Charlamagne tha God: Democrats Are ‘Losing the Messaging Battle’ Over Shutdown
Liberal radio host Charlamagne tha God conceded on Monday that Democrats are being outmaneuvered by Republicans in the messaging war surrounding the ongoing Schumer Shutdown, now entering its third week.
Speaking to MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace on her podcast “The Best People,” Charlamagne said new polling data shows more Americans are blaming Democrats for the government shutdown — a trend he attributed to poor Democratic communication strategy.
“I read a poll this morning that said, you know, a lot of Americans are starting to blame Democrats for the government shutdown,” Charlamagne said. “And it’s just simply because Republicans are better at messaging than Democrats will ever be.”
‘Democrats Still Haven’t Figured Out How To Message’
Charlamagne, a frequent critic of both political parties, expressed disbelief that Democrats still “haven’t figured out how to message” effectively.
“Right now, at a time when American people are hurting, they can point directly to the Trump administration to say earlier in the year it was DOGE cutting all the federal jobs. Now they are in charge of every branch of government, and it’s the government shutdown and all of y’all are losing jobs,” he said.
The Schumer Shutdown, as it’s been labeled by Republican lawmakers, has now become the third-longest in U.S. history — costing taxpayers more than $8 billion to date, according to estimates from congressional analysts.
The deadlock has been driven by Democratic insistence that any temporary funding measure include expanded Obamacare subsidies, including provisions that would allow states to cover illegal immigrants under publicly funded healthcare programs.
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Charlamagne: ‘Republicans Beat It Into People’s Heads’
The outspoken radio host said Democrats’ attempts to justify the shutdown have backfired, allowing Republicans to seize control of the narrative.
“Republicans have beat it in people’s head that it’s Democrats’ fault, and Democrats are taking credit for it,” Charlamagne said.
“They’re saying, ‘Yeah, we are the reason the government is shut down, but we’re doing it because we didn’t want your healthcare prices to get jacked up.’ So they’re taking a stand, but it’s hurting a whole lot of other people while this stand is being took.”
Charlamagne’s remarks echoed a growing sentiment among political analysts that Democrats have failed to communicate a clear rationale for prolonging the shutdown, even as public frustration mounts.
Criticism of MSNBC and the Border Debate
Charlamagne also criticized his own network, MSNBC, for dismissing voter concerns about the southern border, arguing that liberal media outlets are alienating working-class audiences.
“You can’t just ignore people’s criticisms of the border and chalk it up to MAGA messaging,” he said.
“I’ll never forget when MSNBC did that to me — based off me listening to people in New York City, listening to people in Chicago, activists in Chicago, and them telling me what their issues with the border were.”
The remarks sparked immediate attention online, with social media users praising Charlamagne for what some called “rare honesty” from a left-leaning media figure.
Senate Rejects Funding Bill for 11th Time
Meanwhile, efforts to end the shutdown failed again on Monday. The Senate voted 50–43 on a House-passed continuing resolution to fund the government through late November — falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance the measure.
Two Democrats, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Sen. Angus King (I-ME), broke ranks and voted with Republicans to reopen the government. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) did not vote, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the only Republican to oppose the bill.
The failed vote marked the 11th unsuccessful attempt to pass a short-term funding resolution since the shutdown began.
Schumer Holds Firm as Stalemate Deepens
In remarks on the Senate floor, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) insisted that the Democratic position “remains the same.” He reiterated demands that expanded healthcare provisions be included in any funding deal before Democrats will agree to reopen the government.
Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), have refused to negotiate until the government is funded and operational again.
“It is truly amazing how a program Democrats created and tax credits that they chose to sunset have now become the Republicans’ crisis,” Thune said.
“Democrats created ObamaCare — alone. They implemented the enhanced tax credits — alone. And they chose a sunset date for those tax credits — alone. Democrats are solely responsible for the ObamaCare tax credit cliff.”
He added, “Democrats are trying to pin this disaster on Republicans while at the same time asking Republicans to bail them out. It’s really kind of ironic.”
No End In Sight
With both parties digging in, analysts warn that the shutdown could stretch well into November. The next Senate vote on a stopgap funding bill is expected Wednesday, though few anticipate a breakthrough.
Political observers say the mounting economic toll and voter frustration could reshape the political landscape heading into next year’s congressional elections.
“Every day this goes on, the public mood hardens,” one political strategist told The Hill. “The side that looks less flexible — right now, that’s the Democrats — risks taking the bigger hit.”
As for Charlamagne, his blunt assessment underscores growing anxiety within the Democratic base that the party is losing control of both its message and its momentum.
James Jenkins is a celebrated Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose work has reshaped the way readers think about social justice and human rights in America. Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, James grew up in a community that instilled in him both resilience and a strong sense of responsibility toward others. After studying political science and creative writing at Howard University, he worked as a journalist covering civil rights issues before dedicating himself fully to fiction. His novels are known for their sharp, empathetic portraits of marginalized communities and for weaving personal stories with broader political realities. Jenkins’s breakout novel, Shadows of Freedom, won national acclaim for its unflinching look at systemic inequality, while his more recent works explore themes of identity, resilience, and the fight for dignity in the face of oppression. Beyond his novels, James is an active public speaker, lecturing at universities and participating in nonprofit initiatives that support literacy and community empowerment. He believes that storytelling is a way to preserve history and inspire change. When not writing, James enjoys jazz music, mentoring young writers, and traveling with his family to explore cultures and stories around the world.
