The shutdown that bears Schumer’s name was supposed to be a bold demonstration of Democratic resistance — a strategic push to pressure Republicans on healthcare subsidies and other key issues. Instead, it quickly spiraled into a political debacle.
A blistering editorial from the New York Post described the shutdown as “pointless,” arguing that Democratic leaders were more focused on appeasing their left-wing activists than securing actual policy gains.
It went further: “The shutdown was not about policy. It was about rage. Democratic grassroots activists demanded that their lawmakers express their fury — even if it meant harming the country.”
The editorial criticized Schumer for attempting to force Republicans to extend certain Affordable Care Act subsidies — subsidies that Democrats themselves had scheduled to expire in 2021.
To many observers, it made the party look disorganized, contradictory, and led by emotion rather than strategy. And crucially, it made Schumer look weak.
Pressure from Inside the House: “Schumer Should Be Replaced”
Internal criticism can be more damaging than attacks from the opposing party.
So when Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), a high-profile progressive and influential voice within the Democratic Party, publicly stated: “Sen. Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,”
it signaled a deeper shift — one that Schumer cannot ignore.
For decades, he has managed to maintain control of the Senate Democratic caucus through a combination of seniority, discipline, and political savvy. But the new generation of lawmakers — many inspired by the Sanders movement and cemented by Ocasio-Cortez’s rise — are far less deferential.
