General Discussion

It was an unwinnable battle.

Honestly, what WAS the likelihood all 3 of these things would happen by prolonging the shutdown:
1. ACA subsidies pass the Senate
2. and pass the House
3. and Trump signs the legislation

Republicans have wanted to destroy the "Welfare State" for generations. If there was no realistic chance of saving the ACA subsidies by prolonging the shutdown, the consequence would be even more pain for the most vulnerable as the Project 2025 agenda advances.

It's easy to stand on principle if you don't rely on SNAP benefits to feed your hungry children.

Personally, I'm not currently impacted by the shutdown. Nobody in my extended family receives SNAP. I'm not a government employee working for no pay who is less likely to get back pay and more likely to be among the next mass layoff if not for the few concessions gained by ending the shutdown.

We can disagree about whether Trump and Republicans in the Senate & House were likely to concede and restore ACA subsidies.

But we want the same thing. I understand the frustration and anger at losing this battle, but in my opinion ending the shutdown was the least bad of two horrible options. Perhaps they should have waited to see how the lower court order to pay SNAP benefits finally played out in the Supreme Court -- but I'm not among the people going hungry in the meantime.