The clock is ticking, and despite Minority Leader Chuck Schumer bowing the knee to the inevitable – having gambled and lost on breaking the Republicans apart – there still might not be enough Senate Democrats willing to vote for the continuing resolution by midnight tonight.

As Toni wrote this morning, Chuck Schumer threw in the towel and said he would vote FOR the CR. Schumer isn’t happy about it, and to make things even more fun, President Trump rubbed some salt in that wound and congratulated Schumer on Truth Social.

Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing — Took “guts” and courage! The big Tax Cuts, L.A. fire fix, Debt Ceiling Bill, and so much more, is coming. We should all work together on that very dangerous situation. A non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights. Again, really good and smart move by Senator Schumer. This could lead to something big for the USA, a whole new direction and beginning! DJT

All of this has now caused a massive uproar and fury by House Democrats. Remember, they stuck together (with the exception of Jared Golden of Maine, but Thomas Massie of Kentucky voted with them) to vote against the CR. They don’t want to admit it, but they were outfoxed by Speaker Mike Johnson when he got everyone but Massie (and gained Golden) to vote for the CR, and then Johnson recessed the House. This left the Senate Democrats with two choices – pass the CR and keep the government open, or don’t pass it and shut the government down. The pipe dream of a 30 day “clean” CR extention was off the table once the House was in recess.

Senate Democrats have been suffering major heartburn over this scenario. Many – Cory Booker, Chris Van Hollen, Patty Murray, John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, Mark Kelly – have all announced their intent to vote no on the CR. We already know that John Fetterman, Schumer, and apparently Kirsten Gillibrand are voting yes. It’s easier to track the “yeses” than the “nos” at this point.

And the clock is ticking. Fetterman has the clearest position of them all, and he is annoyed with his fellow Senate Democrats. Just give him a listen.

Reporter: Do you think Democrats actually ever had leverage in this fight?

Fetterman: What leverage? What leverage do we have? Democrats keep showing up at every knife fight with a casserole. Y’know, and they have these cheesy paddles, and then they – you know – “pick your fighter” cheeseball stuff. You know, you – where’s your messaging? Now, and if you think now you’re tough to shut the government down, then how do you get back again, because millions of Americans are gonna be impacted – a lot of ’em aren’t even gonna get paid, but THEY all get paid, y’know. What’s the exit ramp? How do we even restart the government? Why, because it’s gonna be under the terms of Musk and Trump and the GOP.

Props to the senator from Pennsylvania, he realizes that Senate Democrats are playing with fire. The House Democrats, on the other hand… they are LIVID with Schumer. Hakeem Jeffries is looking to keep this fight far away from him, and is willing to stick the knife in Schumer’s back.

Reporter: "Is it time for new leadership in the Senate?"

Jeffries: "Next question" 🤣 pic.twitter.com/zAwx5W9omE

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 14, 2025

Nancy Pelosi, from her shadow throne, is twisting the knife.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk have offered the Congress a false choice between a government shutdown or a blank check that makes a devastating assault on the well-being of working families across America.  

Let’s be clear: neither is a good option for the American people. But this…

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) March 14, 2025

Pelosi’s full statement reads:

Donald Trump and Elon Musk have offered the Congress a false choice between a government shutdown or a blank check that makes a devastating assault on the well-being of working families across America.

Let’s be clear: neither is a good option for the American people. But this false choice that some are buying instead of fighting is unacceptable.

I salute Leader Hakeem Jeffries for his courageous rejection of this false choice, and I am proud of my colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus for their overwhelming vote against this bill.

Democratic senators should listen to the women. Appropriations leaders Rosa DeLauro and Patty Murray have eloquently presented the case that we must have a better choice: a four-week funding extension to keep government open and negotiate a bipartisan agreement.

America has experienced a Trump shutdown before – but this damaging legislation only makes matters worse. Democrats must not buy into this false choice. We must fight back for a better way. Listen to the women, For The People.

Hey, Nancy? What if the Democrats decide to listen to Kirsten Gillibrand instead? Sorry, don’t mean to blow a hole in your cute little narrative here.

Meanwhile, mutterings abound on the Hill that Schumer should be primaried – maybe by AOC, or maybe by Dan Goldman. If that should happen, ohhhh myyyyy, we will run out of popcorn. Schumer isn’t even up for re-election until 2028, so there’s more than enough time for House and Senate Democrats to forget about this moment in time. AOC can be as furious as she wants, but she’s not up for winning a statewide election, even in New York.

Right now, it is a numbers game, and Chuck Schumer knows he could lose. He has to find more votes, probably by appealing to senators in “purple” states to vote yes for the CR. Let’s see if he’s as good at his job as Speaker Johnson proved to be at his job. The Senate Democrats have until midnight Eastern Time to either pull a rabbit out of the hat, or create roadkill. We won’t have long to wait to see what happens.

Featured image via Proulain on Pixabay, cropped, Pixabay license