Senate Democrats are cautiously optimistic about a potential agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security. But it's far from a done deal.
As negotiations ramp up on Capitol Hill to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, Senate Democrats seem to be clinging to a particular word: reforms.
It was a term party leaders used in the context of Immigration and Customs Enforcement nearly two dozen times during a March 24 news conference.
The refrain threw cold water on a new GOP compromise to fund the critical agency — minus ICE's enforcement and removal operations — and end a crisis that has upended air travel across the country.
"Democrats are continuing to push for modest reforms," Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, told reporters. "The current Republican offer in front of us does not do that."
56 Comments
ytsedude@lemmy.world · 151 pts · 161d
"Democrats are continuing to push for modest reforms" is the most 2026 quote I've ever read.
Bbbbbbbbbbb@lemmy.world · 38 pts · 161d
"Will they capitulate at the smallest change and a promise of republicans maybe, possibly, potentially sneezing at the thought of doing anything different? Stay tuned...."
OwOarchist@pawb.social · 45 pts · 161d
Tomorrow: "In exchange for a pinky swear from congressional Republicans that a vote for moderate reforms would be held sometime in the next year, Democrats have given in to all Republican demands and passed the funding bill with no changes."
archonet@lemy.lol · 20 pts · 161d
The day after: "Republicans break pinky swear -- "No one could have seen this coming" says Fetterman; Democrats sigh, throw up their hands, and collectively go 'whaddayagonnadoaboutit?'; Schumer writes strongly worded letter."
Goferking0@ttrpg.network · 18 pts · 161d
Idk. At this point fetterman would fully be voting gop
Tilgare@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 160d
And yet that is all it takes to grind this government to a halt - they ask for basically nothing at all and still, they are given no quarter. They should almost all be fired, the red hats should be just as mad at their idiot congresspeople for accomplishing nothing.
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 161d
"Look at those stupid idiots, trying"
ytsedude@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 161d
Are they, though?
Goferking0@ttrpg.network · 4 pts · 161d
No but that won't stop people from singing their praises here :/
PyroNeurosis@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 161d
They may be, but the real question is "What are they trying to get?"
Probably nothing for my benefit.
AlexSage@piefed.social · 65 pts · 161d
I don't understand how requiring federal agents to show their face while working in an official capacity unless the situation requires to be covered for safety reasons is controversial. If they aren't doing anything illegal, why do they feel the need to cover up like robbers?
Goferking0@ttrpg.network · 27 pts · 161d
Their demands are just have ice follow the same rules as police, which they already have to do. Which is extra ironic as it's not like it's done anything to help with how much the police abuse citizens
ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 160d
They're trying to save ICE for use during a Democratic administration. This is how Senate Democrats are calculating their politics. They're approaching this from the angle that the current admin is ruining ICE.
Like, they fundamentally support Iran war and regime change, and only oppose that this guy is doing it so badly.
Goferking0@ttrpg.network · 2 pts · 160d
Exactly. But others in this thread are using it as examples of how hard the dems are fighting for the people. Not to actually help us mind you just to make optics better
uberdroog@lemmy.world · 56 pts · 161d
Shut down airports .. what are we even talking about...shut it all down for the next 3 years...there is 0 room for negotiations until this administration is held to account and trials begin.
Jimbabwe@lemmy.world · 30 pts · 161d
Seriously. As much as the shit stains in charge are fucking everything up, I’d gladly endure a total shutdown of society as a whole if that’s what it takes to cut this cancerous corruption out.
triptrapper@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 160d
I'm not making excuses for the dems complete lack of backbone, or their complicity in all the current horrors, but I do think this conversation should always acknowledge that many millions of (poor, undocumented, disabled) people would be utterly fucked during a total shutdown.
explodicle@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 160d
Not as fucked as they'd be if we did a shutdown and then ended it in exchange for nothing whatsoever.
BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today · -5 pts · 161d
I got no problem with that. I wanted to keep it locked down last Fall.
I don't like General Strikes. You think Trump is going to capitulate because we self-inflicted unemployment on ourselves? He'll just think that's hilarious.
No, instead of cutting off OUR money, let's cut off THEIR money. That hurts THEM. You want money? Dance, Monkey, Dance.
Cethin@lemmy.zip · 14 pts · 160d
A general strike does cut off the owner class's money. How do you think they get money? They sure as hell aren't getting their hands dirty and making anything. Their money comes from our labor. Sure, it also hurts workers (which is what strike funds are for), but it's one of the few tools we have to hurt the owners.
BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today · -1 pts · 160d
European nations do general Strikes because they don't have an alternative. America has the unique option of shutting off the GOVERNMENT'S money instead of our own. So why don't we do what works best for US, instead of following the tired old European model, that simply won't be effective in America?
We can try to hurt the Sociopathic Oligarchs with strikes, but they'll just spend their endless fortunes fighting back. But if we hurt the politicians badly, and convincingly threaten them with more in the future, we can make them more afraid of US, than their desire for more money from the Sociopathic Oligarchs.
I just don't see how self-inflicted wounds are going to convince MAGA psychopaths to behave. They. Don't. Care. About. Us. We can hurt ourselves all day long, and they'll just watch and laugh.
What politicians care about is themselves and their money, so hurt them in THEIR pocketbooks, not ours. That will wake them up real fast. We're seeing it right now in this partial shutdown. They are flailing all over the place, but NOTHING is working for them, and everybody knows they are running out of all their options.
The SAVE Act will NOT be passed, and DHS will NOT be funded unless they take those masks off. This is due to the Dems hanging tough and not giving up this time, unlike that shameful, humiliating surrender last Fall. THAT government shutdown should still be going on.
For me, that was the last straw for the MAGA comedy act of Schmuck & Schumer. Those two loser need to get the hook and be dragged offstage.
To paraphrase General Patton: We won't win by hurting ourselves, we will win by hurting THEM. So let's hurt them real bad, in every way possible. That will make them listen.
Cethin@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 160d
I'm not saying we shouldn't do this, but how does this hurt them? Sure, it delays them from getting things done, but that's assuming they have a strong desire to do so, not just that it's their job. They're still being paid. Stock value does hurt most of them though, which a general strike effects.
Notably, he was leading a war, where a lot of people had to sacrifice their life, not just some money. If you think they won the war without hurting themselves, I don't know what to say. Again, I'm not saying to not shut things down in the government. I think they should. I'm just also saying general strikes hurt them too, and probably significantly more.
FancyPantsFIRE@lemmy.world · 42 pts · 161d
Don’t worry guys, Schumer has a proven ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, no chance this doesn’t end in some kind of capitulation that fails to get any concessions.
ramenshaman@lemmy.world · 35 pts · 161d
Preemptive "fuck you, Chuck" for when he caves in.
Assassassin@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 33 pts · 161d
Y'all remember 5 years ago when all these shitstains couldn't wear a mask to protect people from a plague? Suddenly they can breathe through them just fine.
quick_snail@feddit.nl · 2 pts · 160d
I don't think their face coverings are N95 tho.
Those fabric face coverings were illegal where mask mandates were in effect on public transportation in my city.
Treczoks@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 160d
"Push for moderate reforms" where the complete removal of the ICE agency and build-up of a new replacement is needed.
And they think this will go well with voters?
explodicle@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 160d
Now is not the time to criticize Democrats, it's an election year! I expect you to do all campaigning when it matters least. /s
pelespirit@sh.itjust.works · 22 pts · 161d
Democrats are fighting for no masks and that ICE actually has to have real warrants.
antifa_ceo@lemmy.ml · 31 pts · 161d
Which is fine and dandy but ignores the fact that ICE is a literal gestapo that needs to be wholesale dismantled not made marginally less bad.
pelespirit@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 161d
You're not wrong, they should be doing way more. Trump and fellow republicans won't even agree to that when their own base isn't betting paid.
Goferking0@ttrpg.network · 5 pts · 161d
Dems love to do nothing but put lipstick on the pig.
krisevol@lemmus.org · -4 pts · 161d
Ice deported more people during the Obama administration that now. Dems love ice, they hate when the public find out about what they do though. It's all virtue signaling, nothing more.
grue@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 161d
I'm pretty sure ICE under Obama wasn't grabbing random brown people off the street with no warrant and murdering people who protested about it, though.
