Jon Stewart knocks Schumer on CR: 'Total capitulation' to Trump, GOP

Jon Stewart is railing against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for voting last week to advance a GOP-crafted funding bill, suggesting the New York Democrat led a "total capitulation" to President Trump.

"What are you doing?" Stewart exclaimed of the move by Schumer while hosting Monday's "Daily Show" on Comedy Central.

Schumer has come under intense fire following his vote, alongside nine other Senate Democrats, to advance the House Republican-drafted funding bill, which helped avoid a government shutdown.

"And for those of you who may have felt like this was a total capitulation, Sen. Schumer just felt like this wasn't the moment for Democrats to press their case, because Trump is still too strong," Stewart said, before playing a clip of the lawmaker saying in an interview that, in the past, Republican legislators started working with Democrats once Trump's approval rating dipped below 40 percent in polls.

"Apparently the grand plan is Dems keep fecklessly complaining until [Trump's] 48 [percent] approval comes down to 40, which is a plan, but it's forgetting one crucial piece of information in Schumer's popularity calculation," Stewart said, as he cited a recent NBC News poll showing just 27 percent of Democratic voters had a favorable opinion of their party.

"You've got to get Trump to lose eight points of popularity just for you to get to the point where you're 13 points below him," Stewart said.

"Your approval is only seven points above where it turns red and goes into low power mode," the 62-year-old comedian cracked.

"Perhaps I'm being too hard on the senator," Stewart said, before adding with a grin, "although I am not."

"Perhaps [Schumer] has insider knowledge of a quiet, smoldering Republican amenability to compromise. Perhaps underneath that hard shell of Republican intransigence is a soft, nougaty, center of responsible legislative leadership waiting to be freed," Stewart told the audience.

He then played audio from Schumer's appearance on The New York Times's "The Interview" podcast, in which the senator said he often has conversations with his Republican colleagues at the gym.

"When you're on that bike in your shorts, panting away next to a Republican, a lot of the inhibitions come off," Schumer said.

"Peddling really hard and not going anywhere — it's a great metaphor for the Democratic Party right now," quipped Stewart, who's been critical of Schumer in recent weeks on "The Daily Show."

"But for some reason, there is a persistent fiction within the Democratic Party that if they just hang out with Republicans in the gym, or wait out Trump's popularity, or give them concessions on a continuing resolution they said would harm the country, the Republicans will finally see the light and Democrats will be rewarded with productive bipartisanship," Stewart said.

"This fiction that you are inventing, this idea that somehow, 'Oh, they'll come to their senses' — it allows Democrats to keep thinking that Republicans are actually the ones in the precarious position."

Pointing to prominent Democrats repeatedly since 2012 referring to Republican moves as a "fever dream," Stewart said, "Excuses you from having to propose an alternative, coherent vision, and allows you to pretend that this is just an issue of messaging and not merit."

Topics

Trump congratulates Schumer for doing ‘right thing’ on CR

President Trump on Friday congratulated Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) for opting to vote to advance the House-Republican drafted six-month government funding bill, despite pushback ...
The Hill - Mar. 14
Jon Stewart Isn’t Falling for Trump’s Golf Tournament ‘Win’

After the president claimed victory at his own club, Stewart compared him to “the Make-a-Wish Batman kid: ‘Hey, look at that, Donald. You caught all the criminals.’”
The New York Times - 3d
GOP senator: Schumer 'about as popular as chlamydia' among Democrats

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) applauded Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for voting in favor of the GOP-authored continuing resolution (CR) while noting the sharp division it drove between the ...
The Hill - 1d
Moskowitz reads back GOP 'mean tweets' ahead of CR vote

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) read back some of the “mean tweets” from Republican lawmakers about continuing resolutions (CR) ahead of Tuesday’s vote. “It’s CR day on Capitol Hill, and what is ...
The Hill - Mar. 11
Trump lauds 'very good funding bill' after House GOP unveils CR

President Trump was quick to throw his support behind the House GOP's stopgap funding bill Saturday afternoon, calling it a "very good funding bill." "The House and Senate have put together, under ...
The Hill - Mar. 8
House Democrats stew over Schumer's capitulation on GOP funding bill

Politico - Mar. 13
House Democrats stew over Schumer's capitulation on GOP funding bill

Politico - Mar. 13
Dozens of House Democrats pen letters to Schumer urging him to reject CR

Dozens of House Democrats signed on to a pair of letters to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Friday, urging him to oppose the House GOP’s government funding bill as the upper ...
The Hill - Mar. 14
Carville on Schumer CR vote: ‘This might turn out to be a wiser decision than people think’

Democratic strategist James Carville weighed in on Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer’s (N.Y.) decision to vote in favor of the House GOP-led continuing resolution, saying it might turn out to ...
The Hill - 3d
Schumer brushes off leadership questions: ‘My caucus and I are in sync’

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) brushed off questions surrounding his leadership and defended his decision to vote to advance the six-month GOP-crafted continuing resolution (CR) that ...
The Hill - 6d
Schumer backs down, Democrats seethe

In today's issue: Trump praises Schumer ... Progressives fume ... Senators’ game plan ... Tim Walz tours GOP districts {beacon} 12:30 REPORT It’s Friday. Happy Pi Day, my friends! 🥧🍕 Several ...
The Hill - Mar. 14
Schumer ‘missed the moment’ to stand up to GOP, says House Democrat

Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) says Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) “miss the moment” to use the leverage he had to stand up to the Trump administration. Rep. Ivey also wouldn’t rule out the ...
NBC News - 2h
Ocasio-Cortez on Schumer saying he'll vote to advance CR: 'Deep sense of outrage and betrayal'

