I saw a disappointing poll today. Forty-four percent of Americans blame Republicans for the government shutdown, while just 35% blame the Democrats. I don’t understand it, but I also do understand it.
 
When you’re here in Washington, D.C., it’s as clear as night and day that the Democrats are responsible for the shutdown. We don’t have to guess at who is responsible. Republicans put legislation on the floor to reopen the government 13 times, and 13 times Democrats voted against it.
 
How can 44% of the public think it’s Republicans who won’t reopen the government?
 
There have been at least six government shutdowns over the last 20 years. The most high-profile shutdowns were caused by Republicans trying to shrink the size of government and curb Democrat spending. It never worked.
 
After a week or two of Republicans making their point about the Democrats’ fiscal irresponsibility, they would always back down and vote to reopen the government. So, many people are just assuming that Republicans are at fault once again.
 
The reality this time is the exact opposite.
 
Democrats shut down the government over their demands for an additional $1.5 trillion in new spending. They also want to renew Obamacare premium subsidies that expire at the end of the year. Republicans are willing to negotiate on the healthcare subsidies, but not when Democrats are holding our government hostage. (See next item.)
 
Some say, “Gary, why can’t they just vote to fund the military and essential workers who aren’t getting paid, like air traffic controllers?” Republicans tried that. They brought up bills on the Senate floor to fund these critical areas, and Democrats have voted them down.
 
Let’s be clear about what’s happening here. Republicans won the election. They have a majority in the Senate, but it is short of the 60 votes you need to end filibusters and effectively control the Senate.
 
If Democrats are now going to say, “Unless you do what we tell you to do, we will never give you any of our votes,” that would mean our democracy actually has been erased. We will be ruled by the minority. Is that really what 44% of the country wants?  
 
Here’s another revealing sign. Groups like the largest federal government workers’ union, air traffic controllers, airline pilots’ unions, and even the liberal Washington Post are supporting the Republicans. All these groups are aligned with the Democrat Party, but they know Democrats are the problem here. 
 
It’s now Day 34 of the Schumer Shutdown. Food stamp benefits ran out Saturday. If the Schumer Shutdown goes on much longer, we’re getting to the point where it could blow up Thanksgiving travel, as more and more air traffic controllers call out “sick” in protest of working without pay.
 
 
 
About Those Subsidies
 
The Obamacare subsidies that Democrats say are so important are only about a quarter of the $1.5 trillion in additional spending that they are demanding. The vast majority of what they want has nothing to do with Obamacare subsidies.
 
Democrats are also demanding the repeal of GOP priorities in the One Big Beautiful Bill. It was just passed this summer. That’s a total nonstarter!
 
They want to gut commonsense Medicaid reforms, like requiring able-bodied adults to work and preventing illegal aliens from getting taxpayer-funded healthcare.
 
They want to restore outrageous and wasteful USAID spending that the Trump administration stopped. They also want to restore funding for the biased left-wing hacks at National Public Radio.
 
 
 
Big Elections Tuesday
 
There are big elections this coming Tuesday, especially in New Jersey and Virginia, where both states feature competitive statewide races. The Republican candidates for governor are underdogs in both states.
 
If we lose both, the media and the Democrats are going to have a field day. They’ll say Americans are rejecting the entire Trump/Vance agenda and there will be a GOP bloodbath next November.
 
Here’s what I’d like to see: Two upset victories driven by conservatives determined to affirm the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk and determined to make the Left pay a price for its violent actions and rhetoric.
 
So, if you live in New Jersey and Virginia, there’s no excuse. You have to vote.
 
But for the great majority of you who don’t live in either of those states, do you know anyone who does? Do you have friends or relatives there? If so, call them and encourage them to get out and vote for candidates who share their values.
 
 
 
Not So Glamorous
 
Most people know that Glamour is devoted to women’s beauty and fashion. Thus, the name. Glamour UK has just released its “Women of the Year” edition. The cover features nine women wearing shirts that say, “Protect The Dolls.”
 
There’s just one problem: These “dolls” are dudes.
 
Yes, that’s right—Glamour UK’s “Women of the Year” are men who claim to be women. Apparently, it’s a thing for “transwomen” to call themselves “dolls,” which is disturbing.
 
J.K. Rowling is best known as the author of the Harry Potter books. Her politics are generally left-wing. But on the transgender issue, she has been an incredible warrior for the rights and safety of real women. And she has paid a very high price for it.
 
Reacting to the Glamour UK cover, Rowling noted:
 
“I grew up in an era when mainstream women’s magazines told girls they needed to be thinner and prettier. Now mainstream women’s magazines tell girls that men are better women than they are.”
 
The Left is also telling girls that boys are more “deserving” of athletic awards and scholarship opportunities than they are. The Left is telling girls that they have no right to privacy or to safe places, including girls bathrooms and locker rooms.
 
Men and fathers – Stand up! Protect your wives and daughters.
 
 
 
Pray For The Persecuted Church
 
Many of us get frustrated when the church parking lot doesn’t have enough spaces. But in many places around the world, Christians walk several miles on Sunday to go to a church with no parking lots, no air conditioning, and no heat.
 
They also know that when they cross the church threshold with their family, it may be the last thing they do on this earth. Across the Middle East and Africa, Christians are murdered every Sunday because they are followers of Jesus Christ. Christians are, in fact, the most persecuted religious group in the world.
 
As a former Trump appointee to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, I am all too aware of the dangers many Christians endure for a right far too many Americans take for granted.
 
Christians in Nigeria are being systematically slaughtered.
 
Christians in communist China are facing the worst level of persecution in years.
 
Christians in the Middle East, the cradle of Christianity, fear for their lives every day.
 
This past Sunday, November 2nd, was the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Click here for more information.
 
If your pastor did not mention Christian persecution overseas yesterday, please encourage him to make it a priority in future sermons and to plan early for next year’s International Day of Prayer.
 
 
 
Bauer At The White House
 
President Trump, fresh back from dealing with the “ghouls” in communist China, returned to the White House to host the annual Halloween party. Here is a picture of the First Couple right after they gave one of our grandsons, Charlie, some candy.
 

 
Charlie, realizing that Washington, D.C., is “the Swamp,” chose to suitably dress as an alligator. Fox News Instagram chose the photo for their post.
 
 
 
Tune In To Family Talk
 
Please tune in to Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk radio show. On today’s broadcast, I continue my discussion with my good friend, filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza, about his riveting documentary, The Dragon’s Prophecy. We talk about the supernatural battle behind antisemitism and reveal why the tiny nation of Israel remains central to world events.
 
Find station listings here. Or listen online here.
 
 
 
Good News
 

• The Trump Justice Department is taking action to ensure election integrity by suing states that refuse to clean up their voter rolls.

 

• The Trump administration withheld $160 million from California for issuing commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. This stupid policy is not only risking American lives on the road, it is also hurting American truckers.

 

• An appeals court has revived a lawsuit brought by the state of Texas against Yelp for discriminating against faith-based, pro-life crisis pregnancy centers.

 

• More than 60 abortion mills have closed so far this year.

 

• Wilbur Wright College fired a radical staff member who called for immigration police to be murdered.