ATTENTION: TRUMP THREATENING TO MAKE IRREVERSIBLE CUTS TO BENEFITS PROGRAMS!!!

It’s unclear which programs Trump was referring to, but he appeared to embrace the looming crisis as leverage, warning Democrats that he and his budget director Russell Vought could use the shutdown to “trim the budget to a level that you couldn’t do any other way.”

The threat comes as talks between the White House and Democratic leaders collapsed on Monday evening, when Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries met with Trump in the Oval Office and reiterated their demand that any stopgap funding bill include an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year and a reversal of Medicaid cuts passed in the Republican tax-and-spending package this summer. The Republican leaders, holding a narrow Senate majority, have insisted on a “clean” measure to keep the government open through Nov. 21.

Neither side has shown signs of relenting. “We'll probably have a shutdown,” Trump said.

For Democrats, the fight carries added political risk. In March, a bloc of centrist lawmakers broke ranks to advance a Republican spending bill without concessions, infuriating progressive groups that accused party leaders of capitulation. Schumer’s decision then was framed as an attempt to avoid a damaging shutdown; now, with Medicaid reductions already enacted, Democrats say they cannot afford to fold again.

Sen. John Thune, the Republican majority leader, has said his party is open to discussing health care subsidies, but only after Democrats agree to reopen the government.

The government is set to shutter at midnight unless Congress manages to reach a last-minute deal. The impasse has left federal workers bracing for furloughs and potential layoffs. The Office of Management and Budget has warned agencies to prepare for “reductions in force,” an unusual move that could transform what is typically a temporary pause in government operations into permanent job losses.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday estimated that as many as 750,000 federal employees could be sidelined each day of a shutdown.

I would hope the Dems would keep it shut down until any wacko changes were reversed

Because the only people affected by government cuts are Democrats, right?

And all the old white boomers will cheer him on every step of the way, even as Trump cuts their benefits.

Cutting benefits to blacks, browns, non-Christians, gays, trannies will make their suffering all the more satisfying to make up for old boomers loss of benefits.

That’s probably the ONLY WAY the people who don’t vote will realize both parties are NOT the same.

People who voted for this shit need to get kicked in the teeth HARD and REPEATEDLY until they get it.

He is an absolute ogre of a person.

Don't insult the ogres.

This is the problem Dems faced before. Trump is salivating to shut down government programs all over the place. This gives him an excuse to do it with no accountability and blame Democrats. And he can do so much damage that these programs may not be able to come back (like US Aid).

Dems really are fucked no matter what they do. I so hate this timeline.

"People who voted for this shit need to get kicked in the teeth HARD and REPEATEDLY until they get it."

But I didn't vote for this and it literally means my life if they cut disability. I already go hungry because I can't afford a months worth of groceries. I have no family and will die on the streets.

Kamala, was it worth it?

God he's such a wannabee mafioso. I only want terrible things to happen to him, his handlers and his entire gene pool

R10, fuck you, this is not Kamala's fault. Blame the person who is doing this--TRUMP!

If Trump actually goes through with this he has screamed so hard and loud to announce that HE will be held accountable for it especially, especially for all his RED STATE government-dependent supporters. EVERYONE will be out for blood. The Dems should not yield one inch.

No way should the Democrats give in. They were not consulted at any point. This is absurd.

He'll order his minions to cut regardless.

News flash to R10: racist, xenophobic, homophobic white people weren't going to vote for "that colored women" regardless of whether Kamala once wrote a nice letter to a trannie.

Why? In the minds of demented, one-dimensional people like yourself, it's far better to vote for a convicted felon/pathological liar/child rapist/violent sexual predator/malignant narcissist than someone with a functioning brain and the emotional stability of an adult.

This entire timeline is absurd.

If Trump or any Republican thought they could get away with cutting entitlements (Social Security, Medicare) under a government shutdown, they would have done it years — no, make that DECADES — ago.

TRUE STORY = Calling Trump names has never worked. Ever. Our leaders are wimps. Shumer is ancient. Jeffries is weak. This isn't a "power play" by Democrats. We won't win this. However we DO start turning the tide by sitting back and watching the economy go to hell. By next summer it's going to be really bad. Trumps Tariff Games are going to cause havoc for the Republicans.

David Pakman on nearly half a century of Republican budget brinksmanship.

It’s been said that Schumer’s fear of being primaried by AOC is the main reason he’s doing this. Democrats have painted themselves in the corner on this one. The Democrats say, “If you don’t compromise with us, then we’ll vote against funding the government.” The Republicans respond with “Ok, if it’s going to be shut down, then we might as well take advantage of the situation to slash the government more and make the outcome worse for you.”

The Democrats should have let the spending bill pass and then use any negative outcome as campaign material for 2026. Instead, there is the pandering to the base, which is only guided by extreme emotion and not cold political logic.

[quote] Dems really are fucked no matter what they do.

No, there is way forward. It’s Fetterman who has the right idea, even though people don’t want to hear that. He said recently that Democrats should focus on elections. It really is that simple.

[quote] The Office of Management and Budget has warned agencies to prepare for “reductions in force,” an unusual move that could transform what is typically a temporary pause in government operations into permanent job losses.

