For Democrats, the main issue in the shutdown wasn’t electoral backlash — it was the filibuster. Leadership feared its removal, viewing it as a safeguard to keep the party's rising left wing in check.
To explain this further in case you don’t get past the headline: The filibuster allows certain Democrats to claim they are for A, B, or C policy and vote yes on it, knowing it won’t pass. So they can fundraise, serve lobbyists who oppose said policy, while campaigning as if they are for it.
the filibuster is a purely made up “norm” of the Senate. It has no basis in law.
To explain this further in case you don’t get past the headline: The filibuster allows certain Democrats to claim they are for A, B, or C policy and vote yes on it, knowing it won’t pass. So they can fundraise, serve lobbyists who oppose said policy, while campaigning as if they are for it.
the filibuster is a purely made up “norm” of the Senate. It has no basis in law.