Part 6/10:
On the other side, Democrat leaders portray the shutdown as a consequence of Republican extremism. For example, Hakeem Jeffries claims that Republicans have a long history of government shutdowns used as leverage for their "extreme right-wing agenda," accusing them of trying to force through unpopular policies by brinksmanship. He asserts that Democrats haven't historically favored shutdowns but have been pushed into them by GOP tactics.
Jeffries and other Democrats further allege that Republicans' demands—like funding more for illegal immigrants and contentious social programs—reflect an agenda out of touch with the will of voters. This rhetoric suggests that Democrats see themselves as defending the interests of Americans by resisting what they frame as radical GOP ambitions.