Thune Says More Dems Defecting, Will Back Reopening Government
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said on Tuesday that at least two additional Senate Democrats are in discussions to break ranks with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and vote in favor of funding the government
The partial government shutdown has now entered its second week. So far, only three Senate Democrats — John Fetterman (PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), and Angus King (ME), an independent who caucuses with Democrats — have joined Republicans in supporting efforts to release federal funds. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) remains the lone Republican holdout.
But Thune indicated to Fox News that more Democrats are set to join Republicans in support of a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government.
The House has already approved a temporary funding measure to keep the government open through late November, but Schumer has thus far prevented most of his caucus from backing the bill. The measure requires 60 votes to advance in the Senate, meaning at least eight Democrats would need to cross party lines if Paul continues to oppose it — a move Thune suggested is increasingly likely.“Well, we’re only stuck as long as a handful of Democrats decide they want to follow the leader and play politics rather than do the right thing on behalf of the Am
He revealed that Republicans now have 55 votes to fund the government when the motion goes to the floor for the ninth time, indicating that two additional Democrats support it.
“We have 55 of 100 United States senators voting to reopen the government. We need five more Democrats. It takes 60 to do most things in the United States Senate, and all we need is five Democrats. But their leadership is intent on on pacifying and trying to appease this far-left base,” Thune said.
“They’ve got this big rally coming up next Saturday, which everybody thinks they want to get behind them before they do anything to open up the government. But it’s really
straightforward. I mean, this is the legislation right here; it’s 24 pages long, it is clean, it is nonpartisan, it has no policy riders, no partisan gimmicks,” Thune continued.
“This is a straightforward way to open up the government,” he added.
Thune did not identify the two Democratic senators who are reportedly considering breaking with party leadership
He and other senior Republicans have accused Schumer of deliberately extending the shutdown to coincide with a new wave of “No Kings” protests set for October 18. The demonstrations, largely organized and funded by groups linked to George Soros such as Indivisible, have been promoted by Democratic leaders and sympathetic media outlets as evidence of grassroots support.
The Senate is expected to hold its ninth vote later Thursday on the continuing resolution (CR) aimed at reopening the government and extending funding through late November.
Schumer (D–NY) is facing bipartisan backlash after he declared this week that the ongoing federal government shutdown is “getting better for us every day” – meaning Democrats – prompting sharp condemnation from the White House and Republican lawmakers.
The shutdown began after negotiations collapsed over Democrats’ push to restore health care funding for illegal aliens, a measure Republicans have rejected as “reckless and unfair to taxpayers.”
“Every day gets better for us,” Schumer said, according to Punchbowl News. “It’s because we’ve thought about this long in advance, and we knew that health care would be the focal point on Sept. 30, and we prepared for it… Their whole theory was — threaten us, bamboozle us, and we would submit in a day or two.”
“Chuck Schumer just said the quiet part out loud: Democrats are gleefully inflicting pain on the American people over their push to give illegal aliens free health care,” White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson said in response.
Senator John Kennedy’s Fiery Speech Roasts ‘The Squad’ and Ignites Congressional Debate
In a moment that has sent shockwaves through the halls of Congress and set social media ablaze, Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) delivered a blistering, often hilarious critique of Representative Ilhan Omar and her progressive allies, known collectively as “The Squad.” Kennedy’s remarks, laced with biting humor and pointed political analysis, have reignited fierce debate about patriotism, accountability, and the future direction of the Democratic Party.
“Arguing With Fools”: Kennedy’s Opening Salvo
Senator Kennedy wasted no time in setting the tone for his speech, deploying one of his signature Southern aphorisms: “When you argue with a fool, you just prove there are two.” With this, he made clear his stance on the group of lawmakers who have become lightning rods for controversy and division within Congress.
Kennedy named names: Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley—members of the self-styled “Squad.” “I consider them to be fools,” Kennedy declared. “They hate America. They think America was wicked in its origins, and it’s even more wicked today.”
Mocking the Leadership: “Directions on a Shampoo Bottle”
Kennedy’s speech was not just a condemnation; it was a masterclass in political mockery. When asked about the new leadership of the Democratic Party, he quipped, “I think [AOC] is the reason there are directions on a shampoo bottle.” The crowd erupted in laughter, but Kennedy’s underlying message was serious: he sees the Squad as emblematic of a dangerous ideological shift within the party.
He outlined his strategy for dealing with Ocasio-Cortez and her allies: “Operation Let Her Speak.” The implication was clear—Kennedy believes the more the Squad talks, the more they expose their radical views, alienating mainstream Americans.
