As the government shutdown enters yet another tense week, the spotlight has turned to the motivations and strategies of both major parties in Washington, D.C. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the Democrats’ approach, leveling accusations that go beyond mere policy disagreements. In a recent interview with Breitbart News, Mullin laid out a prediction that has stirred debate and drawn attention from across the political spectrum.
Mullin, speaking on October 4 and 5, 2025, forecast that Democrats would ultimately move to reopen the government by Thursday or Friday of the coming week—October 9 or 10. His reasoning, however, had less to do with legislative breakthroughs and more to do with what he described as political self-interest. According to Mullin, “They’re going to continue to fight through the rest of the week... all next week, and I think on Thursday or Friday, they’ll reopen the government. And, the reason why I say that is, the following week Congress is scheduled to be out, to be back in your state working. A lot of these Democrats that aren’t up for reelection, they’re going to go on vacation.”
At the heart of Mullin’s criticism is his belief that Democratic leaders are prioritizing personal and party interests over the needs of ordinary Americans. He pointed specifically to a major Democratic National Committee (DNC) fundraiser scheduled for the weekend of October 10-11, 2025. “It’s one of their biggest fundraisers of the year, and the senators that aren’t going on vacation are planning on being down there to speak at it, because all their big, Hollywood, elite donors are going to be there, and they don’t want to miss out on it. So, that’s why I think they’ll probably open it up Thursday or Friday of next week,” Mullin explained to Breitbart News Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle.
But the senator’s critique didn’t stop at scheduling. Mullin accused Democrats of advancing policies that, in his view, are out of step with the desires of the American public. Central to his argument is the claim that Democrats are advocating for free healthcare for approximately 20 million undocumented immigrants. “The American people don’t want to provide healthcare for these illegals, especially to the tune of 20 million illegals. This policy of pandering to the left, and pandering to the criminal activity in these cities. Democrats are just doubling down on it,” Mullin said.
He further charged Democratic leaders, particularly Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, with steering the party into what he described as a “woke movement” that has resulted in historically low favorability ratings. “Mullin continued to point out that the Democrats’ favorability was the ‘lowest its ever been,’ adding that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries were leading the Democrat Party ‘down this woke movement,’” as noted in both Breitbart News and related coverage.
To illustrate his point, Mullin turned to a football analogy, suggesting that Democrats are stubbornly sticking to a failing strategy. “It’s like a coach that can’t admit that he’s failing because his play schemes aren’t working. I mean, you got to change the game plan every now and then, because if you’re getting your butt kicked in the first half, you’re going to get your butt kicked in the second half,” he said. He likened the current situation to the aftermath of the 2024 midterm elections, arguing that Democrats’ continued adherence to unpopular policies would only further erode their standing with voters.
“And, this is what’s happening right now, this is the midterm election that we’re talking about. So, we’re in the second part of this butt kicking that the Democrats have got themselves into last November. If they continue this policy, great, because it’s going to… they’re not fighting for the American people, they’re fighting for the radical left,” Mullin added, doubling down on his assertion that party priorities are misaligned with public sentiment.
During the interview, Mullin also referenced a recent exchange involving CNN’s Jake Tapper and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, suggesting that even mainstream media figures had, at least momentarily, acknowledged the validity of his points. “Vice President JD Vance explained it the best, it’s a slight of the hand. That’s all they’re doing, they’re just slighting the hand with the card trick when they start trying to deny it. But, right before Hakeem Jeffries was on with Jake Tapper, I was on with Jake Tapper, and I said the same thing that he talked about to Hakeem, and Jake Tapper actually admitted that I was right, on TV. And, then he had the opportunity to defend it when Hakeem Jeffries was on there, so he couldn’t back out from what he said, because he had agreed with me right before then,” Mullin recounted.
For Mullin and his supporters, the government shutdown is not just a procedural standoff, but a referendum on the direction of the Democratic Party and the priorities of its leadership. He contends that the push for expanded benefits for undocumented immigrants is emblematic of a broader disconnect between party elites and everyday Americans. “This is the exact same policy that lost them the election in November of last year,” Mullin asserted, pointing to what he sees as a pattern of electoral setbacks linked to progressive policy platforms.
Democrats, for their part, have largely rejected these characterizations, insisting that their approach to immigration and healthcare is grounded in humanitarian values and a commitment to comprehensive reform. They have accused Republicans of using inflammatory rhetoric and political brinkmanship to distract from substantive policy debates. However, as the shutdown drags on and the clock ticks toward the next round of negotiations, both sides are keenly aware of the political stakes—and the potential for lasting consequences in the run-up to the next election cycle.
With the DNC fundraiser looming and Congress scheduled for a recess, the coming days will test whether Mullin’s predictions hold true. Will the government reopen in time for lawmakers to attend high-profile events and return to their districts? Or will the standoff persist, deepening partisan divides and fueling further public frustration? For now, at least, the nation waits—and watches—as familiar political battles play out on the national stage.
What’s clear is that the debate over the government shutdown has become a proxy for larger questions about party identity, electoral strategy, and the meaning of public service. As both parties vie for the mantle of “fighting for the American people,” the outcome of this latest standoff may well shape the contours of American politics for months, if not years, to come.