Posted on 09/26/2025 4:05:58 PM PDT by nickcarraway
An impending government shutdown presents an opportunity
The U.S. government is about to run out of money. If Congress does not pass a spending bill -- or a short-term continuing resolution that keeps money flowing temporarily -- there will be a federal government shutdown this coming Tuesday.
Moments like these are rare opportunities for the party that is not in control of Congress. As the New York Timesopens in a new tab or window described it, "...passing a government spending bill that can win the necessary 60 votes depends on attracting at least a small amount of Democratic support. That will require bipartisan negotiation, an art that has been fading steadily on Capitol Hill and has so far been lost altogether during Mr. Trump's second term."
In other words, Democrats have some leverage here. How should they use it?
So far, I've heard the usual fantasies, which boil down to using the threat of a shutdown to convince the other side to abandon its most cherished projects.
Try as they might, Congressional Democrats are not going to get their Republican counterparts to get behind, say, reversing $1 trillion in cuts. But there's something that Democrats can do. They can make the Republicans an offer they can't refuse.
Congressional Democrats should make an uncharacteristic offer to support some deep cuts enumerated in the recent House and Senate markups of the appropriations bill for the coming fiscal year. In exchange, they should require that President Trump fire HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., or accept his prompt resignation.
Democrats should consider some of the extraordinarily deep cuts in the proposed budget President Trump floated earlier this year -- cuts that were so extensive that neither chamber of Congressopens in a new tab or window included them in their recent versions of the spending bill. To be clear, these cannot be superficial concessions, but must instead be impressive enough to get Republicans' attention. These cuts must be carefully chosen, but they would have to be significant enough that, absent the offer, many or most of the proposals would be likely to die during the negotiation process. That's the only way to get their attention. Remember, without a deal like this, many of these cuts are likely to eventually happen anyway.
This deal would be worth it for both sides. Whether President Trump realizes it or not, this deal would indeed be to his long-term advantage. Secretary Kennedy poses a unique threat to President Trump's primary legacy from his first term -- Operation Warp Speed, the successful effort that led to effective vaccines against COVID-19 in months, instead of years. Trump's leadership on COVID-19 vaccines in 2020 saved hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of American lives.
However, Kennedy has taken several steps that could destroy Trump's vaccine legacy. He has spread falsehoods about the vaccines, including saying in 2021 that they are the most dangerous vaccinesopens in a new tab or window ever created. And since his confirmation as health secretary, he has continued to undermine vaccination and canceled hundreds of millions of dollarsopens in a new tab or window in research that could prevent another pandemic or end the emergency phase of one sooner.
Secretary Kennedy also poses a unique threat to President Trump's second term legacy -- something the President may not yet recognize. By attacking our nation's vaccine infrastructure -- by dismantling the rigorous and transparent process that ensures that our policies are firmly rooted in the best-available totality of the science, and by paving the way for actions that may scare vaccine manufacturers off the market -- Kennedy is risking the lives of millions of American children. If more measles outbreaks occur as a result of decreased vaccine uptake, the attendant increases in severe pediatric illnesses and deaths will squarely be Trump's responsibility.
Kennedy's inability or refusal to understand the way science actually works is also starting to create self-defeating optics for the administration, including the bizarre spectacle of the President repeatedly yelling, "Don't take Tylenol" from behind a podium at the White House. (The FDA had to walk backopens in a new tab or window some of what was said at that press event.)
This unforced error -- trying to pin increased rates of autism on acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy when the evidence on this is far from certain -- is likely to backfire for the President in many ways. First, millions of Americans will feel wrongly shamed for having taken a medication that is safe and effective. In fact, the medication may actually contribute to lower rates of adverse pediatric health outcomes in pregnant women who take it to treat feversopens in a new tab or window. The "precautionary principle" invoked by the President's FDA Commissioner is therefore not applicable here. Second, the complete abandonment of norms in developing public health policy might someday cause the President's opposition to embrace a similar style when they are in control.
While an eye-for-an-eye approach would not be the ideal response (a return to a commitment to rigorous, settled science would be), it's easy to imagine that's where we're headed. No one is served by this, short-term victories notwithstanding.
President Trump can end these threats to our nation's public health by requesting Secretary Kennedy's immediate resignation. This would also be a gift to Republicans, many of whom sense that Kennedy's damage will soon be unpopular.
Yes, Kennedy's replacement will have to pass Senate confirmation. But this time, the Senate will not be so easily fooled by false assurances, the fate that befell Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.)opens in a new tab or window, a pro-vaccine physician, who was bamboozled into offering the last-minute support Kennedy's successful nomination needed.
The 20th century was the first one in which surviving childhood became the normopens in a new tab or window in the U.S. Life-saving vaccines were a big part of that achievement. Equally important, however, is our national vaccine infrastructure, which ensures that people can receive them. Removing threats to access to vaccines -- threats introduced by Secretary Kennedy -- matters more than almost anything in the 2026 spending bills. Congressional Democrats should be willing to swallow a bitter pill on some cuts if it means a generation of children will be guaranteed the protection offered by vaccines.
A version of this piece originally appeared in Inside Medicineopens in a new tab or window.
I agree with what you say.
He even touts his Master of Arts degree.
How does that have any bearing on the topic?
He’s apparently using an “appeal to authority” argument.
I never list anything but my highest degree, and that only in the context of work when addressing contractors and suppliers.
Faust seems like a more ominous clue...
“He was given the job because he dropped his own run for President “
It could be more than that. In the last week or two, Trump mentioned that he and Kennedy had been meeting as long ago as 20 years re the autism problem. They might have a lot in common on health issues starting long ago.
I don ‘t think Trump is going to betray RFK, Jr. for doing exactly what he was selected to do.
At one time RFKjr ran with commie and global warming herd!
Something he’s never walked back.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out!
Bribery or Blackmail ,LOL
If the Dems can get the Wide Latina, the nBiologist, or the Spinster to resign before Oct. 1, 2025, that would be a starting point to schedule negotiations.
“Shut down the government and I guess we’ll have to permanently fire thousands of federal employees. Kinda what DOGE wanted to do a few months ago.
So, go for it!”
How about spending cuts and we keep RFK?
Chuckies mind will open in a new tab as
it slowly dawns on him that the brier patch
will be just as good as the tar baby.
I thought we had been sand bagged last time, when we couldn't get a longer cr (or back to regular order) ....
.... is my face red now...
and just think ... we may get to do it again in a month.
I tip my hat to the guys in the back room.
Democrats should STFU….that’s what democrats should do. In the words of their “Magic Negro” (h/t Rush Limbaugh for playing that parody), “We Won”.
Hahahahahahah!!!!
Absolutely!
This Dude wants a Faustian bargain?
No.
L
I had ND/GA on some business cards.
No degree, good anyway
I like Michael Knowles suggestion on his podcast today ==> Paraphrasing: ‘Well fine, furlough and send home all the fed employees for the shutdown and they will not be called back ever.’
The dems will vote with the GOPe in hours LOL.
We’re gonna need a bigger plate.
I agree, get rid of the department of HHs, removing its budget and the secretary can leave 🤣
I wonder how much money the author has received from the pharmaceutical industry in his lifetime?
SCOTUS just gave tacit approval of pocket rescissions. Democrats aren’t needed for cuts. Just good old fashion management skills by the executive will do. Go ahead, shut it down.
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