown Showdown and More Court Battles – “The Sunday Political Brunch”
Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™
Shutdown Showdown and More Court Battles – “The Sunday Political Brunch”
“Government Shutdown Update” – As of now, there is no end in sight to the latest government shutdown, which began on October 1. Tens of thousands of workers deemed “non-essential” have been furloughed without pay until further notice. Democrats want Medicaid funding restored to its previous levels, and they also want to maintain subsidies for people on the Obamacare health plan. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) New York said, "They thought that they could barrel us into a shutdown simply because we wanted to fix that healthcare, and they haven't been able to." The White House says too many non-citizen immigrants are getting health benefits, but Democrats say that’s not true. Republicans say they are also trying to rein in wasteful government spending in other areas. President Donald Trump said the shutdown is an opportunity to “clear out dead wood” in federal spending.
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“Who Is to Blame?" – Both sides blame each other, which is always the case. Republicans sought to temporarily keep the government open by passing a continuing resolution, (aka CR), to fund the government through late November. However, to do that, they need 8 to 10 Democrats in the Senate to vote with them, preventing the bill from being filibustered. They don’t have those numbers yet. Yes, Republicans control the Senate, House, and White House, but their margins in Congress are razor-thin, so they need minimal Democrat support. Personally, I blame both sides. We sent them to Washington to get the work done, but they failed. There have been 12 government shutdowns since 1980, with some occurring under Democratic leadership and others under Republican leadership. The only voice of reason I’ve heard so far is Rep. Carol Miller (R) West Virginia, who has asked that her Congressional paychecks be stopped. Miller said, “If our troops aren’t getting paid, then neither should Congress.” Late Friday House leaders declared a “district work period” from October 7 to the 13, meaning lawmakers go home and the earliest the shutdown could end is October 14.
“Political Fallout” – Even though this is an odd-numbered year, there will be some voting activity in races for Mayor of New York City, Governor of New Jersey, and Governor of Virginia. The latter will be one to watch, as Virginia is home to 330,000 federal workers, the most of any state except for Maryland. Election Day is November 4, but early voting is already underway in Virginia, and a protracted shutdown could be problematic. Virginia is a “purple” state. While it has voted for the Democrat in the past five presidential elections, it’s still viable for the GOP. Current Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) Virginia won four years ago, but the state only allows one-term for governor. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) Virginia is the GOP nominee and former Rep. Abilgail Spanberger (D) Virginia is the Democrat in the race. The latest polls are tight with Spanberger at 50 percent and Earle-Sears at 42 percent. If one party takes more blame than the other for the shutdown, the margin in this race could be close. Regardless of who wins, Virginia will have its first female governor in history. Also, incumbents in both parties could be vulnerable to primary opponents in the 2026 midterm election cycle. Voter anger may not dissipate over the shutdown.
“NY Mayor’s Race, Adams Out” – New York City Mayor Eric Adams has dropped his independent bid for reelection. The race still includes the Democrat’s nominee, Zohran Mamdani, who’s an avowed socialist; Republican Curtis Sliwa, who founded the Guardian Angels group; and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) New York, who is running as an independent. Current Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) New York, has endorsed Mamdani, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) New York and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) New York, have yet to endorse. Mayor Adams has made no endorsement, but his top deputy is now backing Cuomo. I bet President Trump will jump in and back Cuomo as well. The election is a month away.
“Church Violence” – Last week, I expressed concerns about the infringement of the First Amendment as it pertains to free speech and a free press. That very same First Amendment also guarantees our right to assemble and freedom to choose our place of worship. I am deeply troubled by the continuing assaults on our churches, synagogues, and temples. Last Sunday, a gunman opened fire in a Mormon church in Michigan, killing four and then setting the church on fire. It was just five weeks ago that a gunman shot and killed two children as they prayed in a Catholic church in Minnesota. There was also the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in 2018, where 11 died. I could go on, as there are many others. It saddens me to say that churches should consider armed security. In 2019, a parishioner shot and killed a gunman who shot two people inside a Fort Worth, Texas church, killing one of them. We all have the right to worship where we please, and we also have the right to fight back. I hate to see guns in church, but maybe the time has come. This is not just a U.S. issue after the fatal attack on a synagogue in the U.K. on October 2, on Yom Kippur.
“Hegseth Flag Officers” – This past week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held a rare meeting with all military generals and admirals. He promised them new directives are coming that “returns to the highest male standard.” He added, “I don’t want my son serving alongside troops who are out of shape, or in combat units with females who can’t meet the same combat arms physical standards as men. This job is life and death. Standards must be met.” But Lt. Colonel Amy McGrath, U.S.M.C. (Ret.), fired back on X, saying, “He claimed the military needs to ‘return to the male standard’ in combat jobs (of 1990!), but here’s the truth: there has never been a separate male and female standard. When women entered combat roles, one standard was set, and we’ve been meeting it ever since.” My daughter is a U.S. Army captain. She serves in field artillery with toughness, tenacity, dedication, hard work, and patriotism. She earned it.
“Lisa Cook Stays for Now” – The U.S. Supreme Court says embattled Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook can stay on the job for now. President Trump tried to fire her, but she sued and won her first round in a federal district court. The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on her fate and will hear arguments in January, which is a blow to Trump. Cook will remain at the Federal Reserve for at least the two remaining board meetings of the year, where members are widely expected to cut interest rates two more times. Her attorney, Abbe Lowell, said Cook “will continue to carry out her sworn duties as a Senate-confirmed Board Governor.” White House spokesman Kush Desai said, “President Trump lawfully removed Lisa Cook for cause from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. We look forward to ultimate victory after presenting our oral arguments before the Supreme Court in January.”
“Gaza Protesters” – In another courtroom setback for the White House, a federal judge in Boston ruled that it was unconstitutional to deport non-citizens who protested Israel’s actions in Gaza. Federal Judge William Young said, “This case–– perhaps the most important ever to fall within the jurisdiction of this district court–– squarely presents the issue whether non-citizens lawfully present here in the United States actually have the same free speech rights as the rest of us. The Court answers this Constitutional question unequivocally ‘yes, they do.’” Judge Young was appointed to the bench by President Ronald Reagan. The White House will undoubtedly appeal. Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said, “Our ICE law enforcement should be thanked for risking their lives every day to arrest murderers, pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and terrorists instead of vilified by sanctuary politicians.”
“Israel-Hamas” – Late Friday, it was reported that Hamas has tentatively agreed to parts of a peace deal with Israel, including the release of hostages. This came after President Trump said earlier in the day on his Truth Social platform., “Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas… THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.” It sounds like a case of, “Speak loudly, and promise a big stick,” as opposed to former President Teddy Roosevelt’s, “Speak softly, but carry a big stick.” We’ll see if it works.