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- #41 - Why Are Republicans and Democrats Talking About "Who Won the Shutdown"?
#41 - Why Are Republicans and Democrats Talking About "Who Won the Shutdown"?
We don't see anyone winning here.
Holden Lipscomb
November 13, 2025
#41 - Why Are Republicans and Democrats Talking About “Who Won the Shutdown”?
We don’t see anyone winning here.
The Rundown
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Why Are Republicans and Democrats Talking About “Who Won the Shutdown”?
Hi Friends,
Another government shutdown has come and (appears to be) gone, and the headlines sound familiar: Who won? Who lost? Which party will pay the price? The truth is, no one won. Not the TSA agent working without pay. Not the traveler stuck in an airport. Not the small business waiting on a federal loan. The real losers are everyday Americans.
While politicians fight over optics, voters see something else: dysfunction. Both parties look bad—Democrats disorganized, Republicans inflexible—and Washington seems incapable of governing. And that frustration is fueling a quiet but powerful shift.
Independents are no longer just “spoilers.” They’re becoming a force. Tired of partisan games, they want accountability and results. Recent polling shows more Americans view independent candidates as a fresh start—an alternative to gridlock.
Remember: the midterms are less than one year away.
And as the midterms approach, here’s the takeaway: If the two major parties keep treating governance like a zero-sum game, they risk losing more than a shutdown battle. They risk losing us, the voters, who are ready for something different.
Lura
Check Out Our Latest Poll: Independent Center 2025 Nationwide Online Governmental Sentiment Survey
To access the toplines, click here.
Get Involved
Can Two Party Politics Meet the Needs of the People? A Conversation w/ Independent Candidate for Governor of Maine Rick Bennett
Former State Senate President Rick Bennett represented Mainers for decades as a Republican, but in June he announced he’s leaving the GOP and running for Governor as an Independent:
“I’m running as an independent because Maine’s next chapter can’t be dictated by party bosses in Washington or by the special interests pouring dark money into our elections. Too many politicians today are more focused on partisan point-scoring than problem-solving. The system thrives on conflict, not resolution, and the issues that matter most – housing, our economy, our schools – get lost in the noise.”
Is this an anomaly, a trend, or who knows? What does it mean for the independent reform movement when successful politicians like Bennett declare their independence from the binary status quo?
On Tuesday November 18th at 3pm ET Open Primaries President John Opdycke will sit down with Bennett for a conversation where he’ll ask the simple but big question: Can Two Party Politics Meet the Needs of the People?
Register today through the link here.
Video Feature: An Independent Post-Election Perspective
Latest Insights from the Independent Center
Political Discussions Trending on Reddit This Week
• Democratic parties are experiencing significant electoral momentum, particularly in state-level races and traditionally red areas, signaling a potential broader shift in voter sentiment.
• Criticism of Republican leadership, specifically Speaker Johnson and Donald Trump, is a dominant narrative on the left, focusing on issues like government shutdowns, perceived obstructionism, and controversial actions.
• Discourse around social issues and election integrity remains highly polarized, often framed through a partisan lens, with limited cross-partisan engagement.
• Centrist discussions attempt to foster common ground on procedural issues (e.g., preventing government shutdowns) and analyze political trends, but these conversations are less engaged than partisan debates.
• The viability of certain Trump-era policies, such as universal tariffs, is facing scrutiny even from conservative judicial figures, suggesting potential cracks in unified support.
Independent Minds Book Club: Tribalism is Dumb by Andrew Heaton
We’re excited to announce our next pick for the Independent Minds Book Club! We’ll be joined by comedian, author, and political satirist Andrew Heaton for a conversation on his recent book!
The discussion will occur the first week of December. Date/time will be announced at a later date.
We’re also excited to announce that we’ll be purchasing the book for the first 10 people that reach out!
Reach out to Holden Lipscomb ([email protected]) if you’d like to join.
The Independent Center is the go-to organization for information, research, and engagement with independent voters, who now make up the plurality of the electorate.
We represent those who are fed up with partisan politics and feel politically homeless. We believe the future is not red or blue; it’s fiscally responsible, socially inclusive, and free to choose the best options for ourselves, our families, and our communities.