What a Day: “Dems: Chuck's Not Like Us” – March 17, 2025

Hosted by Jane Coaston and produced by Crooked Media, this episode of What a Day delves into the tumultuous dynamics within the Democratic Party following Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's controversial decision to avert a government shutdown. The episode also explores the Trump administration's latest policies, international repercussions of populism, and other significant news impacting the political landscape.

1. Averting the Government Shutdown and Democratic Intra-Party Conflict

Chuck Schumer's Decision: The episode begins with Jane Coaston discussing the recent actions taken by Senate Democrats to prevent a government shutdown. Led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Democrats agreed to a continuing resolution aimed at keeping the government operational. Schumer and his allies argued that allowing a shutdown would empower President Donald Trump and co-president Elon Musk to further dismantle federal services detrimental to everyday Americans.

• Quote:
  [01:13] Chuck Schumer: "It can last forever. There is no off ramp. One of the Republican senators told us, we go to a shutdown going to be there for six months, nine months, a year. And by then, their goal of destroying the federal government would be gone."

Intra-Party Backlash: Schumer's move to secure the continuing resolution was not universally applauded within the Democratic ranks. In fact, it ignited a significant rift, leading to a near standstill in communication between Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries since the vote.

• Quote:
  [01:28] Chuck Schumer: "I knew this would be an unpopular decision. I knew that. I know politics. But I felt so strongly as a leader that I couldn't let this happen. Because weeks and months from now, things would be far worse than they even are today, that I had to do what I had to do."

Backlash from Progressive Democrats: Progressive voices within the party, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, vehemently criticized the decision. Ocasio-Cortez questioned the necessity of granting Schumer and others the leverage they possess, emphasizing the importance of protecting social safety nets like Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare.

• Quote:
  [03:03] Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: "Would vote to hand the few pieces of leverage that we have away for."

Calls for New Leadership: The episode highlights a growing sentiment among some Democratic leaders that Chuck Schumer may no longer be the optimal leader for the caucus. Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut expressed the need for a conversation within the caucus about standing up more effectively to Republican pressures.

• Quote:
  [03:31] Chris Murphy: "He can lead this caucus, but we need to have a conversation inside the caucus about whether we are willing to stand up to Republicans."

Defense from Journalist Josh Barrow: In a conversation with Josh Barrow, a journalist from Substack, the episode presents a counter-narrative defending Schumer’s actions. Barrow argues that preventing a government shutdown was crucial to maintaining governmental stability and avoiding granting President Trump excessive authority over federal operations.

• Quote:
  [04:43] Josh Barrow: "If you shut down the government, muddy the water about whose fault everything is. I mean, you have the president seemingly trying to induce a recession in the United States, pursuing this unpopular trade war... forcing a shutdown here would have done that."

Mixed Messaging and Political Strategy: Cheryl Atkison discusses the perceived failure in Schumer's communication strategy, noting that inconsistent messaging contributed to Democratic ire. The lack of a cohesive strategy left the party susceptible to internal discontent and challenges in presenting a unified front against Republican maneuvers.

• Quote:
  [08:37] Cheryl Atkison: "I thought it was very interesting the other nine Democrats who joined Chuck Schumer in voting for cloture because it was not a very ideologically cohesive group of people."

2. Trump Administration's Enforcement Actions

Deportation Under the Alien Enemies Act: The Trump administration invoked the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act to deport hundreds of Venezuelan migrants, labeling members of the Tren de Aragua gang as criminal threats. This move sparked significant legal battles, with the ACLU suing the White House and a federal judge temporarily halting the deportations pending further hearings.

• Quote:
  [16:25] Cheryl Atkison: "I'm happy to see that the president is following up with his promises that he's going to keep Americans safe. And that means getting these criminal, drug or gang members, clearly criminal in nature, out of the United States."

Trump's Airstrikes on Yemen: In response to increased attacks by Houthi rebels targeting U.S. and international vessels in the Red Sea, President Trump authorized a series of airstrikes aimed at crippling the militant group's capabilities. These actions are part of a broader strategy to pressure Iran to discontinue its support for the Houthis.

