In a stunning admission that undercut weeks of Democratic spin, Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) dropped a political grenade at a NewsNation town hall at the Kennedy Center this week — squarely blaming his own party for the federal government shutdown. Fetterman didn’t mince words. “That’s why shutting the government is really what the Democratic Party wants to do,” he told moderator Chris Cuomo to audible audience applause. “I follow country, then party. And it’s the wrong thing for the country.” He made clear he would not support using a shutdown as leverage in negotiations. John Fetterman just blew up Democrats’ shut down narrative. FETTERMAN: “Shutting the government is really what the Democratic Party wants to do… [Obamacare subsidies were] designed by the Democratic Party to expire … This is NOT something taken by the Republicans.” pic.twitter.com/VE4s1LRWDE — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 16, 2025 Fetterman, one of the Senate’s most outspoken members, openly criticized Democrats for structuring the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) subsidies to expire at the end of 2025. “This was designed by the Democratic Party to expire at the end of the year,” he said. “This is not something taken by the Republicans.” Translation: the expiration wasn’t some conservative plot — it was baked into the policy by Democrats themselves. Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout! He added that while he supports extending those subsidies, it should happen without holding the federal government hostage. “Let’s have a conversation to extend it and not shut the government down.” The statement sent shockwaves through Washington and drew praise from Republicans, who quickly seized on it as validation. “Senator John Fetterman said the quiet part out loud,” said RNC Chairman Joe Gruters. “Democrats caused this shutdown. They’re responsible for the expiration of their own policies, and now hardworking Americans are paying the price.” This wasn’t Fetterman’s first warning shot. Back in March, he declared flatly on X: “Never, never, never vote for a shutdown — ever.” In early October, he reinforced the same position: “When the Republicans were doing it, we rightly criticized them … Don’t shut it down. It’s fundamentally wrong.” Fetterman was so committed to avoiding a shutdown that in late September, he became one of three Democrats in the Senate to vote for the Republican-crafted continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government running — a temporary bill that kept funding flat but didn’t address Democratic healthcare priorities. He also voted for the Democratic version, which would have extended Obamacare subsidies but failed to pass. His logic? Support both if it means avoiding chaos. “My vote affirms that, despite their refusal to restore health care, I am unwilling to vote to shut down our government and unleash massive, national chaos,” Fetterman said at the time. Fetterman’s move is rare in today’s polarized Senate. The Left wants to blame House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Republicans, but Fetterman’s words shredded that narrative. In classic unfiltered fashion, Fetterman shrugged off a Trump-reposted video showing Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) in a photoshopped sombrero, saying, “Somebody can put me in a sombrero and a mustache … I’ll laugh at it too.” As Democrats head into a critical election year, one of their own just admitted: the shutdown wasn’t forced on them. They chose it. And now they own it.

Former President Barack Obama endorsed Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger on Thursday, a move Republicans have dismissed as an attempt to distract voters in the waning days of a contentious campaign cycle. “Virginia’s elections are some of the most important in the country this year, and I am proud to endorse Abigail Spanberger for governor,” Obama said in the advertisement. “I’m honored to have the endorsement of President Barack Obama,” Spanberger posted on X Thursday. “He knows how high the stakes are on November 4th — and he knows that every vote counts.” “Abigail Spanberger is trying to distract from her full endorsement of Jay Jones and his violent rhetoric of wanting to murder his political opponents,” Republican Governors Association Rapid Response Director Kollin Crompton said in a statement. “Spanberger doesn’t have the courage to stand up to her party, and Virginians see right through it.” Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’ team account posted a GIF of NBA star Lebron James pretending to act scared in response to the Obama endorsement. “Don’t worry … maybe one day a President will endorse you too,” Spanberger’s campaign account replied. Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout! The statewide races in Virginia reached a fever pitch after Jay Jones, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, was revealed to have texted a Republican House of Delegates colleague fantasizing about the assassination of the former House of Delegates GOP Speaker and his children in 2022. Jones has since apologized for the remarks while facing numerous calls to exit the race. In a recent debate, Spanberger said that they are running “individual races” when asked directly if she still backs Jones, but The Daily Wire reported that bumper stickers and a shirt with “Spanberger-Hashmi-Jones” are still being sold in her campaign store. Jones and Attorney General Jason Miyares are slated to debate on Thursday night, as that race is also considered extremely close. Virginia’s top statewide offices flipped red in 2021 with the election of Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who cannot run for a second consecutive term, Earle-Sears, and Miyares. Election Day is November 4, but early voting is already underway until November 1. There are only a small number of high-profile races this year, including the governor’s race in New Jersey and the New York City mayoral race, which has its debate tonight.

'Driven by climate activists'

The suspect was arrested Tuesday

'powering us to victory'

'So much closer to the actual teachings of Jesus'

'$1.4 million in gambling winnings'

'Snorting a fat line of coke'

'makes him a resilient incumbent if he survives'

'Roughly three times more cash on hand'