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) slammed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for saying he would vote to advance the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government, ...
The Hill - Mar. 14
Schumer Says He’ll Vote for GOP Spending Bill to Avert Government Shutdown

Many Democrats had agitated for the party to hang together and block the measure in defiance of President Trump, but the leader said doing so would prompt a shutdown that would only empower Mr. Trump.
The New York Times - Mar. 14
Fallout continues from Schumer's support for GOP bill

Some House and Senate Democrats appear divided over Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's decision to help Republicans avoid a government shutdown. Nine other Democrats joined Sen. Schumer in ...
CBS News - 3d
Ocasio-Cortez knocks Schumer over spending bill support

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has been on the airwaves making it clear she strongly disagrees with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats who are backing the ...
CBS News - 6d
'Tremendous mistake': Rep. Ocasio-Cortez blasts Schumer over GOP funding plan vote

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to vote for the House GOP funding bill "a tremendous mistake."
ABC News - Mar. 14
Walz knocks Schumer over government funding blowup

Walz piled on the Senate minority leader during Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s most recent podcast episode.
Politico - 3d
Walz knocks Schumer over government funding blowup

Walz piled on the Senate minority leader during Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s most recent podcast episode.
Politico - 3d
Schumer says Democrats will block GOP funding bill, raising shutdown alert

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to pass the House-approved deal to fund the government.
ABC News - Mar. 13
Schumer says he will vote yes on GOP funding bill

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it a “Hobson’s choice” and that the Republican bill is a “terrible option” but indicated he would vote yes on the funding bill to prevent a government ...
NBC News - Mar. 13
Schumer to vote for GOP spending bill amid Democratic divisions

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says that he is ready to advance Republicans’ funding bill to avert a government shutdown. It marks a major reversal from two days ago and the strategy is ...
NBC News - Mar. 14
Democrats react to Schumer's plan to vote for GOP funding bill

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is surprising a lot of Democrats with his move to vote for the Republican funding bill in order to avoid a looming government shutdown. Moderator of Meet the ...
NBC News - Mar. 14
Schumer postpones book tour after backlash for supporting GOP funding bill

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has postponed his book tour over security concerns. The decision comes just days after he faced opposition from his party for supporting the Republican spending ...
CBS News - 3d
Fallout continues among Democrats over Schumer support for GOP spending bill

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has faced criticism from other Democrats for his decision to break with the party and vote to advance a continuing resolution to fund the government last week. ...
CBS News - 3d
GOP plan to avoid a partial shutdown gains support from a crucial Democrat

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, says he supports voting for a GOP plan that would avoid a partial government shutdown. It's not clear how many Senate Democrats will join ...
CBS News - Mar. 14
Schumer clashes with liberal colleagues over House GOP funding bill

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) surprised Washington Thursday by announcing on the Senate floor that he would vote to advance a House Republican-drafted six-month government funding ...
The Hill - Mar. 14
Newsom tells Senate Dems to 'do the right thing,' oppose CR

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has called on Senate Democrats "to stand up and do the right thing" and vote no on the GOP-backed stopgap bill that would avert a looming government shutdown. ...
The Hill - Mar. 14
GOP defense hawks brace for Trump changes

🔵 Plus: Bernie Sanders & AOC's huge crowds {beacon} GOP defense hawks brace for Trump changes PRESIDENT TRUMP UNVEILED the sixth generation F-47 fighter jet Friday, as top Republicans in Congress ...
The Hill - 1h
House Democrats bash Senate colleagues for backing GOP spending bill: ‘Huge slap in the face’

House Democrats are furious at their fellow Democrats in the Senate for supporting a Republican spending bill, saying Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other aisle-hopping senators are ...
The Hill - Mar. 14
Schumer to vote for GOP measure to avert government shutdown

The Senate plans to take up a House-passed bill to fund the government through September beginning on Friday, which needs the support of Democrats to move forward.
CBS News - Mar. 14
"I'm the best leader for the Senate," Schumer says amid pushback over shutdown vote

Schumer said he is the "best at winning Senate seats" amid questions about his leadership after he voted to advance a GOP measure to fund the government.
CBS News - 3d
GOP senator says 'tariffs is a tax' and Trump understands 'completely'

A GOP senator says President Trump's tariffs are a tax on American consumers, and Trump knows but the goal is to create open markets and long-term fairness
The Hill - Mar. 13
Van Jones on Democrats' 'volcanic anger' with Schumer: 'We need alpha energy'

CNN political commentator Van Jones weighed in on the “volcanic anger” Democrats have with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) after he voted to advance the GOP-backed spending bill, ...
The Hill - 6d
Jeffries says he has confidence in Schumer going forward

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) should remain at the top of the party ranks despite the outcry over his support for a ...
The Hill - 3d
Chuck Schumer says a 'lawless' Trump has caused a constitutional crisis

Schumer said during an interview with "Meet the Press" that "democracy is at risk" following Trump’s attacks on the judiciary and calls to impeach a judge who ruled against him.
NBC News - 1d
3/19: America Decides

President Trump says he had a “very good” call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Rep. Nancy Pelosi criticizes Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for backing GOP funding bill.
CBS News - 1d
Schumer says he'll vote for GOP funding bill, other Democrats criticize plan

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says he'll vote in favor of House Republicans' stopgap funding bill as Congress barrels toward the deadline to avert a government shutdown. Siobhan Hughes, ...
CBS News - Mar. 14
Schumer defends voting for GOP funding bill amid some Democrats' calls for new party leadership

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is defending his controversial pivot to support Republicans' spending bill last week, telling "CBS Mornings" on Tuesday that voting against the plan would be ...
CBS News - 3d