Democrats’ playground politics trample on the will of voters – The Hill (blog)
From Supreme Court nominations to healthcare, it doesnt take a high IQ to figure out that nobody, in what is supposed to be our nations most deliberative body, got the memo the American people sent in November. Do your job.
Today, Neil Gorsuch sat on the high court for his first day hearing cases as a justice of the Supreme Court, despite the petty politics going on in the Capitol.
The Democrats recent decision to filibuster an eminently qualified Supreme Court nominee and force Republicans to employ the nuclear option to confirm Gorsuch is a perfect example of what can best be described as playground politics at its lowest, and if President Trump and the new Republican-controlled Congress are going to deliver on their ambitious agenda then they should know there wont be any help from Democrats theyve taken their marbles and gone home.
On the Rachel Maddow show in January, Rachel asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck SchumerCharles SchumerCotton booed over Trump's tax returns Democrats' playground politics trample on the will of voters Five hurdles to avoiding a government shutdown MORE (D-NY) if there will be consequences for Republicans stealing a Supreme Court seat because they failed to consider Merrick Garland, whom President Obama nominated in March of 2016.
Its hard for me to imagine a nominee that Donald TrumpDonald TrumpOregon man dies 'peacefully' after told Trump was impeached White nationalist argues Trump should be liable for inciting violence at rally Warren on Trump administration: 'God, it's like dog years' MORE would choose that would get Republican support that we could support. So youre right, he responded. And so you will do your best to hold the seat open? asked Maddow. Absolutely, Schumer said.
This is the same Sen. Schumer who in July 2007 said that no Supreme Court nominee from President Bush should be approved 19 months before the inauguration of a new president. We should not confirm any Bush nominee to the Supreme Court, except in extraordinary circumstances," said Schumer.
Its baffling why Gorsuch is the battle they would pick, forcing the nuclear option to be invoked when, as early as this summer, there could be a second vacancy on the court. A vacancy that could actually shift the dynamic of the court, unlike the Gorsuch seat.
Playground politics.
The American people sent a clear message that what they care about is the hit their wallets are taking due to increased taxes over the last eight years, premium increases of 25 percent this year under ObamaCare, our national security, and the tremendous overreach into our freedoms and religious liberties under the last administration.
One out five general election voters told exit polls the Supreme Court was the most important factor in their vote for president, and 57 percent of those voters went for Trump. Understanding the next president would likely be responsible for appointing two, and possibly three, Supreme Court justices is what made conservatives, particularly evangelical conservatives who were uncomfortable with candidate Trump, comfortable enough to make him President Trump.
According to the Pew Research Center, 81 percent of white evangelical Christians voted for President Trump, and 58 percent of protestant/other Christians voted for President Trump. Thats more than a Republican presidential nominee received since George W. Bush in 2004, when he garnered 59 percent of the protestant/other Christian vote, but only 78 percent of the white evangelical Christian vote.
If his first selection of Gorsuch is any guide, the next Supreme Court nominee under Trump will likely be a well-qualified individual who takes an originalist view of the Constitution and wont seek to rewrite it. Its unlikely theyll continue the severe overreach of the last eight years, but will work to protect constitutional rights such as our religious freedom instead of stripping it away.
But all signs point to Schumer continuing his playground pattern, now inexplicably tying needed reform to Trump releasing his tax returns. One has absolutely nothing to do with the other.
As for the Republicans, it appears they dont fully grasp that this election was different, either. They ran on repealing ObamaCare, as the program is literally in danger of collapsing, and the American people handed them the Senate, House, and White House. That, combined with having six years to figure out an affordable replacement and they still arent able to get the job done.
Continuing to live in their little bubble and go about business as usual and engage in their own version of playground politics will no longer work. For many Americans the stakes have never been higher. Excuses and rhetoric no longer stand a chance. If Republicans fail to get to work they will find themselves out of work in the next election cycle.
People are tired of having their freedoms trampled on and their wallets hijacked. They want their elected officials in Washington to stop whining, get off the playground and do their job.