The Squad’s Response: Accusations of Racism and Islamophobia
Kennedy’s remarks did not go unanswered. Representative Ocasio-Cortez took to the House floor in an impassioned defense of Omar, denouncing the move to remove her from the Foreign Affairs Committee as “blatantly Islamophobic and racist.” She argued that the real motivation was not Omar’s religion or ethnicity, but her outspoken criticism of American and Israeli policies.Omar’s defenders pointed to her leadership and perspective as assets to the committee, accusing Republicans of targeting women of color. “This is about targeting women of color in the United States of America,” Ocasio-Cortez said, her voice rising with emotion.
The Case Against Omar: Six Controversial Statements
At the heart of the controversy are six documented statements made by Omar while serving in Congress, which critics say crossed the line into anti-Semitism and anti-American rhetoric. Omar herself has apologized for some of these remarks, but opponents argue that her pattern of controversial comments makes her unfit to represent the United States on the world stage.
Kennedy was blunt: “Individuals who hold such hateful views should rightly be barred from that type of committee. You can love America and criticize it, but if you hate America, why would you want to serve it?”
Freedom of Speech vs. Accountability
Kennedy’s speech touched on a theme that resonates deeply in American political discourse: the balance between freedom of speech and accountability. “America doesn’t force anyone to stay,” he said. “You’re free to speak your mind, but you’re also responsible for the consequences of what you say. That’s the part the far-left refuses to accept.”
He argued that the Foreign Affairs Committee is not just another congressional seat—it is a position that represents America to the world. “You can’t be the face of America abroad if you spend your career calling it evil. That’s not leadership. That’s hypocrisy.”
The Squad’s Impact on the Democratic Party
Kennedy went further, suggesting that the Squad’s radicalism is destroying the Democratic Party from within. “If I didn’t know better, I would think the members of the Squad were GOP plants,” he joked. He listed their support for illegal immigration, socialism, higher taxes, and abortion as “moral goods,” contrasting these with their opposition to America, Israel, and free enterprise.
“The Squad has alienated moderates, mocked traditional values, and made radicalism the new normal in the left space,” Kennedy said. “Let’s be honest. When you constantly bash your own country, cozy up to anti-American narratives, and use your platform to divide people, you don’t deserve to represent America abroad.”
The Political Fallout: Outrage and Support
The left’s outrage was immediate. Ocasio-Cortez and other Squad members accused Republicans of bigotry and double standards, pointing to past controversial remarks from GOP lawmakers that were not similarly punished. Omar’s defenders argued that her removal was about silencing dissent and marginalizing minority voices.
But Kennedy’s supporters saw his speech as a long-overdue defense of American values. “Senator Kennedy just said what every American with common sense has been thinking,” one commentator wrote. “He called Ilhan Omar and the Squad fools who hate America. And after watching their response, it’s hard to disagree.”
The Broader Context: America’s Identity Crisis
The debate over Omar’s committee assignment and Kennedy’s speech is part of a larger struggle over America’s identity. Is the nation fundamentally good, flawed but redeemable, or irredeemably racist and wicked, as some on the far left claim? Kennedy’s speech was a forceful assertion of the first view, and a rejection of the Squad’s narrative.
He invoked the president’s controversial tweet: “If you’re not happy in America, leave.” Kennedy agreed with the sentiment, though he critiqued the president’s articulation of it. “His original articulation of that concept, in my opinion, fell short of the mark. But I agree with the assessment: if you’re not happy living in America, leave. It’s a free country.”
The Stakes: America’s Image Abroad
Kennedy emphasized that the stakes are not just political but global. “The Foreign Affairs Committee isn’t just another congressional seat. It’s a position that represents our country on the world stage. You can’t be the face of America abroad if you spend your career calling it evil.”
He argued that removing Omar was not about silencing her voice, but about defending the nation’s credibility. “This removal wasn’t punishment. It was correction. It was Congress saying, ‘We still have standards.’”
Conclusion: Drawing the Line
As the dust settles, Kennedy’s speech stands as a rallying cry for those who believe patriotism and accountability should guide America’s leaders. “Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from accountability,” he said. “You can love America and criticize it, but if you hate America, why would you want to serve it?”
The controversy over Ilhan Omar and the Squad is far from over. But Kennedy’s words have drawn a clear line in the sand, challenging lawmakers and citizens alike to consider what it truly means to serve—and love—the United States of America.