The driving force behind Democrats embracing the government shutdown is simple: coalition maintenance.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) learned how important that is the hard way. When he backed down from the last shutdown fight, he infuriated progressives and dramatically weakened his standing. .memberful-global-teaser-content p:last-child{ -webkit-mask-image: linear-gradient(180deg, #000 0%, transparent); mask-image: linear-gradient(180deg, #000 0%, transparent); } Join now to continue reading.Members get exclusive analysis, bonus features and no advertising. Learn more.If you’re already a member, sign in to your account.