Senate Democrats in Political Bind as Republicans Dare Them on US Shutdown
Dick Durbin and Chuck Schumer at the US Capitol on March 11.
Photographer: Al Drago/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Democrats have a rare moment of leverage in Washington after losing the November election and watching helplessly as Elon Musk dismantles the federal government.
Yet they are in a political bind. Democrats can use their filibuster power in the Senate and withhold their votes in a game of chicken with Republicans on a Saturday government shutdown or they can go along and pass funding through September.