Jeffries says voters sent Washington a message to put “ordinary Americans first.”

Jeff Bennett:

Today marks the 36th day of the government shutdown, setting a record for the longest period in US history. After Democrats’ strong performance on election night, President Trump admitted this morning that his party bears more blame for the shutdown.

I spoke earlier with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries about what comes next.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, welcome back to The News Hour.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York):

Good evening Great to be back.

Jeff Bennett:

So this is now the longest government shutdown in US history. Earlier today, you and Senator Schumer called for a meeting with President Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Senate Republican Leader John Thune. Did you hear anything again?

Representative Hakeem Jeffries:

We have not heard anything yet from the President or our Republican colleagues, unfortunately. They are still missing in action.

The House has now canceled the vote for six consecutive weeks. House Republicans are on a taxpayer-funded vacation, even though we’re seeing a government shutdown, the longest in history, as I just mentioned. People are suffering all over the country.

We need a bipartisan path to reopening the government and entering into a spending agreement that makes life better for the American people, while decisively addressing the Republican health care crisis.

Jeff Bennett:

The Democrats’ strong performance in the election last night, how does that influence your thinking or strengthen your position in this closing battle?

Representative Hakeem Jeffries:

Well, we don’t view this shutdown as something that should be evaluated through a partisan lens.

We are striving to make life better for the American people, to make sure that taxpayer dollars are spent in an effective and efficient manner, while at the same time addressing the issues that we know are important to the American people, especially lowering the high costs of living in an environment in which costs have not gone down, despite Donald Trump’s promise on day one.

Costs have gone up, housing costs have gone up, electricity prices have gone through the roof, childcare costs have gone up, grocery costs have gone up. Now, because Republicans have refused to extend the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits, we know that tens of millions of Americans across the country are about to experience a significant increase in their health insurance premiums, including in some cases having to pay an additional $1,000 or $2,000 a month.

This cannot be allowed to happen in this country, the richest country in the history of the world.

Jeff Bennett:

As I mentioned, as this shutdown continues, the human toll is mounting, there are no checks for federal workers, and SNAP benefits are drying up. The Federal Aviation Administration said today that it will reduce air traffic by 10 percent if the closure continues through Friday.

If Democrats say they’re the party that believes government should work, especially for people living on the margins, how do you explain to voters that the shutdown continues under Democrats’ watch, too?

Representative Hakeem Jeffries:

Well, we want a country that works, a country that works for working-class Americans, for ordinary Americans, and for middle-class Americans.

What is clear is that there are far too many people struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. They work hard. They play by the rules, but they can’t get ahead and can barely get past it.

And that should not be the case in this great country, where there are people, rich, well-off, well-connected, who continue to benefit from Republican policies, including the big ugly bill that enacted the biggest Medicaid cuts in American history, stole $186 billion from SNAP, and in terms of what this legislation did, literally stole food out of the mouths of hungry children, elderly people, and veterans.

Republicans did all of this in order to create huge tax breaks for their billionaire donors, and make those tax breaks permanent. What we are fighting for at this moment is for a country to actually fulfill its promise. In order to do this, we have to deal with the fact that life is too expensive for too many people.

We are on the wrong path. The American people understand that. We need to change course.

Jeff Bennett:

Separately from the closing, I want to ask you about your findings from last night’s election, because you had a democratic socialist win in New York. A centrist like Abigail Spanberger won in Virginia.

What is your party’s broader message? What warning do you think Democratic victories send to Republicans?

Representative Hakeem Jeffries:

Well, it was a decisive set of victories for the American people, who are crying out for public servants who will put ordinary Americans first, as opposed to what Republicans have done, which is prioritizing their billionaire donors.

And the common narrative linking what happened in New York to what happened in Virginia to what happened in New Jersey and other parts of the country, including Georgia or Pennsylvania or Mississippi, where Democrats flipped seats, in some cases for the first time in decades, is that we are focused on the affordability crisis, on bringing down the high cost of living, on fixing our broken health care system, and making sure that people have a path toward experiencing the American dream.

Hopefully, my Republican colleagues will address this and change course, because the Trump presidency has been a disaster, including with regard to Trump’s tariffs, which have actually increased costs by thousands and thousands of dollars a year for working-class Americans.

Jeff Bennett:

With reports of President Trump telling Republicans they’re being politically murdered by the shutdown, does that give you a chance?

Representative Hakeem Jeffries:

We want the president to come to the negotiating table.

Understand that during Trump’s 36-day Republican shutdown, Donald Trump spent more time on the golf course, weekend after weekend, than he did talking to Democrats on Capitol Hill, who represent half the country. He has shown no interest in solving the problems faced by ordinary Americans. This has been a problem since day one of his presidency, and we hope he will now change course.

Jeff Bennett:

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, thank you again for your time this evening. It’s good to see you.

Representative Hakeem Jeffries:

Thank you.

Jeff Bennett:

It should be noted that News Hour requested this week to conduct interviews with the two Republican leaders in Congress, but has not yet obtained their commitments.