Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer found himself the target of laughter Tuesday night after he dismissed a New York Times poll that blamed Democrats for the recent government shutdown, calling it “biased.”
The laughter echoed through the Senate chamber as Schumer, clearly frustrated, accused his hometown paper of unfairly portraying Democrats in a bad light.
According to the New York Times/Siena College survey of 1,313 registered voters conducted between September 22 and 27, 65% of respondents said Democrats should avoid a government shutdown, while only 27% believed they should proceed. Even among Democrats, fewer than half supported a shutdown to push their agenda.
Schumer pushed back, saying, “Now I know the leader is going to cite a poll showing Democrats getting blamed for the shutdown. There are plenty of others showing Republicans at fault. That poll’s question was biased—biased! It’s in the New York Times, but it’s biased.”
He added, “I don’t always trust the New York Times, you can be sure of that—and neither do you.”
Conservatives quickly seized on Schumer’s comments, calling them hypocritical and highlighting what they say is the left’s selective outrage over media bias.
“Schumer admits the Times is biased but quotes them whenever it helps his case,” one commentator noted.
Republicans argue Democrats are simply trying to shift blame for the shutdown, using claims of media bias as cover.
The government officially shut down at midnight on October 1 after Democrats blocked a GOP-backed clean continuing resolution. Critics say Schumer’s outburst underscores a broader pattern of Democrats dismissing unfavorable polling rather than addressing voter concerns.
The Times poll mirrors growing public frustration, showing most Americans oppose using a shutdown as a political tactic.
“This is political theater,” said one analyst. “Democrats are scrambling to deflect responsibility.”
Schumer’s remarks also come amid increasing criticism of Democratic leadership for failing to manage key legislative priorities. Republican leaders insist the shutdown could have been avoided had Democrats supported a clean funding bill.
Social media exploded after the Senate clip went viral, with conservative users mocking Schumer for attacking a poll from the very outlet he often cites.
“Americans are tired of the political games,” one pundit said. “Calling polls biased doesn’t change reality—it just makes Democrats look out of touch.”
