Dems Break with Schumer, Side with GOP to Hand Trump Another Victory
More than a dozen Democratic senators voted with Republicans to confirm President Donald Trump’s latest nominee. The Senate confirmed David Perdue of Georgia to become Trump’s ambassador to China, an all-important post given the significance of trade and national security issues with the world’s second-largest economy.
The vote was 64-27 in favor of cloture, which requires 60 votes. In 2022, Trump backed Perdue in his attempt to primary incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp (R), but he wasn’t successful.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is continuing to lose support among one of its key voter blocs, young people, according to a new survey.
This comes as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is still facing swift blowback after his government shutdown efforts blew up in his face last month.
Swing voters in a major battleground state noted in the latest Engagious/Sago focus groups that they were frustrated with Democrats for prolonging the federal government shutdown, only to ultimately end it without securing a commitment from Republicans to address rising health insurance premiums.
Even some voters who supported President Trump last November said they still look to Democrats to safeguard health care affordability and the social safety net for lower-income Americans.
But in this week’s panels, seven of the 13 Biden-to-Trump swing voters in Georgia said Democrats emerged from the shutdown looking worse than Republicans. Two said Republicans looked worse, while four said both parties appeared equally at fault, according to Axios.
“They gave in to the Republicans,” Trilya M., 53, of Loganville, said of Democrats. “They did not stand their ground with them, and now it’s going to affect the people that [have] the Affordable Care Act.”
It was for what?” said Christine L., 54, of Peachtree City. “It really does make them look bad.”
“They always project to be a party of the people who they care about, the disenfranchised, the people who are in poverty … but their actions contradict it, they don’t really care,” noted Elijah T, 33, of Conyers.
“Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries beat the heck out of this and wasted 41 days dragging their feet before eight Democrats finally decided enough is enough,” said Brian B., 61, of Norcross.
Rich Thau, President of Engagious, who moderated the focus groups, told Axios: “Democrats gave swing voters — who already hold the party in profoundly low esteem — yet another reason to mistrust them.”
Eight of the 13 participants said they still approve of the administration’s overall performance since President Trump returned to office in January.
The five who expressed disapproval pointed to inflation, high food prices, concerns about the job market, aggressive immigration enforcement, and a perception that the administration has not approached its governing responsibilities with sufficient seriousness, Axios reported.
Axios observed two online focus groups Tuesday night with 13 Georgia voters who supported Joe Biden in 2020 and then backed Donald Trump in 2024.
Nine participants identified as independents, three as Republicans, and one as a Democrat. While focus groups are not statistically representative like traditional polling, the responses offer insight into how some voters are processing current political developments.
Eleven of the 13 said they were aware of Democrats’ recent wins in off-year elections in strongly Democratic jurisdictions, including contests in Virginia, New Jersey, California, and New York City.
Of the thirteen surveyed, ten indicated they would support a constitutional amendment to establish an upper age limit for future U.S. presidents, with most suggesting a limit between 65 and 75 years old, the outlet said.
A New York Post editorial board piece published noted that rank-and-file Democrats are largely dispirited and frustrated after a lengthy shutdown failed to win concessions from majority Republicans on issues important to their party.
“Democrats pointlessly kept the government shut down for 41 days (and still counting!), purely to satisfy their squalling left flank’s need to do something to ‘resist’ President Donald Trump,” the editorial began.
“After they shut it down, they opted to claim the point was to force the GOP to extend expiring Covid-era Affordable Care Act subsidies — though the Dems themselves had set the expiration date back in 2021,” it continued.
The Employee Humiliated a Poorly Dressed Old Woman in Line — Then One Truth Changed Everything
“You do realize how much time you’re wasting for other people?! Wrong documents again!” — the employee threw out with cold contempt, humiliating the poorly dressed old woman right in front of the entire line. But only a few minutes later, something happened that made the woman bitterly regret her words… 😳
— You do realize how much time you’re wasting for other people?! Wrong documents again! — the employee said irritably, not even trying to hide her contempt…
Old Marta silently pressed a worn blue folder to her chest. She had come to the pension office with only one request — to correct a mistake in the documents because of which several years of her work record had not been counted.
Those years could have increased her pension at least enough so that she would not have to save money on medicine during winter…
— But they told me only these were needed.
But that seemed to irritate the employee named Diana even more.
She demonstratively flipped through the papers, deliberately wasted time, sighed loudly, and rolled her eyes so the whole line could hear:
— At your age, you should already have learned how to prepare documents properly. Go and bring more certificates. Next!
People in the line began to grow nervous. Someone clicked their tongue in annoyance, someone looked at Marta as if she were the one to blame for the delay.
And Diana seemed to enjoy the humiliation — her voice grew louder and her smile more venomous…
Marta slowly stepped aside toward the wall, lowering her head. It looked as if she was about to cry. But a few minutes later, something happened that made Diana turn pale before everyone’s eyes… and silence fell over the line… 😳
Continuation in the first comment 👇👇
A few minutes later, the office doors suddenly opened, and the branch manager, Mr. Roberts, walked in quickly. His face was grim, and in his hands he held a tablet with recordings from the security cameras.
He immediately approached Marta and, to everyone’s surprise, said gently:
— Ma’am, please come forward. Your issue will be resolved right now.
Dead silence filled the room.
Diana tried to explain something, but Roberts did not even let her finish.
— I watched your work for several minutes through the cameras. Instead of helping an elderly person, you decided to boost yourself at her expense by humiliating her in front of the entire line.
The employee’s face changed instantly. Just moments ago confident and arrogant, she now stood pale and confused, unable to raise her eyes.
And then something happened that no one expected…
Roberts personally took Marta’s folder, quickly reviewed the documents, and within minutes it became clear that all the required certificates were there. The mistake was in the office’s own system.
— Her work record must be recalculated immediately, — he said coldly.
Marta could barely hold back her tears. For many long months, he was the first person who had treated her like a human being…
But the hardest blow was still waiting for Diana.
The manager turned to her and said in front of everyone:
— From this moment on, you no longer work here. An employee who humiliates people instead of helping them has no right to hold this position.
Silence hung in the line, and then someone quietly began to applaud Marta…
