In a dramatic turn on Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats splintered Sunday night, crossing the aisle to help Republicans move forward with a deal to reopen the government.
The shock vote — with eight Democrats joining the GOP — sent tremors through Washington and triggered fierce backlash from liberal activists furious at their party’s collapse in unity.
The vote marked the biggest defeat yet for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, whose grip on power is now being openly questioned by his own party. Even Democrats are saying out loud what many have whispered for months — that Schumer’s leadership has become weak, directionless, and out of touch.
Democrats in Chaos as Schumer Loses Control
The revolt began as frustration boiled over during the prolonged government shutdown. When the final tally came in, angry Democrats lashed out at Schumer for failing to stop Republicans and President Trump from winning the upper hand.
California Democrat Ro Khanna didn’t hold back, declaring that Schumer “is no longer effective and should be replaced.” Khanna blasted the party’s leadership for refusing to fight rising healthcare costs, saying, “If you can’t lead the fight to stop premiums from skyrocketing, what will you fight for?”
Even Schumer’s own remarks underscored how far the party has fallen. He doubled down on what he called a “Republican-made healthcare crisis,” insisting that Democrats had “fought for months” to fix the system — despite having no concrete plan to do so.
Bernie and Schiff Turn on Their Own
As the political fallout grew, Sen. Bernie Sanders ripped into his colleagues for backing the resolution. “Tonight, eight Democrats voted with Republicans,” he said, calling it a “very bad vote” that would “raise healthcare premiums” and “throw 15 million people off Medicaid.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Adam Schiff took to X (formerly Twitter) with a rain-soaked video outside the Capitol — literally standing in the dark — blasting the deal as a “Republican healthcare crisis.” Schiff warned that millions of Californians could lose their coverage, even as critics pointed out that California already faces some of the nation’s highest healthcare costs under Democrat rule.
Trump Gains Strength as Democrats Fracture
Late Sunday, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) recorded his own midnight rant, venting that the vote would “make Trump stronger, not weaker.” Even in his frustration, Murphy seemed to acknowledge a growing truth: President Trump’s influence is surging, while Democrats spiral deeper into internal division.
“The American people don’t want Democrats bullied into submission,” Murphy said — yet that’s exactly what many voters see happening under Schumer’s failing leadership.
The Bottom Line: Trump Rising, Schumer Falling
The latest Senate vote revealed a party in crisis — and a Republican resurgence under President Trump’s leadership. As the GOP forges ahead with a new plan to reopen the government and stabilize spending, Democrats are left fighting one another and scrambling to explain what went wrong.
For millions of Americans watching from home, the verdict seems clear: Chuck Schumer’s time as Senate leader may be coming to an end, and Donald Trump’s political momentum has never been stronger.
