When I was in high school and college, the prospect of Chuck Schumer having his career cut short due to a horrendous political decision or primary challenge seemed unfathomable. He increased those odds mightily during last week’s spending bill duel that exposed the Democrats as leaderless, fractured, and without a message. Schumer thought he could jump the chasm in two bounds—it didn’t work. Now, the progressive left has painted a target on his back, with Nancy Pelosi serving as a spotter.
Schumer had no leverage. The continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House was clean, but Democrats know they’re cooked on budget reconciliation; the GOP has shockingly kept things together. The irony here is that it was the Democrats who imploded over the CR bout. Schumer held the line in the first cloture vote but caved on the second. Schumer didn’t want to vote to advance the CR, but he knew Trump won on both fronts. There’s a significant fear among Democrats about what Trump would do if firing non-essential federal workers became a mandatory exercise.
On our end, a shutdown would’ve disrupted the budget reconciliation process, which is the real legislative goal for Republicans, halted deportations, the rebuilding of our military, and the Department of Government Efficiency maximizing its work. Still, not disrupting the reconciliation process was paramount. In short, the Democrats got scared. In this duel, you need unity, a message, and a strategy for the shutdown fallout from voters. Democrats didn’t have that, as evidenced by the level-five meltdown following Schumer’s defection.
Extraordinary moment — Nancy Pelosi issues a statement calling on Democratic senators to reject the House funding bill, i.e. to defy Chuck Schumer.
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) March 14, 2025
"Democratic senators should listen to the women," she says, referring to Murray/DeLauro who want a 1-month stopgap bill instead. pic.twitter.com/TEprXrSHOJ
Nancy Pelosi urged an all-out rebellion against Chuck. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), leader of House Democrats, was more focused on trying to downplay the level of Democratic disunity and dysfunction. However, he could not do so because, like Kamala Harris, the man lacks political skill. The left wants Schumer to be ostracized like Themistocles, and they want Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to do it.
The meltdowns are beautiful! pic.twitter.com/YqmGTGliCn
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) March 15, 2025
R E S I G N https://t.co/zf0ouRTq3t
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) March 14, 2025
For years, Schumer has been wary of an AOC challenge, with rumors that he urged New York Democrats not to remove her district when the state had to select which district to sacrifice since former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s COVID policy killed so many people that the Empire State lost a congressional seat. New York Democrats do not like her and viewed this as a window to retire her from public life. Schumer supposedly intervened—rather keep her busy on the Hill than preoccupied with planning a primary challenge against him. The truth is that Schumer will likely be okay for now: AOC is not popular outside of New York City. But these old fogey lawmakers always think they’re going to lose, no matter how safe they are. Given how insane Democrats have become, however, maybe there is something to fear, especially with a party that is dead-set on stopping Trump, even if they’re in a strategic position that’s no better than the Japanese on Iwo Jima.
