Rubén Gallego really thought he was going to coast through another friendly cable news interview, toss around some bumper-sticker slogans, maybe drop a few lines about “saving democracy” or “protecting healthcare,” and call it a day. What he didn’t expect? Joe Kernen, yes —the finance guy from CNBC —to show up with facts, follow-up questions, and an off-script backbone.
And just like that, the wheels came flying off.
Now, let’s be clear, this wasn’t some Tucker Carlson ambush or a Steve Bannon grilling. This was CNBC, home of Wall Street banter and polite market chatter. But apparently, even asking Gallego what he himself said during past Republican-led shutdowns was too much heat to handle. His response?
“I don’t know and I don’t care.”
That’s not a parody. That’s a sitting United States Senator, on national television, admitting he couldn’t be bothered to remember — or care — what he said about shutdowns when the political shoe was on the other foot.
“I don’t know and I don’t care,” says petulant baby @RubenGallego when asked about his past shutdown comments.
Here’s a reminder —
2013: You can’t “shutdown the government… and still claim to be a Patriot”
2019: “Putting the country in danger”
2023: “Put country before… pic.twitter.com/JbA7aU1M2B
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 27, 2025
In other words: Shut up, peasant. The rules only apply when we say they do.
Let that sink in.
This guy — who now wants $1.5 trillion in Democrat “non-demands” before he’ll agree to reopen the federal government — can’t be bothered to recall the last time he feigned outrage when Republicans did the same thing. But now, with Democrats holding the purse strings, it’s suddenly immoral, extremist, and probably “threatening to democracy” to withhold funding over a policy disagreement.
And don’t miss the bait-and-switch: Gallego claims Democrats aren’t making any demands. Then, 12 seconds later, he says they just want to “make sure 24 million Americans don’t see their premiums doubled.” Well, that’s a demand, Senator. That’s literally what a demand is. But hey, if you rename a hostage crisis a “public health negotiation,” maybe the voters won’t notice.
Spoiler: they noticed.
Kernen, to his credit, pushed past the talking points and hit the actual numbers. You want to extend Obamacare subsidies? That’ll run you about $345 billion over 10 years. But the Democrats are holding the government hostage for — get this — $1.5 trillion. That’s nearly five times the cost of the fix they claim to need.
So where’s the rest of that money going?
Silence.
Gallego deflected, dodged, played the insurance card — “Are you an insurance broker?” — and tried to make Kernen look out of touch for asking basic budget questions. And when none of that worked, he defaulted to the oldest trick in the Washington playbook: accuse the other side of playing politics, while pretending your side is just trying to “help people.”
But here’s the part no one’s supposed to say out loud: $1.5 trillion isn’t about premiums. It’s about stuffing every progressive wishlist item into a so-called “emergency” funding package — from green energy subsidies and “climate resilience,” to slush funds for activist groups and union kickbacks, all dressed up in healthcare language to shut down criticism.
Senator Gallego (D-AZ) claims Democrats aren’t “demanding anything” to reopen the government.
This is a lie.
Democrats have spent the last month demanding a plethora of things, including $1.5T in spending, which could allow illegal aliens to receive taxpayer-funded healthcare. pic.twitter.com/IiZdP4U8Dt
— Media Lies (@MediasLies) October 27, 2025
And the second you call them on it? Boom. You’re a “Republican talking point.” You’re probably racist. Or MAGA. Or worse — a budget hawk.
Gallego’s entire performance was a crash course in why voters are so done with Washington. There’s no honesty. No humility. Just arrogance, condescension, and word salad — interrupted only by the occasional insult when the interviewer steps out of line.
But the worst part? The entitlement. The sheer belief that if Democrats want $1.5 trillion to “not demand anything,” you should just sit down, shut up, and pay up.
And when you don’t?
They shut down the government — then blame you for it.
Rubén Gallego just gave the country a glimpse behind the curtain. And for a man who claims to care so deeply about the average American, it turns out he doesn’t even care enough to remember what he said last time. Or maybe he does — and just doesn’t want you to. Either way, it’s not a good look.
