Eight centrist Senate Democrats took the brave step of crossing their party’s rabid base to cut a deal with Senate Republicans and end the federal government shutdown Sunday night. If all goes smoothly, the House could vote on the new continuing resolution on Wednesday, and Washington could be open again by Thursday. This would be a big win for the public, a crushing loss for Democratic Party radicals, and a damning indictment of the miserable leadership of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

The Democrats accomplished nothing with the 40-day shutdown they imposed on America except the infliction of pain on millions of innocent people. The deal cut with Senate Republicans includes a new continuing resolution that funds the federal government through Jan. 30, 2026; the passage of bipartisan appropriations bills for agriculture, veterans affairs, and the legislative branch, which would have occurred anyway; a full funding of food stamps through Sept. 30, 2026; and a promise to vote on an extension of COVID-19 bonus Obamacare subsidies next month.