MSNBC host Symone Sanders Townsend surprised her audience and fellow panelists by announcing during a live broadcast that she is leaving the Democratic Party to register as an Independent. Her decision stemmed from frustration with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s support for a Republican-backed government funding bill.
During her program “The Weekend,” Sanders Townsend expressed her outrage at Schumer’s choice to endorse the GOP spending bill that prevented a government shutdown. “I’m p*****,” she stated bluntly. “There’s actually little that the Senate Minority Leader can say, and the 10 Democrats that voted with the Republicans can say, to appease somebody like me. I’m going to change my registration to Independent,” she announced, visibly frustrated. More details can be found in the Daily Mail article.
This announcement took the panel by surprise and highlighted what many see as a growing divide within Democratic ranks, potentially leading to a progressive uprising against the party’s establishment figures. Sanders Townsend, who previously served as press secretary for Senator Bernie Sanders and as a senior advisor to former President Biden and Vice President Harris, voiced strong criticism.
The immediate cause for her decision was Schumer’s reversal on the government funding bill. The 74-year-old New York Democrat had initially stated that his caucus was unified in opposing the Trump-supported Republican proposal, but on Thursday, he announced his support to keep the government operational. Ten other Democrats joined him, passing the measure with a 54-46 vote, and President Trump signed it into law on Saturday, March 15.
During a broadcast, Sanders Townsend referenced Rebecca Traister’s Substack, indicating that the Democratic Tea Party started simultaneously with Schumer’s public announcement of his concession.
Former Democratic Congresswoman Donna Edwards, now an MSNBC analyst, shared similar frustrations. She criticized Schumer’s handling of the scenario, arguing that the lack of a clear message, strategy, and leadership led to a perceived surrender to Republicans. She contended that this demonstrated weakness, allowing Republicans to exploit Democratic inconsistencies.
Schumer defended his decision as the least harmful option available. “It’s much, much better not to be in the middle of a shutdown, which [would] divert people from the number one issue we have against these b*******,” Schumer said to MSNBC on Friday before quickly correcting himself, “Sorry, these people.”
He argued that a government shutdown would further empower President Trump and Elon Musk, who is leading efforts to reduce the federal workforce and close federal agencies. However, this reasoning has not resonated with many in his party, especially among its progressive members.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez publicly criticized Senate Democrats on social media, accusing them of risking future cooperation with the House due to inaction driven by fear. She emphasized their responsibility for future outcomes. This criticism has led some Democrats to privately encourage Ocasio-Cortez to challenge Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in a future primary election.
The GOP-led resolution that triggered this intraparty conflict includes significant cuts to non-defense spending, affecting Department of Defense medical research programs, Army Corps of Engineers projects, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s community development, rental assistance, and homelessness services programs. Critics argue it grants the White House more power over federal spending, potentially benefiting Trump and Musk’s agenda.
The backlash against Schumer has been swift and intense. He postponed his book tour amid security concerns after progressive activist groups began organizing protests at his scheduled events. The Indivisible group explicitly called on Schumer to step down as Democratic leader, accusing him of surrendering a rare moment of leverage for Democrats.
Public demonstrations erupted in New York, New York, and Washington, D.C., as news of the deal spread. Outside Schumer’s New York City home, more than 100 protesters gathered to denounce his actions. Thousands marched through Manhattan to oppose Trump and what they viewed as Democratic leadership’s failure to offer meaningful resistance.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries attempted to ease tensions by stating, “Our party is not a cult, we are a coalition. On occasion, we may strongly disagree about a particular course of action.” Meanwhile, Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) told CNN, “I think Senate Democrats have to sit down and take a look and decide whether or not Chuck Schumer is the one to lead in this moment.”
President Trump took the opportunity to highlight the Democratic discord, posting on his Truth Social platform: “Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing. It took ‘guts’ and courage,” the president wrote.
As Sanders Townsend’s announcement echoes through political circles, it may signify the beginning of a broader reckoning within the Democratic Party as it seeks to effectively oppose Trump’s second-term agenda.