Stephen Colbert skewers Democrats who backed shutdown deal: ‘Crumbled like a granola bar’

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Comedian Stephen Colbert blasted eight Senate Democrats who voted with Republicans to end the 41-day government shutdown, saying they “crumbled like a granola bar in your backpack” and handed President Donald Trump a win without any real concessions.

During the Monday, November 10, episode of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert', Colbert began with mock relief that the “long national nightmare” was finally over before tearing into the “Democratic defectors.”

Stephen Colbert mocks the lack of ACA concessions

“Democrats have been holding the line, demanding Republicans compromise to keep Affordable Care Act subsidies available for millions of Americans,” Colbert said.

“Well, last night, eight Democratic senators voted with Republicans to fund the government through January, without any Affordable Care Act guarantees,” he added.

The studio audience booed before Colbert delivered his punchline, “So yes, the shutdown may have been long and painful for millions of Americans, but at least it achieved jack squat.”

He ridiculed Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s promise to hold a vote on the Affordable Care Act in December.

“That’s when people get down to serious work, December. You work about six days, and half of that is spent doing a mandatory office door decorating contest,” he joked.

Colbert also took aim at Sen Jeanne Shaheen, describing her as “the Joker’s proud aunt” and mocking her call for bipartisan cooperation.

“Because the country is being run by insane people!” he shot back.

Progressives demand new leadership

The deal, which passed 60-40 late Sunday, reopened the government but dropped Democrats’ demand to extend health care subsidies. 

Progressive lawmakers and activists erupted in anger, accusing the party of capitulating without a fight.

“This is a defining moment for the party,” Rep Ro Khanna said. “We need new faces with bold new ideas. The American people are tired of a failed status quo.”

Khanna and several Democratic Senate candidates, including Michigan’s Mallory McMorrow, Iowa’s Zach Wahls and Maine’s Graham Platner, called for new leadership in the Senate.

Some also demanded that Chuck Schumer step aside as the minority leader.

“Down here in eastern Maine, a doubling of health care premiums destroys families,” Platner said in a video on X. “We need to elect leaders that want to fight.”

Although Schumer voted against the deal, many in the party reportedly blamed him for failing to keep the caucus united.

If the Affordable Care Act subsidies lapse at the end of 2025, analysts warn, allegedly more than 20 million Americans could face steep premium hikes.

Liberal frustration with Schumer has reportedly simmered since March, when he agreed to a short-term Republican funding bill.

However, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries supported Schumer and most Senate Democrats for waging “a valiant fight” in the standoff.