If you're asking what was the point of the shutdown, The Philadelphia Inquirer has an answer [View all]

The answer from Philly's Editorial Board?

Democrats caved on shutdown as Trump's indifference to American suffering proved stronger.

White House aides and officials might be 'cackling with glee,' but the shutdown and subsequent vote to open the government hardly puts Trump and his lackeys in a good light. In fact, it's just the opposite.

Pussies and losers, they say with a giggle as millions of Americans wondered how they would feed their families absent SNAP benefits or as furloughed civil servants went unpaid and were threatened with not receiving back pay or losing their jobs outright, or as airlines canceled flights willy-nilly and airports became chaotic cattle pens. ACA subsidies never moved the needle because Trump and his Flying Monkey Brigade DO NOT CARE.

How do I and a growing number of Americans know this? The Inquirer's Editorial Board take us down Memory Lane:

While Americans suffered, Trump left the country for two weeks, demolished the East Wing of the White House to build a $300 million ballroom, renovated the Lincoln bathroom in marble, gave Argentina a $20 billion bailout, hosted a Great Gatsby-themed party for rich friends at Mar-a-Lago, indiscriminately blew up small boats, and bragged about mass government layoffs and cuts to so-called Democrat programs.

Trump’s indifference — to a country in distress, to those in need of help — was encapsulated last week as he stood with his back to a man who passed out in the Oval Office. As others rushed to render aid, the president stared ahead blankly, ignoring the emergency.


and,

The shutdown underscored clear policy differences between the two political parties. Trump and the Republicans do not care about everyday Americans, let alone the most vulnerable. Nor are they interested in compromise, solving problems, reducing costs, providing affordable healthcare, or even feeding the poor.


So yes, the shutdown did not end with the result we'd hoped for but it was not a complete failure. What did succeed tremendously was last week's elections when voters unequivocally expressed their displeasure with Agent Orange and his lying mouthpieces.

The fight goes on. The enemy is clear and it's not within our own ranks.

https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/shutdown-democrats-trump-workers-snap-healthcare-20251111.html