High-ranking Swamp politicians rarely criticize their own. But everything has changed.
Because a U.S. Senator was just dragged through the mud in the most stunning public betrayal.
Democrats’ Desperate Scramble Of Tossing Schumer Under the Bus to Save Face
The Democratic Party is floundering, leaderless and lashing out, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emerging as their favorite scapegoat. Former NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd was floored on Thursday when Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, laid bare the depth of public disdain for Schumer during a candid exchange on The Chuck ToddCast. With no clear vision or commanding figure to rally behind, Democrats are turning on their own, and Schumer’s plummeting popularity makes him an easy target for a party desperate to deflect blame.
Khanna, fresh off his “Benefits over Billionaires” tour, has been crisscrossing the country, holding town halls and soaking up the public’s mood. What he’s found is a visceral anger toward Schumer that outstrips even the criticism lobbed at Vice President JD Vance. “Chuck Schumer has squandered any goodwill he had,” Khanna said. “I mean, in terms of when I go around the country, people just are very upset at—” The statement was so blunt that Todd, visibly stunned, had to interject.
“Wow. Let me pause that. That was very matter-of-fact of you just now … I have sensed that myself, but you’re the one traveling a lot more than I am right now,” Todd said. “So Schumer’s brand is — Schumer’s trust levels have really collapsed with Democrats?” Khanna didn’t hesitate, doubling down on the sentiment. “It’s shocking to me, right? They’ll criticize [Elon] Musk first, [President Donald] Trump second and then Schumer more than even JD Vance,” he asserted. “I was like, ‘Can’t we turn our fire on Vance or [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio?’”
The exchange left Todd reeling, muttering “wow” twice more as Khanna spoke. The congressman noted how unusual it is for a Senate minority leader—a typically low-profile role—to attract such intense scorn. But with Democrats adrift, Schumer’s high visibility and long tenure make him a lightning rod for frustration. The party’s lack of cohesive leadership has left its base restless, and Schumer’s inability to inspire or unify only fuels their discontent.
Todd probed further, wondering if Schumer was simply absorbing residual anger aimed at former President Joe Biden. “Is this Biden hangover stuff? Meaning he’s the last, quote-unquote, old guy still in leadership, and they’re so angry at this generation that didn’t leave, you know, in time, frankly, arguably,” Todd said. “And Schumer, in some way, is — because he’s still there, he’s getting a little bit of the anger at Biden for not stepping aside sooner?” Khanna agreed, suggesting that Biden’s lingering shadow is part of the problem, but Schumer’s own missteps have made things worse.
A key point, Khanna argued, was Schumer’s March decision to vote for a GOP-backed spending bill to avoid a government shutdown—a move many Democrats saw as a spineless surrender. “Now, whatever you think about it, he just didn’t do a good job explaining himself,” Khanna said. “People felt he should have stood up. He should have had a fight. It’s kind of a sense that he’s operating in normal times.” For a party craving bold defiance, Schumer’s pragmatism felt like betrayal, and his failure to communicate only deepened the rift.
Schumer’s troubles aren’t just national—they’re hitting home. CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten sounded the alarm on April 24, warning that Schumer’s support among New York Democrats has cratered. “New York Democrats on Chuck Schumer — view him favorably in December of 2024. That was just a few months ago — it was 73%,” Enten said. “Look at where that number has fallen to in just a few months. It is now down to just 52%. That is the lowest I could ever find in Siena College on how Democrats in Chuck Schumer’s home state view him.” Even in his own backyard, Schumer is bleeding support, a d*mning sign for a party already on shaky ground.
With no charismatic leader to steer the ship, Democrats are resorting to finger-pointing, and Schumer’s long tenure makes him an easy mark. His once-steady hand now seems out of touch to a base demanding fire and conviction. Khanna’s blunt assessment on Todd’s podcast reflects a deeper truth: the party is fractured, scrambling for relevance, and willing to sacrifice its own to mask its disarray. Schumer, for all his experience, is no match for a restless electorate and a party too disorganized to channel their anger constructively.
The irony is stark. While Democrats rail against figures like Musk, Trump, or Vance, their own rank-and-file are turning on Schumer with equal venom. Khanna’s plea to redirect that energy toward Republican targets fell flat, a sign that the party’s internal chaos is drowning out any hope of a unified front. Schumer’s missteps—real or perceived—have made him a symbol of everything Democrats resent about their current state: timid leadership, missed opportunities, and a stubborn clinging to the old guard.
Schumer’s fall from grace isn’t just a personal failure; it’s a symptom of a party unmoored, throwing punches at its own reflection in a desperate bid to regain footing. With no clear path or inspiring figure to guide them, they’re left to tear down their own, hoping the collateral damage somehow sparks a revival.
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