The actual immigration purpose of ICE might be less effective under Trump, but he sure as Hell ratcheted up the jackbooted thuggery!
krisevol@lemmus.org · 4 pts · 161d
Ya, the image is totally different this time around
pinto@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 161d
Shh! Ignore that Harris said she'd have stronger borders than Trump! Facts are evil!
Goferking0@ttrpg.network · -2 pts · 161d
So basically nothing. Not even the bare minimum just giving the appearance of addressing issues as always.
Especially when the body camera part is just to help expand ice surveillance rather than help citizens.
BigMacHole@thelemmy.club · 20 pts · 160d
Have Republicans tried PROMISING to MAYBE think about SOME word like Reforms if they Pass the Bill with NO Changes? That USUALLY works Pretty well on Democrats!
YerLam@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 160d
Another sacred unbreakable pinky promise?
samus12345@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 160d
They don't even have to break any promises! Just promise to hold a vote for whatever the Democrats are wanting at a later date, then vote against it when the time comes. Worked great last time!
daannii@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 160d
If shmucker lets the save act pass. I swear to God...
quarkquasar@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 160d
BC_viper@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 161d
I can't wait for them to end the shutdown with absolutely nothing to show for it again. Useless twats.
how_we_burned@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 160d
Yup fetterman and some other traitors will vote republican rendering all of this political theatre.....
AlecSadler@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 16 pts · 160d
Everyone ready to get violent yet?
Absolutely nothing will change until we do. So let's organize.
I_Jedi@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 160d
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 5 pts · 160d
I said go and get your fucking shine box
halcyoncmdr@piefed.social · 14 pts · 161d
Just let the government die at this point, don't vote for any reforms other than abolishment entirely. CBP handled all of it just fine before ICE was even created to do the SAME FUCKING JOB.
The US government needs to be replaced. Along with 99% of Congress. The experiment has failed. Time cut our losses and try again.
Gathorall@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 160d
ICE wasn't created to do the same job. It was created because kicking out anyone who cares about rule of law or procedure from CBP would have taken much longer.
ICE was made a fascist strangling arm from the get-go, that's why it is separate.
LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net · 7 pts · 161d
DHS does nothing important and it should never be funded again.
cmbabul@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 161d
We’re at the point that I’m not just certain they are controlled opposition, but I hope they are corrupt and complicit because if they were in fact just this incompetent I think it would cause me to lose somehow more hope in humanity
devolution@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 161d
Waiting on Fettermann to fuck this up and Schumer to cave.
Mulligrubs@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 161d
Meanwhile, bOtH pArTiEs will continue to pretend that they need a "super majority" to pass legislation, even though they could change this parliamentary rule with a simple majority vote at any time.
Why do they do this? Why do they call the solution the "nuclear option"? why do people fall for this bullshit?
"Oh sorry, we couldn't pass minimum wage, we need a super majority for that! We are the labor party uwu."
"Oops! We wanted to make big cuts, but have instead decided to increase spending because of those darn Democrats! Gosh darnit!!"
Their full time job is playing golf, getting drunk, and fucking interns. Legislation is boring!
"We are stressed, we need a summer recess after spring recess, right before we have winter break, oh look it's the holidays we need a vacation so tired."
Best benefits in the world though, they are able to pass that somehow.
Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 160d
Both parties refuse to remove the limit because once one of them does, the other has no excuse not to. The GOP knows that they can basically get whatever they want in budget reconciliation (the one bill a year that ignores the filibuster) and the Dems know that if they actually start passing laws people will expect them to improve their material conditions. So it remains a useful fiction for both of them.
Pricklesthemagicfish@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 161d
Full funding for every gop wants as long as they promise to smile while doing it.
totesmygoat@piefed.ca · 1 pts · 160d
This is the face of a failed democracy. Those little blue wins. Lol. It's the adjustment the ss needs. Your plans for the no kings picnic. That's a joke. You actually think that is going to stop this?? You really are giving project 2025 it's bloodless coup. Enjoy the fanfiction of 1984 and bridesmaids tail.
SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.world · 0 pts · 161d
Personally I'm glad Patty Murray is showing their balls for once.