Do Not Surrender Your Leverage

Reopening the government on Republicans’ word would be reckless and naive. They could extend the ACA subsidies right now if they meant to—nothing stops them. Democrats already trusted their “good-faith” promises twice in 2024 and 2025 on this exact issue, and both times Republicans walked away once they got what they wanted. To believe them again would be a dereliction of duty. Yesterday’s election results were a clear rejection of that kind of deception. If Democrats fold now, they’ll forfeit the credibility voters just restored to them. You took an oath to protect the public and the laws that sustain them. Keep it. Hold firm until there’s a binding, written guarantee to extend the subsidies. Anything less is stupidity and political suicide..