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OK, Schumer

Last week, the Senate Democratic leader finally made a decision to avert a government shutdown. Now he faces the music within his own party.

Chuck Schumer
Schumer, according to some Democrats I’ve spoken with, has now bungled the first and perhaps only real legislative fight of the year. Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
Leigh Ann Caldwell
March 16, 2025

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, arguably the most powerful Democrat within his feckless party in Washington, is facing a crisis of confidence. He’s defied his party’s activist base, ignored angry donors, and bucked 212 House Democrats who united against the Republican party’s government funding bill—and he did it all while visibly waffling and failing to foment a strategy. In the end, he delivered the votes from his Senate caucus to keep the government open and, according to critics, caved to Donald Trump and Elon Musk without even putting up a fight. It was a hell of a week!