My friends,
After forty-one days of a paralyzed government, it looks like this record-breaking shutdown may finally be over.
Eight Democrats broke ranks and joined 52 Republicans to advance a bipartisan deal in the Senate—proving, perhaps, what democracy actually looks like when the shouting stops.
Now, let’s be clear: this isn’t the “clean CR” Republicans originally proposed and voted for more than a dozen times in the Senate.
This is a compromise.
In the compromise, three of twelve appropriations bills—Agriculture & FDA, Military Construction & Veterans Affairs, and the Legislative Branch—are fully funded through September 2026. The other nine are only funded through January 30.
That means the clock is already ticking toward another possible standoff early next year.
Democrats were hoping to turn this shutdown into leverage for something bigger: extending the expanded Obamacare subsidies that were inflated during COVID.
They didn’t get that. Instead, they settled for a guaranteed vote in December.
Chuck Schumer’s far-left base is furious.
The activists who wanted to “hold the line” think he caved. But the reality is, the votes just weren’t there.
Meanwhile, Rand Paul stood alone among Republicans, opposing both sides.
His reasoning? Simple: Washington’s spending addiction is out of control, and no one wants to face the music. And while I think he should have supported the compromise bill, he’s not entirely wrong in his thinking. We can’t keep funding the government at completely unsustainable levels. I understand his principle, even if I don’t agree with the strategy.
We’re told “bipartisanship” is the highest good, that the ability to “reach across the aisle” is some moral virtue in and of itself. But bipartisanship isn’t always noble. It depends entirely on what’s being agreed upon. If one side is asking for fiscal sanity and the other side wants to double down on a path to bankruptcy, meeting in the middle isn’t a win—it’s just slower destruction.
That’s why I keep coming back to a simple idea: nuance and details matter.
Nuance and details matter, my friends. This is what “democracy” looks like.
The talking heads don’t care about nuance. They want clicks, outrage, and slogans. But real democracy—the kind the Left claims to love—requires adult conversations, negotiation, and accountability.
It’s not about which side yells louder. It’s about who’s willing to deal in facts, not feelings.
The irony, of course, is that the very people who chant “This is what democracy looks like!” whenever they don’t get their way are now furious because eight of their own senators voted to reopen the government.
My friends, this is what real “democracy” looks like. (I mean, it’s really what our constitutional republic looks like, but I don’t wan to get into that now.)
This deal isn’t perfect.
It doesn’t fix our long-term debt problems. It doesn’t address wasteful spending.
But it does get federal workers back to their jobs, gets people paid, and opens discussion concerning the bigger domestic obstacles standing in our way as a nation.
That’s progress.
It’s not flashy, it’s not ideological—but it’s functional. And right now, that’s something Washington desperately needs.
🎧 Listen to today’s Toddcast here
Conservative, not bitter.
Todd
Key Highlights from Today’s Toddcast
🗳 Eight Democrats Break Ranks – Bipartisan surprise ends the 41-day government shutdown.
💰 Rand Paul Stands Alone – The lone Republican “no” vote calls out Washington’s spending addiction.
🔥 Schumer Under Fire – The Left lashes out after losing leverage on Obamacare subsidies.
📆 Not a Clean CR – Three budgets funded through September, nine only until January 30.
🏛 Democracy in Action – Todd challenges the Left’s favorite chant: “This is what democracy looks like.”
⚖️ Spending Reality Check – Bipartisanship isn’t always virtuous when both sides keep growing government.
Quote of the Day
Facts are stubborn things.
Todd Talk: Another Election, Another “Mistake” in Maricopa County
My friends, here we go again. Just days after the election, officials in Maricopa County, Arizona, admitted that more than 2,200 ballots were overlooked in county-run drop boxes. Overlooked — as in, not counted.
When reporters asked how that could happen, the Deputy Elections Director said, “Humans run our elections, our community members run our elections, and there are going to be mistakes that are made.”
Whatever happened to America having the most secure elections in the history of humanity?
The more complicated our elections are, the more moving parts they have, and the longer we keep polling places open, the more likely problems will exist.
More ballots uncounted? Something else gone awry? Just like it’s impossible to know how many licks it takes to reach the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop — the world may never know.
New: My Answers To Your Questions
Ever wish you could ask a straight question — and get a straight answer?
Well, now you can.
We just launched a new section on our website where I answer questions from you — our listeners, readers, and followers. You can ask anything. Politics, culture, faith, the news of the day — nothing’s off limits.
And we’re featuring questions from folks across the political spectrum. Conservatives, moderates, liberals, even Radical Leftists. Because truth doesn’t fear questions. It welcomes them.
The very first question I tackled?
👉 “How can Democrats be responsible for the government shutdown if they don’t control Congress or the White House?”
It’s a fair question — and a great opportunity to look past the headlines and dig into what’s really going on in Washington.
If you care about truth — or want to help others hear it — head over to the site, check out my answer, and share it with your friends.
Let’s cut through the spin and talk about what’s really happening in America.
🗣️ Ask your question or read my response now on our website.