Republicans own this shutdown: Why JD Vance’s blame game falls flat

The federal government is headed for yet another shutdown, and the finger-pointing has begun in earnest. But hosts in Tuesday’s episode of Today in Ohio weren’t buying the Republican narrative that Democrats should shoulder the blame.

” I don’t see any way that the Republicans will pull off putting the blame on the Democrats,” said Chris Quinn. “This is simple. They’re in charge. And you do have to make deals. All the Democrats are trying to do is keep Obamacare running so that Americans have basic Health care. No one is going to begrudge them that.”

It’s a straightforward political reality: When you control the White House and both chambers of Congress, the responsibility for keeping the government running falls squarely on your shoulders. Yet Vice President JD Vance has been leading the charge to deflect blame toward Democrats.

Quinn pulled no punches in his assessment of this strategy: “it’s amazing to watch JD Vance stand there, the buffoon that he is, and say, ‘It’s the Democrats, It’s the Democrats.’ Americans aren’t that dumb. They know who this is. It’s the Republicans.”

The shutdown, set to begin at midnight, would have wide-ranging impacts. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers would be furloughed without pay. Essential workers would continue working without paychecks until funding is restored. The Office of Management and Budget is already instructing agencies to prepare for potential permanent staffing cuts.

While Social Security benefits for current recipients, the Postal Service, transportation services, and active-duty military would continue operating, numerous other government functions would cease. Passport processing would halt, NASA’s Glenn Research Center would likely close, and Smithsonian institutions would shut their doors.

What makes the shutdown so frustrating for those harmed by it is that the deadline was entirely predictable. As Akron Democratic Representative Emilia Sykes pointed out, the September 30th deadline has been known for months. She called the Republicans’ failure to address it “political malpractice.”

The economic impact could be severe as well. With concerns already mounting about the economy teetering due to tariffs, removing paychecks from hundreds of thousands of workers would further strain the system. The workers would be forced to file for unemployment, putting pressure on state systems that may not be equipped to handle the surge.

“And it’s hilarious to watch these blusterers get up and try and say, ‘It’s the Democrats, it’s the Democrats, it’s the Democrats,” Quinn added. “Because nobody’s buying that. It’s the Republicans, it’s the Republicans, it’s the Republicans and Trump.”

The podcast hosts predicted that this strategy is likely a bluff, one that won’t succeed. Democrats appear to have the upper hand by simply standing firm on their modest request to ensure Americans have healthcare coverage. As pressure mounts and the public backlash grows, Quinn expects a swift pivot from the Trump administration.

“You know what happens whenever Trump realizes that he’s losing hold? He pivots and pretends that he never said what he said. I expect that pivot will come pretty quickly,” Quinn said.

The shutdown drama is yet another example of the dysfunction that has become commonplace in Washington. But one thing remains clear: when you control all levers of power, attempting to blame the minority party for governmental failure is a strategy likely to fail with middle America.

Listen to the discussion here.

Listen to full “Today in Ohio” episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston.