Oct 29, 2025 - Politics & Policy
Thune erupts in rare anger over Democrats pushing shutdown vote
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images
Senate Majority Leader John Thune showed uncharacteristic fury on the Senate floor on Wednesday, scorching Democrats for refusing to reopen the government.
- "[W]e tried to do that 13 times! You voted 'no' 13 times," Thune (R-S.D.) said in response to Sen. Ben Ray Luján's (D-N.M.) request for a vote on SNAP benefits.
- "You all just figured out, 29 days in, that, oh, there might be some consequences," Thune added.
Why it matters: Despite Thune's anger, there are signs of a potential breakthrough.
- Thune told reporters earlier Wednesday that conversations with Democrats had "ticked up significantly."
- It "will happen pretty soon," Thune said after being asked when he would personally engage with key Democrats.
🚨 Zoom in: Appropriators are quietly hopeful their progress on full-year spending bills could help, along with a larger agreement to end the shutdown.
- Some are eyeing a second combined package of full spending bills, multiple sources told Axios.
- "There are more senators, both Republicans and Democrats, talking to each other about what it would take. ... What does the path forward look like?" Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a key moderate, said Wednesday.
- Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) said there is "an increasing realization on the part of Democrats that if they want to retain the ability to influence spending decisions, it means we have to pass appropriations."
Between the lines: When asked about his visible frustration, Thune told reporters, "Sorry, I channel a little bit of anger there, but it's a high level of frustration."
- He then accused Democrats of "trying to buy time," saying "they realize that this is a losing argument."
- "It's going to get ugly fast," Thune said. "And so they're looking for an off-ramp. And the problem is that just extends the shutdown."