Lauren DeBellis Appell was a press assistant for Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and deputy press secretary for his successful 2000 re-election campaign, as well as assistant communications director for the Senate Republican Policy Committee (2001-2003).
The views expressed by contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.
Go here to see the original:
Democrats' playground politics trample on the will of voters - The Hill (blog)
- Democrats Embrace a Shutdown Fight They Wanted to Avoid - The New York Times - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- California Democrats to Congress: Shut down the government over ICE shooting death - calmatters.org - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Senate Democrats threaten to block DHS funding bill after another person killed in Minneapolis - NBC News - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Democrats Who Voted to Fund ICE Distance Themselves From DHS - The New York Times - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Surveillance, captive-audience and wholesale pricing are in Colorado Democrats cost-of-living crosshairs - coloradosun.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Working-Class Voters Shifted Slightly Toward Democrats in the 2025 Gubernatorial Elections - Center for American Progress - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Senate Democrats threaten to block DHS funding over Minnesota ICE shootings - localnewslive.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Senate Democrats to block government funding after second fatal shooting in Minneapolis - The Washington Post - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Arizona Democrats rail against ICE violence: What the hell is wrong with us? - azmirror.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- How Democrats and even a few Republicans in Congress are moving to rein in ICE - vox.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Trump, unbowed by backlash to Minneapolis shooting, blames Democrats for 'chaos' - mprnews.org - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- White House insists Democrats are to blame for fatal shooting of ICU nurse - CNN - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Its Time for Concrete Action on ICE. Sadly, We Have the Democrats. - The Intercept - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Sen. Chris Murphy says Democrats "cannot fund this version of the Department of Homeland Security" - CBS News - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Senate Democrats want to make it easier to sue federal employees over civil rights - nbcconnecticut.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Two-Thirds of House Democrats Have Now Signed On to Impeach Kristi Noem - NOTUS News of the United States - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- US government shutdown looms as Democrats reject DHS funding over ICE issues - France 24 - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Democrats are shying away from climate messaging. One of their own is fighting back. - Politico - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Schumer: Democrats will block funding package if it includes homeland security money - The Guardian - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- At New Orleans forum, Democrats criticize Minneapolis shootings, 'ICE invasion of Louisiana' - wwltv.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York, one of seven Democrats who broke from their party to provide the votes to pass a bill to fund the Homeland Security... - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Democrats Running for U.S. Senate in Texas Call for Overhaul of ICE - The New York Times - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Democrats will not provide votes to advance DHS funding bill in wake of Minneapolis shooting, Schumer says - CBS News - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- As tensions continue to rise in MN, Natrona County Democrats are reaching out in solidarity - wyomingnewsnow.tv - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Roy Cooper Is at the Forefront of Democrats Longshot Bid to Flip the Senate. But What Do Voters Think of Him at Home? - Mother Jones - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Senate Democrats and Republicans call for investigation into killing of Alex Pretti - NPR - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Florida GOP closes 2025 with biggest ever registration edge over Democrats - floridapolitics.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Democrats are campaigning as if the 2026 election will be fair. Thats a mistake | Austin Sarat - The Guardian - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Maryland Democrats make a new play to redraw their House map for 2026 - NBC News - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- House moves to finish government funding as Democrats decry Homeland Security bill - ABC News - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- A year of failures: How Oregon Democrats bungled transportation funding - oregonlive.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Blair County Democrats tab newcomer for special election to fill 79th District seat - altoonamirror.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- 9 Democrats vote to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress for evading Epstein testimony - Politico - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Virginia Democrats aim for April 21 redistricting ballot and more headlines - virginiamercury.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Jared Golden 1 of 7 House Democrats who voted for DHS spending bill - pressherald.