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You are here: Home / Budget & Taxes / Republicans Still Have a Shutdown Advantage

Republicans Still Have a Shutdown Advantage

September 30, 2025 at 6:32 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Punchbowl News: “In 2013, Republicans shut down the government to repeal Obamacare. In 2018, Republicans shut down the government to try to get money for Trump’s border wall, even though Trump was president.”

“Both efforts failed. Shutdowns rarely work as a negotiating ploy.”

“Republicans have the luxury of a simple message this time: We’re willing to negotiate, but not with the threat of a government shutdown hanging over us. It’s the same message Democrats have employed successfully in past showdowns.”

“By contrast, Democrats have a lot of demands.”

“Even though the House Republican leadership is making what we think is a bone-headed move by keeping the chamber out of session while federal agencies run out of money, the straightforwardness of the GOP’s message is useful.”

Playbook: “The GOP is supremely confident that given the Democrats are the party rejecting a clean, short-term funding bill, they will ultimately be blamed by the public.”

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Filed Under: Budget & Taxes

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About Political Wire

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

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