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Dems Contemplate Their Tea Party Moment

The current animosity rippling through the party isn’t along the familiar personal or ideological lines, but over a tactical dispute on how to fight Republicans. The first signs of a revolt are already manifesting on the campaign trail.

Hakeem Jeffries
House Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries, argued that the party should not condone a partisan Republican funding bill that included cuts to healthcare, veterans’ benefits, and nutritional assistance, and did not put any kind of leash on Musk. Photo: Nathan Posner/Anadolu/Getty Images
Abby Livingston
March 18, 2025

The anger coursing through the Democratic Party, following Chuck Schumer’s tactical surrender to Republicans on last week’s government funding bill, isn’t limited to furious Squad members, Bluesky luminaries, and activist group leaders. Sure, Schumer has his defenders, especially among Democrats who are well versed in procedure and the boomeranging consequences of shutdowns. But elsewhere across Capitol Hill, longtime donors are turning on traditional allies. Some staffers, I’m hearing, are unusually at odds with many of their bosses. Even House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries refused to defend his Senate counterpart. Voters are lighting up Capitol Hill switchboards, wondering why Schumer didn’t use the filibuster, and why Democrats won’t fight.