The furloughed workers will get their back pay. The fired workers, even if for some reason are rehired, won’t be paid for the time they are unemployed.

Shut the fucker down.

Trump would do whatever he’s threatening whether there’s a shutdown or not

Stop listening to this fat fucking moron.

He has no idea what hostages he could take, or would take. He's just sundowning.

I am so terrified and depressed that me, an almost lifelong atheist, is starting to believe that the Book of Revelation is true and the worst part is that I almost welcome it at this point. Anything just make it end and I don't gaf how .

Get this through your head R4, most old white boomers hate Trump's guts.

Nothing is irreversible. See, for example, Roe v. Wade. I can't wait for someone to reverse his tacky, garish redecorating of the WH in the future. That, or tear the entire thing down and start over.

There are no IRREVERSIBLE cuts.

[quote] Nothing is irreversible. See, for example, Roe v. Wade

Last I checked, Republicans are still having their way with this.

R28 obviously not set foot in any retirement complexes in Florida or Texas lately.

[quote] I am so terrified and depressed that me, an almost lifelong atheist, is starting to believe that the Book of Revelation is true and the worst part is that I almost welcome it at this point. Anything just make it end and I don't gaf how .

But that’s the thing.

This IS apocalyptic. But it’s not in the hellfire and brimstone sense.

John of Patmos was writing about the fall of the Roman Empire. He was a political thinker, not a prophet. He was describing what he saw out his window. It’s not that he was predicting the future.

R31 - I meant Roe v. Wade was reversed. We used to have that in place re abortion, now we don't. Get it?

Yes, R30, they are making cuts. You know what a functioning government can do? Create new policies that reverse those same cuts by pushing through new legislation essentially restoring what was cut. The only problem is we need a functioning government before this can happen. But, I reiterate, nothing is irreversible. The road to restoring things that are cut will have to be recreated anew, though, and for that we need a different government structure completely. Oh well.

Y'all are into rolling over and letting it have its way.

This is not my thing.

[quote] The Republicans respond with “Ok, if it’s going to be shut down, then we might as well take advantage of the situation to slash the government more and make the outcome worse for you.”

My concern is that Dump will use the shutdown to do targeted cuts. Eliminating the jobs of democrat, gay and/or non-white government employees. The courts have been so compromised it is not clear that illegally targeted employees would have recourse.

[quote]The courts have been so compromised it is not clear that illegally targeted employees would have recourse.

The courts have repeatedly ruled against Trump on those cuts. Likewise, they've had to hire back hundreds of workers fired by DOGE because they realized that they're actually needed!

R4. And all the old white boomers will cheer him on every step of the way, even as Trump cuts their benefits.

Not all.

Boomers were not the main problem

Ages 45–64 (Gen X and older Millennial voters): This group favored Trump over Harris by a clear margin.

Ages 65+ (Baby Boomers and older): This generation also voted for Trump, though with a smaller margin of support than the 45–64 age group.

GOP/MAGA is a death cult.

DEMOCRATS are a wimp cult.

WIMP Democrats. Our leadership is meaningless. Today, Trump and Hegseth were very GERMANY 1933. Trump wants to roll out tanks on city streets and Shumer thinks MEDICARE is the worst thing happening in the United States today? Serioulsy?

Dear Shumer and Jeffries----we don't need affordable heathcare if one of Trumps tanks roll down the street and plow us down. What a fucking unwinnable position for the Dems to have. I get it, if this were an election year. But it's not and you aren't going to get anything out of this but having Trump brag about how he beat Democrats when the shutdown is over.

[quote] Trump: "When you shut it down, you have to do layoffs. So, we'd be laying off a lot of people that are going to be very affected, and they're gonna be Democrats."

[quote] Exhibit A for ANYONE who wants to bring a lawsuit if they are fired tomorrow & a Democrat!

R39

I would hope you voted against him three times?

R46. Sadly, I did not vote in 2016 and I regret it. Why didn't I vote? I was busy with work and never thought he would win so I didn't make an effort.

Universe, please, you know what to do.

You’ve been doing exactly what to stop Trump from enacting his agenda, r36? Because I’ve got to tell you, it hasn’t been working.

R32 I wouldn't step a foot into Texas.

Or Florida, either. I may be old but I'm not nuts.

His supporters in the red states are disproportionately helped by these programs. Sadly, and it is sad, but if him killing them or letting them die prematurely is the only way to stop or even pause his lawless regime, well that may be our only option. Why he wants to kill so many supporters, as he did with covid, remains a mystery, but he always had a sadistic and bloodthirsty nature, so his cult members may just have to accept their sacrifice.

As for the whores thinking of crawling on their bellies all the way to the White House to beg for forgiveness for even thinking of opposing the regime, you'll get a much deserved kick in the face and that is all you'll ever get from these cunts. Accept that or oppose it. There is no other choice.

He’s a malignant narcissist so he really doesn’t give a shit if every last one of his supporters dies in agony.

He couldn’t care less and even TOLD THEM he didn’t give a shit about them and just wanted their votes.

Like all cultists, they cheered their own demise and when he tells them to drink the cyanide, they will gladly do it.