On The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, Congressman Michael Baumgartner joined Ari Hoffman to discuss the ongoing government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — and the growing divide between Washington, D.C.’s political gridlock and Seattle’s activist left.
Baumgartner, who represents Eastern Washington, placed blame squarely on Democrats for prolonging the standoff. “The Democrats should open up the darn government,” he said. “They seem intent on demonstrating to their base that they can set records and fight hard — but this is not how you run a country.”
Democrats “Holding the Government Hostage”
Baumgartner criticized Democrats for what he described as a manufactured crisis designed to rally their base. “Republicans are not going to agree to a huge increase in Obamacare, including spending on health care for illegal immigrants, simply because the Democrats want to shut down the government,” he said.
He noted that Republicans in the House had already passed a “reasonable, clean budget” to keep the government open. “It’s the Senate Democrats holding it up,” he explained. “There are 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats — you need 60 votes to pass something. The Democrats are using that to hold the country hostage for their extreme health care demands.”
Baumgartner argued that the fight is being driven by a party base that “does not recognize President Trump as the legitimately elected president.” He continued, “They’re mad and they want people to fight. That’s why they’re raising small-dollar donations off the shutdown. But that’s not a great way to govern.”
“Ideological Extremism” and Losing Hearts and Minds
Hoffman pointed out that the polling hasn’t favored Democrats during the shutdown, and that their strategy seems more about fundraising than results. Baumgartner agreed, calling the Democrats’ position “a dead-end strategy.”
“They’ve really boxed themselves in with their ideological extremism,” he said. “The American people elected Donald Trump in both the Electoral College and the popular vote, and they want government that works. Instead, Democrats are focused on a woke agenda — things like biological men in girls’ sports and giving tax dollars to illegal immigrants. That’s not what voters asked for.”
He added that Democrats should “focus on governing, not the next election,” warning that fear of being primaried by far-left challengers like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is paralyzing even senior figures like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Seattle’s “Left-Wing Extremists”
Turning to local politics, Hoffman asked whether Eastern Washington had seen similar unrest to the “No Kings” protests that overtook Seattle over the weekend — rallies marked by anti-Israel chants and calls for “resistance.”
“I don’t think anything is as nuts as the left-wing extremists that protest in Seattle,” Baumgartner said bluntly. “Eastern Washington has its mix of political constituencies, but the timing and the theme of those protests were ironic. If President Trump were really a king, he could open the government without Democrats’ support.”
Baumgartner also praised Trump’s recent diplomatic wins, saying, “This comes after perhaps the most successful week of President Trump’s time in the White House — with dramatic achievements in the Middle East and helping bring hostages home. What he’s doing there is beyond the expectations of anyone in foreign policy.”
Closing Thoughts
As the shutdown continues with no end in sight, both congressmen and commentators agree: the longer Democrats dig in, the clearer it becomes that ideology — not governance — is driving the standoff.
Listen to The Ari Hoffman Show weekdays 3-6 PM Pacific on Talk Radio 570 KVI, KVI.com, the KVI app, and on your preferred podcast platform.