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Opinion | Democrats finally abandon Bill Clinton - The Washington Post - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Democrats condemn ICE after five-year-old detained with father in US raid - The Guardian - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- House Democrats request prison visit where Maxwell is held - The Hill - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Virginia Democrats Weigh Zoning Reform to Boost Housing Supply - wamu.org - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Despite Authoritarian Warnings, 149 House Democrats Vote to Hand Trump $840 Billion for Military - Common Dreams - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- GOP lawmaker's absence nearly hands Democrats win on Trump war powers - Fox News - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Its time Democrats accepted the cold reality of ICE | Victoria Hugo-Vidal - pressherald.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Read Democrats Letter to the Justice Departments Inspector General - The New York Times - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Rahm Emanuel critiques Democrats and offers advice for the upcoming midterms - NPR - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Here Are All the Democrats Who Voted to Keep Funding ICE - The New Republic - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Democrats have a strategy on Trumps Greenland threats: Put Republicans in the hot seat - MS NOW - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- These Are the 12 States Vying to Kick Off Democrats 2028 Contest - The New York Times - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- CNN poll: Democrats are deeply motivated for the midterms despite having dismal views of party leaders - CNN - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- At King Day at the Dome, Democrats urge South Carolinians to get involved and vote - South Carolina Daily Gazette - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Republicans and Democrats are trying to contain Trump's Greenland aggression. Will it be enough? - AP News - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- The Democrats 2028 calendar fight: 12 states apply for a spot at the front of the line - CNN - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Education tax credits just launched. Idaho Democrats want to put them on ice - Idaho Statesman - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Abolish ICE Is More Popular Than Ever. How Will Democrats Drop the Ball This Time? - The Intercept - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Idaho Democrats urge oversight before Disbursement of voucher tax credit funds - KBOI - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Democrats push to defund ICE as the House votes this week - WDRB - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Two Pa. Democrats sign onto Noem impeachment, as others weigh path forward to rein in ICE - Pennsylvania Capital-Star - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Dave Simpson: Is It Possible For Republicans And Democrats To Agree On Anything? - Cowboy State Daily - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Maryland Democrats to unveil $25 minimum wage bill at Annapolis rally - CoastTV - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Trump Backs Down on Insurrection Act as Democrats Take the Offensive - The New York Times - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Democrats and Republicans wrestle over 2026s hottest topic: Affordability - The Baltimore Banner - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Democrats in The Villages will be asking What more will it take? - Villages-News.com - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Democrats' Affordability Campaign Should Focus on Frozen Wages - The Fulcrum - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Republicans and Democrats are trying to contain Trumps Greenland aggression. Will it be enough? - The Boston Globe - January 20th, 2026 [January 20th, 2026]
- Democrats see narrow path to retaking the Senate. Watch these states. - The Washington Post - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Letters to the Editor: Democrats need to adapt to fight propaganda from the right - Los Angeles Times - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- The states fighting to be at the front of Democrats 2028 presidential primary - Politico - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Democrats are seeking a trifecta for Wisconsin in the 2026 elections - PBS Wisconsin - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Virginia Poised to Redraw House Maps That Could Set Democrats Up for a Win - The New York Times - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Democrats see a narrow path to win the Senate, but there's no room for error - PBS - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Democrats battle over who votes first in 2028, a proxy for the partys future - The Washington Post - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Democrats debate age, power and the partys future at a New Haven bar - Yale Daily News - - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Thin GOP majority exposed after NJ Republicans join Democrats to sink labor bill - NJ Spotlight News - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Joe Manchin: Democrats have lost their way I want Trump to succeed - The Times - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Opinion | Congressional Democrats need to bring a knife to an ICE fight - MS NOW - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- What Voters Told Democrats About ICE, Rising Costs and Party Perceptions - The New York Times - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Pew finds most Democrats think US is losing ground in science - Courthouse News - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Democrats introduce articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Noem after ICE shooting - Scripps News - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Democrats outline 'multiple paths' to a Senate majority all through red terrain - NBC News - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Democrats launch campaign for Virginia voters to join redistricting fight - The Washington Post - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]
- Opinion | Mamdani is showing Democrats the way beyond wokeness - The Washington Post - January 16th, 2026 [January 16th, 2026]