(DCNF)—Republican Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy said Wednesday on CNN that the government shutdown will not end until senators “take their egos out back and shoot them.”
Senate Democrats continue to push their shutdown strategy even as over 40 million Americans risk losing federal food aid because of the funding lapse. In an appearance on “The Arena,” Kennedy said negotiations have stalled because Democratic leaders are insisting on an unrealistic spending package.
“It’s not going to end until enough senators take their egos out back and shoot them. So far, that hasn’t happened. I do not see an off-ramp. I just don’t. If we did agree, and I don’t think we could, on something on health care, it would still have to pass the House,” Kennedy told Kasie Hunt. “Of course, the House isn’t in, but I don’t think it could pass the House right now.”
Kennedy accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of overplaying his hand by demanding roughly $1.5 trillion in additional spending.
“I’m biased, but I think the mistake that Senator Schumer made, when he said no, I’m going to shut it down, he asked for, it was such a big ask. I mean when you add it up, it’s like $1.5 trillion and wants us to gut the Big Beautiful Bill like a fish,” Kennedy said. “And he’s so far out there. It’s hard for him to get back off that limb.”
Kennedy took to the Senate floor earlier this month to accuse Democrats of holding the government hostage over pet projects abroad. He said their refusal to reopen the government without restoring millions in foreign spending proves they would rather fund waste than help Americans.
Roughly 42 million Americans could lose food aid for the first time in history as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) faces a funding lapse starting Nov. 1. While Democrats claim they want to prevent a freeze in benefits, Republicans accuse Schumer and his caucus of blocking efforts to reopen the government and keep SNAP funded.
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Why the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans
The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About
Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.
You can learn more about how the national debt affects you by reading this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“.
With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.
How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg
There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.
For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.
If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.
This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.
The Precious Metals Hedge
Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.
Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.
In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.
Take Control with a Gold IRA
One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:
- Direct ownership of your assets
- A hedge against inflation and dollar decline
- The control to diversify beyond Wall Street
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping Americans just like you take this step with confidence. The company has earned a strong reputation for transparency, education, and personalized service—making it one of the most trusted names in the industry.
The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future
Augusta Precious Metals has helped thousands of Americans with at least $50,000 to invest from their IRAs, 401(K)s, TSPs, and other retirement accounts safeguard their savings through precious metals.
If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.
Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.