In the wake of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history ending, there seems to be a brief pause for reflection before the outrage that is, in my opinion, justified. However, when a presidential  administration has built their stance on a foundation of lies, rug-pulling, and grade-school-level distraction tactics, eight Democratic Senators somehow believed a vote on healthcare subsidies would actually happen. Did the Democrats leave their brains at the door, failing to anticipate that, once again, their soapbox would be purely performative, leaving Americans frustrated at the display of ineffectiveness? Almost immediately after the vote in the Senate, House Speaker Mike Johnson made it clear he would not commit to a vote on extending ACA subsidies, yet somehow Democrats seemed surprised, despite the fact that he couldn’t even swear in a duly elected congresswoman for nearly 50 days. 

According to the eight moderate senators, they felt that they “didn’t want regular people [to] feel more unnecessary pain.” Yet for 43 days, millions of Americans endured exactly that. SNAP benefits were withheld, overwhelming food pantries and leaving families scrambling. Federal workers were forced to work without pay while members of Congress continued to collect their salaries, a hypocrisy not lost on the public. Airports became chaotic, with long lines and canceled or rescheduled flights far beyond normal delays—I personally know several people affected. Meanwhile, a video of the  Secretary of Homeland Security blaming Democrats for the shutdown was slated to play at TSA checkpoints, turning a space meant to be neutral into a playground for political theatrics, as Republicans cast themselves as the victims, despite controlling all three branches of government. And after all that? Democrats decided giving in was the only “necessary” option.

Now, if you’ll allow me to put on my tinfoil hat for a moment: earlier this year, during the last government shutdown, clear divides emerged between progressive and moderate Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was criticized for his inability to hold the line, eventually voting to fund the government through the end of September. ACA subsidies, which help over 24 million Americans afford their health insurance and prevent premiums from skyrocketing, were also a focal point— and yet nothing has changed.

 Looking at this vote, we see eight supposedly moderate Democrats. None of these Senators are up for re-election in 2026; some are retiring within the year, and others won’t face voters until 2028. Now, why does this matter? For one, it means that there aren’t political ramifications for signing their name—the media moves so fast, allowing them to erase this tiny discretion by the time 2028 rolls around. Here’s where the real tinfoil hat comes into play: who isn’t to say that top brass within the Democratic party pushed these Senators to sign their names? The end to this shutdown came out of nowhere. One day, media outlets are reporting “no end in sight,” and the next day, it’s off to the House.

Tinfoil hats off—constituents have lost faith in both parties. Democrats resemble a retirement home where everyone moves slowly, bickers constantly, and spends more time preserving themselves than achieving anything. Yet just weeks ago, the November 4th special elections, including the energized campaign of Zohran Mamdani in New York, offered a glimpse of potential: candidates with momentum and popular appeal who could have shifted voter engagement. Instead, internal divisions and half-hearted support left these opportunities undercut, with the party claiming credit after the fact rather than seizing the moment. Meanwhile, the Republican Party remains loud, flashy, and self-focused—like a chaotic, rainbow-filled Pinterest board imagined by a pre-teen plotting their wedding. I know because I had one. Trump’s polling is hitting record lows compared to his previous presidency, emphasizing the gap between voters’ expectations and what either party delivers.

So, what now? The shutdown’s over and everyone gets to go back to their usual debauchery! Airports will go back to the usual delays, while roughly 700,000 federal workers who kept the government running without pay resume their jobs—apparently, work isn’t optional, even when compensation is. Meanwhile, food programs like SNAP, WIC, and EBT are thankfully funded through September 2026, so at least holding food hostage won’t be an option next time. Despite all this, the pattern is clear: Democrats cave, Americans suffer, and the cycle repeats, while the show goes on around them. Going back to regularly scheduled programming: the construction of Trump’s ballroom; whack-a-mole with tariffs, and the unconscionable closing act—the Epstein files, with thousands of emails entering the mainstream. And so as we approach “the most joyful time of the year,” it’s wise to brace for the next shutdown: if history is any guide, these cycles will repeat, with chaos once again dressed up as business as usual.