The Real Reason the Shutdown Ended

The Chris Cuomo Project

Chris Cuomo

News, News Commentary, Politics, Government

4.6 • 3.3K Ratings

🗓️ 13 November 2025

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Chris Cuomo explains why the shutdown outrage was never going to deliver real gains — not because the left was wrong, but because they were boxed in by laws and limits that made a clean, moral fight impossible. He walks through how progressives pushed for affordability, transparency, and protections on subsidies, but were forced into a deal shaped by rules written years ago under earlier administrations and reinforced during Trump’s presidency. Cuomo breaks down how the outrage economy and algorithm politics make good-faith leadership nearly impossible, and why many Democrats are now trying to shift from anger to achievable wins on healthcare, cost of living, and basic government function. He also shows how the MAGA–MEGA divide is reshaping expectations for 2026 — and why political incentives keep pulling both sides toward conflict even when voters want competence. Follow and subscribe to The Chris Cuomo Project on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday: https://linktr.ee/cuomoproject Join Chris Ad-Free On Substack: http://thechriscuomoproject.substack.com Support our sponsors: Calm your mind, change your life. Calm has an exclusive offer just for listeners of our show– get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at http://calm.com/CUOMO Get $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood—delivered right to your door. Go to: https://www.wildalaskan.com/CUOMO Take advantage of Ridge’s Biggest Sale of the Year and GET UP TO 47% Off by going to https://www.Ridge.com/CUOMO #Ridgepod Ready to give MASA or Vandy a try? Get 25% off your first order by going to http://masachips.com/CUOMO and using code CUOMO. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Do not watch or listen if you don't want to get upset, okay?
0:05.9	Because what I'm about to say is definitely going to piss you off no matter what your politics are.
0:12.4	But remember, I'm coming from it from the perspective of what the facts are to a critical thinker,
0:18.7	not somebody looking to have it fit into what I already believe,
0:22.8	because I'm a free agent, not someone who's just on a team that isn't taking me anywhere good.
0:32.9	The shutdown was a setup.
0:36.9	The shutdown is a metaphor for the next in our politics. And everything that
0:46.3	people are telling you about it is a head fake. It is not what they really want you to be thinking
0:52.2	and looking at. And I can prove it. You ready?
0:55.0	I'm Chris Cuomo.
0:59.0	Welcome to the Chris Cuomo Project.
1:04.0	The shutdown, what are you hearing right now?
1:07.0	Influencers on the left.
1:09.0	They caved, they caved, they caved, okay? You're going to see them.
1:14.6	You're going to see them out there saying the senators caved. Here are the eight names. Remember them.
1:20.7	Don't vote for them. Why? Let's talk about it. Did they cave?
1:29.6	How do you think a shutdown was going to end?
1:32.2	Let's take another step beyond.
1:34.2	Or before we get to that.
1:37.3	Who wanted this shutdown?
1:39.8	Oh, the left flank of the Democratic Party.
1:42.8	Wait a minute.
	...

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