Shut it Down - Tom LoBianco Reports, Ep. 11
Pressure mounts on Democrats to stonewall Republicans, what are the pros and cons
Support independent journalism, $5/month, $50/year. No billionaires, no bribes.
Welcome to the 11th episode of Tom LoBianco Reports, a new show from 24sight News and our friends at Political Voices Network. Monday through Friday, tune in here on Substack at Noon ET and then catch the replay at 8p ET at Political Voices Network.
Each weekday, I’ll bring you along as I report the story. Along with my friend and colleague Ian B. Walters, we’ll dive down the late-night, screen-glazed rabbit hole of the modern interwebs, acting as your personal guide to what’s real and what’s complete bullshit. (For our live viewers at noon, reply to this email or send in your comments in the live chat and we’ll get to them at the end of the show.)
Special guest today at 12:20p:
, our top Congressional expert, with eyes and ears everywhere.On today’s show:
The Top: Shutdown Numbers
Why not shut it down?
That’s the new reasoning among some Democrats and progressives eyeing this latest possible government shutdown.
President Donald Trump has done plenty of damage in contravention of the law and the courts (although increasingly with the help of a pliant Supreme Court), the thinking goes. Entire agencies eliminated, independent watchdogs tossed out, the installation of Silicon Valley throughout all of the federal government, the normalizing of bribes for government approval.
With the House Freedom Caucus, at one time the bane of every Republican House speaker now effectively de-fanged and big name conservative holdouts like Rep. Chip Roy heading for the exit, the numbers on the House side don’t look too bad.
So the focus moves to the Senate, where Democrats have just enough leverage to make things painful.
If they want.
Hot Quote
“In about three weeks, the government’s funding will run out. Democrats will face a choice: Join Republicans to fund a government that President Trump is turning into a tool of authoritarian takeover and vengeance or shut the government down.”
The wind is at Democrats’ back for Congressional Combat, should they choose, after a month or so out in the field at town halls packed with enraged voters.
Deep Background:
This is all easy to consider in the moment, but all decisions now are made in the context of the midterm elections. The Senate has broadly been considered just out of reach for Democrats — needing to hold every competitive state and then flip four more states.
Republicans need to win over at least seven Democratic senators to break a filibuster.
So are there seven Democrats in trouble in 2026? Hardly. Maybe two, at best (if you look at Virginia’s Mark Warner and Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff.) But even then, the only current tight race is Georgia.
Democratic retirements in battleground states like New Hampshire, Michigan and increasingly Minnesota, make the Midterm map harder, but also free the sitting senators to take more risks.
What’s Next
We’re planning our Wednesday, Thursday and Friday shows. Keep it tuned here.
Catch up
Did you miss Monday’s show? Watch it here! Look for updates this evening on the tally in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.
Indiana Deepfake Series
Indiana Deepfake: Lt. Gov's office adopts new employee handbook, Gov. calls in Beckwith for meeting
Indiana Deepfake: Lawmaker whose wife targeted launching Congressional bid
BREAKING: Lt. Gov. spokesman quits amid deepfake probe, per sources
Indy prosecutor probes topless deepfake, Haggard blasts 'pornographic smear' of his wife
Topless deepfake video roils Indiana office, lawmaker's wife targeted, per sources
Help build the 24sight News community. Sign up, follow, subscribe, share, comment. Support the mission of real journalism, accountability, speaking truth to power.
YouTube | Bluesky | TikTok | X (when necessary) | The OG, Substack
News that cuts through
Sponsors of 24sight News get in front of our highly engaged audience of decisionmakers, professionals, thought leaders, national media and more. Get in touch to discuss sponsorship options: sales@24sight.news.
Shut it down. It is not our government anymore, it is fascist regime. What we knew as a government has been hollowed out by Musk and Trump, the only thing left is his personal GESTAPO/Sturmabeitlung ICE and a slavish military that will obey his every command.
Social Security is not funded via the General Fund, but a trust fund, Trump and the Republicans will dig up funds to keep the military paid.
The rest of the government is kaput,. there is no real Park or Forestry Service anymore, and some doors are actually shuttered. maybe by defunding the government we can halt construction on Trumps gilded ball room.
The budget will only finance a fascist regime, so shut it down.