On his podcast, Ezra Klein, a New York Times columnist, urged Democrats to seriously consider a government shutdown as a means to resist what he described as President Donald Trump’s increasingly authoritarian grip on power. The episode was published on Sunday, just as the government’s funding deadline approached, raising the possibility of a new partial shutdown. Klein noted that while he had previously supported the continuation of government funding, the current circumstances made it difficult to justify doing so anymore.
Klein opened the discussion by highlighting that the government’s funding was set to expire at the end of the month, which would likely lead to another shutdown. He pointed out that earlier this year, progressive House Democrats had pushed for blocking funding, but Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ultimately supported a continuing resolution and encouraged his colleagues to follow suit. However, Klein now questions whether the current approach is sufficient or even appropriate given Trump’s actions.
He argued that Trump’s governance has become a form of personal enrichment and power consolidation, likening it to the way a Mafia could corrupt an industry. While the government may still provide basic services, the core purpose has shifted to serve personal interests. Klein is clear that by funding this government, Democrats would be complicit in allowing Trump’s agenda to continue unchallenged, which he believes is morally unacceptable.
Klein expressed uncertainty about the likelihood of a successful shutdown, but he concluded that the current approach of Democrats is not yielding any form of victory. The situation highlights the high stakes involved in the upcoming debate over government funding as Congress faces an October 1 deadline for passing a continuing resolution. Senate Republicans will need Democratic votes to overcome potential filibusters, further complicating the situation.