General Discussion

In my judgement, after 23+ years at DU and nearly 60 years following national politics, I think the following 3 things were extremely unlikely:

1. Senate Republicans would add restoration of ACA subsidies to the Continuing Resolution, then pass it.
2. Mike Johnson would take up that measure in the House, and would muster enough Republicans to pass it.
3. The Orange Sociopath would sign it, conceding a victory to the radical left democrats.

I will admit this was unknowable for certain.

However, I assert the following WAS knowable, with a high degree of certainty:

As the shutdown dragged on with SNAP being appealed by Trump who doesn't care how much pain he causes, poor families with children would suffer hunger. Federal workers would continue to go without pay, and likely face more mass layoffs. Trump would have a freer hand to dismantle federal agencies -- which is at the core of the Project 2025 agenda.

I think our Senate Democratic leadership saw no chance that Republicans would restore ACA, and made the tough decision to end the shutdown -- knowing full well the Democratic base would be furious with them. That's not lack of spine.

Nor does it constitute throwing away the Affordable Care Act. They could not force Republicans to restore it, but they could make sure voters know that skyrocketing health insurance costs and people going without healthcare is entirely the work of Trump and his Republican Party.

I guarantee you this will be a HUGE issue in the 2026 midterms. Winning back the House, and possibly the Senate, is the crucially important goal we all have now.