Democratic senators fear getting 'hammered' after 'No Kings' for ending shutdown

[Celerity]

9. Another centrist Dem (the retiring Shaheen, so her true colours are showing) is starting to cave

On Thursday, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) became the fourth Democrat to signal unease with the party’s staunch opposition to what in normal times would be relatively uncontroversial funding bills when she voted Thursday to advance an $852 billion defense funding bill.

Democratic senators acknowledge a handful of their colleagues would love to end the tense standoff over federal funding, but they say those members are worried a liberal backlash could end their political careers.

“Are there enough Democrats to join Republicans to reopen the government? Not in the near term,” said the Democratic senator who requested anonymity. “There is no bipartisan conversation that’s anything but bulls‑‑‑.”

The senator said centrist Democratic colleagues would vote to open the government “yesterday” if left to their own devices but don’t want to risk an angry backlash from the base.