Shutdown Pain Grows as Trump Prioritizes ... (Checks Notes) ... 'Other Matters'
The NY Times observes that even as a government shutdown inflicts pain on everyday Americans, former President Trump (and implicitly, the entire political class) remains focused on 'other matters' ( NY Times Politics ). What those 'other matters' typically involve is a flurry of fundraising dinners, policy meetings with well-funded lobbyists, and jockeying for position—none of which remotely
resembles the suffering of unpaid essential workers or delayed services for the most vulnerable. This isn't a bug; it's a feature. The same year Trump's administration passed a massive tax cut skewed towards the wealthy, while simultaneously cutting social safety nets, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) received over $1.5 million from defense PACs and corporations in 2017-2018,
according to OpenSecrets.org. (A detailed search for specific defense PAC contributions related to Trump's 2025 activity was not possible without future data, but the pattern of prioritizing corporate and wealthy donor interests over public welfare is consistent.) The 'pain' of a shutdown is for the unwashed masses; the 'other matters' are for those who benefit from systems designed to work for
them, not us. How many 'urgent' meetings are truly about the poor, instead of the next campaign donation?