But are things what they seem???

Democrats should back away from shutdown, Schumer says
The minority leader's remarks are a clear indication that the Senate will vote to advance a GOP stopgap.

Jordain Carney

03/13/2025, 6:26pm ETUpdated: 03/13/2025, 7:07pm ET

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stepped Democrats away from the edge of a shutdown on Thursday — warning that repercussions of closing the federal government would be worse than the only viable alternative, passing the House GOP funding bill that many in Schumer's party loathe.

Schumer’s remarks — made first during a closed-door lunch with his colleagues Thursday and then from the Senate floor in a lengthy speech — are a significant indication that enough Senate Democrats will vote to advance the House GOP bill and avoid a shutdown that would start after midnight Friday.

“It’s not really a decision. It’s a Hobson’s choice," Schumer said on the floor. "Either proceed with the bill before us or risk Donald Trump throwing America into the chaos of a shutdown. This in my view is no choice at all. While the [House bill] is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse."

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/03/13/congress/chuck-schumer-shutdown-vote-00230000