'They f**king caved': Jon Stewart slams Democrats for yielding in government shutdown battle

Jon Stewart criticized the Democrats for voting to end the government shutdown without extending subsidies for the Affordable Care Act
PUBLISHED NOV 11, 2025
Jon Stewart slams Democrats for conceding in government shutdown fight (The Daily Show/YouTube)
Jon Stewart slams Democrats for conceding in government shutdown fight (The Daily Show/YouTube)


NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Comedian Jon Stewart delivered a scathing critique of Democratic leaders over their handling of the recent government shutdown. He argued that the leaders ended the standoff without securing meaningful concessions, portraying the decision as a significant retreat in a high-stakes political battle, and warned that the move could weaken the party’s credibility. 

Jon Stewart blasts Democrats over ending the shutdown

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 11: Jon Stewart attends 2023 Night of Too Many Stars benefiting NEXT for AUTISM at Beacon Theatre on December 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Jon Stewart attends 2023 Night of Too Many Stars benefiting NEXT for AUTISM at Beacon Theatre on December 11, 2023 in New York City (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

On this week’s episode of ‘The Daily Show’, host Jon Stewart criticized the Democrats for voting to end the government shutdown without extending subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, which is the primary issue the Left has fought for throughout the 41-day stoppage. 

“They f****** caved on the shutdown,” Stewart said, fuming. “Not even a full week removed from the best election night results they’ve had in years, seven Democratic senators and an ‘Independent’ voted with their Republican counterparts to end the shutdown and reopen the government. And did they get their extended healthcare subsidies?”

Frustration over Democrats despite election victories

Jon Stewart has announced he will make a surprise return to 'The Daily Show' (Getty Images)
Democrats wanted the deal to include extending subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (Getty Images)

He used a clip from ABC 7 to make his point, “Democrats wanted the deal to include extending subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. Instead, they got a promise to vote on it at a later date.”

“I cannot f****** believe it,” Stewart continued. “You had the wind at your back! Election victories all over the country. The new Sydney Sweeney movie was box office bupkis!"

"Apparently, her new MAGA fanbase didn’t show up in droves to see a biopic about a lesbian professional boxer who overcomes domestic violence to live her truth. Who could have seen that coming? Democrats, you sold out the entire shutdown not to get what you wanted, but for a promise to not get what you wanted later.”

Deal to end government shutdown

WASHINGTON - JUNE 5: The U.S. Capitol is shown June 5, 2003 in Washington, DC. Both houses of the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives meet in the Capitol. (Photo by Stefan Zaklin/Getty Images)
The US Capitol is shown June 5, 2003 in Washington, DC (Stefan Zaklin/Getty Images)

The legislation to end the nation’s longest government shutdown in history was passed in the Senate on Monday night, November 10, after a group of eight centrist Democrats negotiated a deal to reopen the government if Republicans agree to hold a vote on expiring healthcare subsidies by December. 

The package would include a stopgap funding bill that reopens the government through January and funds other elements, including food aid and the legislative branch, for the next year.

The amended package would still need to pass the House of Representatives and be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature, a process that could take several days.   

Those eight Democrats were Sen Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Sen Dick Durbin of Illinois, Sen John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Sen Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Sen Tim Kaine of Virginia, Sen. Angus King of Maine, Sen Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.

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