• Quote:
  [19:59] Cheryl Atkison: "We're doing the world a favor. We're doing the entire world a favor by getting rid of these guys and their ability to strike global shipping. That's the mission here."

Legal and Diplomatic Repercussions: Despite initial legal challenges halting the deportations, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that hundreds of Venezuelan gang members were deported to El Salvador, highlighting the administration's steadfastness in implementing its stringent immigration policies.

3. Astronauts Return to Earth

NASA’s Crew 10 Mission: The episode covers the anticipated return of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams after an extended nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Initially slated for a short visit, their return was delayed due to complications with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, leading to the deployment of replacement crew members.

• Quote:
  [20:22] Jane Coston: "But after numerous problems with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, NASA decided to bring it back to Earth without the astronauts in it. Now, with their replacements at the space station, Williams and Wilmore could, or should I say are scheduled to head back to earth sometime this week."

4. Global Populism and Trump’s Influence

Impact on European and Canadian Politics: Jane Coaston explores the influence of Donald Trump's populist rhetoric on international politics, particularly in Europe and Canada. The episode highlights how Trump's actions and persona have inadvertently strengthened liberal and center-left parties in these regions by alienating moderate voters and emboldening opposition to right-wing extremism.

• Quote:
  [23:31] Jane Coston: "You have a man from Europe. I don't know if he's here. I saw him backstage, who. What he did was, what he is doing is sort of what we did a few years ago. He's doing a great job. He's a Fanta. He's always been my friend. For some reason he liked me, I liked him. And he's shaking it up pretty good over there. He had. He was the big winner of the last election in the UK and he's a very spectacular man, very highly respected. Nigel Farage."

Trump's Unpopularity Abroad: Despite attempts by international populist figures like Nigel Farage to align with Trump, his low approval ratings in Europe undermine their efforts. For instance, in the UK, 58% of voters reportedly dislike Trump, weakening the influence of analogous populist movements.

• Quote:
  [23:31] Jane Coston: "But these populist politicians currently have a bit of a problem with their efforts to get close to Donald Trump. Donald Trump is really unpopular with the voters these populist figures are trying to attract."

Strengthening of Liberal Parties: Trump's antagonistic stance has inadvertently benefitted liberal and center-left parties. In Canada, for example, the Liberals saw a resurgence in support as Trump's aggressive rhetoric pushed voters towards parties that promise more stable and cooperative international relationships.

• Quote:
  [23:31] Jane Coston: "In February, the Conservatives had a massive polling lead over the Liberal Party among voters. On March 11, that lead had been cut to one point."

5. Additional News Highlights

Executive Orders Targeting DEI Programs: The Trump administration received a partial legal victory as a federal appeals court allowed some executive orders aimed at dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within federal agencies to proceed. This decision paves the way for the administration to enforce measures reducing DEI initiatives without immediately violating anti-discrimination laws.

• Quote:
  [18:02] Jane Coston: "President Trump announced Saturday that the U.S. made a deal with El Salvador to jail the deportees for one year in exchange for $6 million."

International Reactions to U.S. Policies: Iranian officials condemned the U.S. airstrikes on Yemen, threatening retaliation, thereby escalating tensions between the two nations. Additionally, the deployment of executive orders against DEI programs has sparked debates about the balance between governmental authority and anti-discrimination protections.

Conclusion

This episode of What a Day presents a comprehensive analysis of the fracturing within the Democratic Party following Chuck Schumer's strategic decision to prevent a government shutdown. It underscores the tension between maintaining governmental stability and satisfying the progressive base, highlighting calls for new leadership within the party. Simultaneously, the episode examines the far-reaching impacts of the Trump administration's policies, both domestically and internationally, demonstrating how populist strategies can yield unintended benefits for opposition parties abroad. Through in-depth discussions and expert opinions, the episode provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the current political climate and its implications for the future.

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