President Donald Trump placed the blame for the government shutdown squarely on Democrats this weekend, telling reporters before boarding Marine One that “they could end it tomorrow.” The federal government has been partially closed since Wednesday after lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement. Trump says he’s willing to wait as long as it takes for Democrats to accept broader spending reforms, while Democratic leaders accuse the White House of holding federal workers hostage in a political fight.
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Trump Blames Democrats for Ongoing Government Shutdown as Federal Layoffs Loom
President Donald Trump on Sunday placed responsibility for the government shutdown squarely on congressional Democrats, saying any federal layoffs that follow are “up to them.”
Speaking to reporters before boarding Marine One, Trump said Democrats refused to support a temporary funding bill that would have kept agencies open past Wednesday’s deadline. “They could end this tomorrow,” he said. “It’s their choice.”
The federal government entered its second week of closure early Wednesday after Congress failed to pass new appropriations. Agencies have been instructed to furlough non-essential employees, while those in critical operations—national security, air-traffic control, border enforcement—continue to work without immediate pay.
Administration officials insist the president will not compromise unless Democrats agree to broader spending reforms and new cost-cutting measures recommended by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, the “DOGE” board created earlier this year to review federal payrolls. Washington, D.C.—home to the largest concentration of federal workers—has been hit particularly hard, with many local businesses reporting steep drops in revenue.
Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said on Sunday that layoffs will begin if “the negotiations are absolutely going nowhere,” but added that the White House remains open to a deal if Democrats return to the table. “It’s common sense to avoid layoffs like that,” Hassett told CNN.
For now, hundreds of thousands of employees are in limbo. In past shutdowns, furloughed workers have received back pay once funding was restored, but Trump aides have warned that this time may be different. The administration is already preparing to process more than 100,000 resignations under a deferred-exit program designed to streamline the federal workforce.
Democrats argue that Trump is using the shutdown as leverage to dismantle the civil service, while Republican leaders say the president is simply enforcing fiscal discipline after years of unchecked spending. With both sides dug in and no talks scheduled, the standoff threatens to become the longest in U.S. history.
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FIELD NOTES
What the Hegseth Meltdown Reveals About Modern Media
When Pete Hegseth unleashed a charged all-hands speech to military brass, the backlash was seismic. In moments, controlled talking points unraveled—his lines mocked, his tone dissected, his audience’s silence became the narrative. The media blitz that followed wasn’t just criticism—it was a messaging ambush. This meltdown exposes how today’s media doesn’t merely report discord—it manufactures it. The slightest misstep becomes viral proof of a broader institutional crisis. In the modern regime of journalism, perception is weaponized in real time. Hegseth’s misfire wasn’t about weakness—it was about being exposed in the currents the media wants to ride. (Based on National Review “What the Meltdown over Hegseth’s All-Hands Military Speech Tells Us About Modern Media”)
Johnson Says Jeffries Is Terrified — Marxists Jockey for Power
Speaker Mike Johnson is pulling the cover off internal Democratic fractures. In a recent interview, he claimed Hakeem Jeffries is “terrified” of the radical left rising inside his party. Johnson argues that Jeffries is trying to walk two paths—appeasing moderates while bowing to far-left demands—and that tension is unsustainable. The Marxist flank, Johnson says, is jockeying for dominance, pushing Jeffries into distortions and contradictions. Behind Johnson’s jab lies a strategy: paint the Democratic coalition as divided, weakening their messaging in the shutdown battle and positioning Republicans as the unified, steady alternative. (Based on Daily Caller “Mike Johnson Says Hakeem Jeffries Terrified Marxists Jockey Democratic Party Power”)
Trump’s Second Term Is Overwriting D.C.’s Playbook
Trump’s second term is executing an institutional reboot. Across federal agencies, long-standing norms—regulatory creep, “service” overheads, compliance culture—are being trimmed. Under the guise of “accountability,” the regime is dismantling the deep state layer by layer. He’s not just pushing policy; he’s rewriting how Washington itself operates. The FBI, DOJ, intelligence arms—they’re being challenged on legacy authority and mission creep. Institutions once presumed immune are now on notice: adapt or cede ground. This reset isn’t theoretical—it’s the machinery of power being recoded from the top down. (Based on AmGreatness “Trump’s Second Term Resets Washington’s Playbook”)
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With hundreds of thousands of employees furloughed and agencies running on skeleton crews, the pressure on Congress is mounting. Markets remain calm, but patience in Washington is fraying. Trump’s allies say he’s proving a point about fiscal discipline; critics call it reckless brinkmanship. Either way, the longer the impasse lasts, the clearer the contrast becomes: a president prepared to let the system seize if it won’t reform, and a Congress struggling to decide whether to call his bluff or end the shutdown on his terms.
~ Scott 🇺🇸
PS. Federal layoffs are no longer a rumor — they’re the point. Trump’s DOGE board is tightening the screws while Democrats stall.
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