Here is the list of spineless cowards who think capitulation is an effective strategy against fascism:
- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto
- Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois
- Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania (basically a moderate Republican at this point)
- Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire
- Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia
- Sen. Angus King of Maine
- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire
If you live in any of these districts, your senator is a fucking moron. Sorry.
Say what you will about Schumer, he is also pissed that these Dems are breaking rank. In this moment, he understood what needed to be done.
EDIT: a lot of folks on Reddit are pointing out that Schumer is supposed to be the Senate leader, so he still deserves plenty of blame if he can’t keep his party whipped in line. The pattern of Senators that defected (all Senators that are not up for reelection in 2026) suggests that Schumer might have even encouraged this move behind closed doors. No hard evidence of that latter point, but there’s enough there to be rightly pissed at Schumer himself.
Schumer 100% knew about this beforehand. These people were selected because they’re not at risk of being primaried, to protect the traitors who wanted it dead because they were worried that they wouldn’t have ACA to campaign on next season if they actually managed to protect it.
One of the votes (Dick Durbin) is literally the minority whip.
Schumer planned this and picked eight fall guys.