During an interview during Monday’s Chris Jansing Reports, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) refused to defend or denounce Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) perceived failure on the government shutdown, even as Jansing repeatedly pressed him on growing resentment among Democrats. This came a day after several Senate Democrats joined Republicans to advance legislation that would have led to reopening the government.
A handful of Democrats have come to criticize Senate Democrats for giving in after over 40 days of resisting Republicans on healthcare demands, the most notable being Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) calling for Schumer to be replaced.
After mentioning those angered Democrats, Jansing asked the Senator how he viewed Schumer’s political future. Afraid of being on the wrong side of the infighting, Kelly dodged by directing blame towards President Trump:
JANSING: But I wonder if, as a result, you believe Chuck Schumer's leadership is in jeopardy, and should it be?
KELLY: Well, as I've said, Chris, we are dealing with an irrational President. I know people are frustrated. You know, people could be frustrated with leadership in the Senate and the House. I'm frustrated with the White House and a President.
Instead of explaining why voters might be frustrated with Schumer’s failure to actuate results, Kelly repeated the Democrat talking point about Trump stealing food from the vulnerable. Jansing, discontented with Kelly’s nonanswer, put him on the spot (Click “expand”):
JANSING: There's a lot of frustration out there among rank and file Democrats about the strategic way this was handled. So, let me ask you very directly. Do you support Chuck Schumer to lead Senate Democrats going forward?
KELLY: So, Chris, again, we found ourselves in a situation I don't think the Senate has found itself in before. I think under any President, Democrat or Republican, they're gonna care about the American’s people healthcare and care if they're gonna be able to put food on the table and try to bring down costs, not do the opposite for the American people. So, when I hear folks say things like that, I understand their frustration. But I also hope they understand that we all need to be on the same team here.
After suffering through some virtue-signaling on saving ACA credits in December and winning 2026 midterms, Jansing shamed the Senator for not answering her question. Kelly then interrupted her to try to save himself from complete embarrassment:
JANSING: I will note, Senator, that given two opportunities, you did not voice your unequivocal support for Chuck Schumer. But his job, at least for the moment, is not over. If this compromise plan does lead —
KELLY: Chris. Chris […] I will say, Chuck Schumer and the leadership of the Senate are dealing with an incredibly complex situation where, you know, it's hard to find a way out.
Not a very satisfying answer. It’s clear Kelly wasn’t eager to fully back the Minority Leader, nor was he wiling to align himself with the more vocalized progressives. So he played the typical game by walking down the middle. All while, Jansing came at him from the left.
The transcript is below. Click "expand" read:
MSNBC’s Chris Jansing Reports
November 10, 2025
1:07:57 p.m. EST(…)
CHRIS JANSING: You're in a — the majority, obviously, among Senate Democrats. Chris Murphy called the defection by eight Democrats a mistake. Bernie Sanders called it a “very bad night,” and he had some other, more colorful things to say, including some disturbing statistics. But I wonder if, as a result, you believe Chuck Schumer's leadership is in jeopardy, and should it be?
SEN. MARK KELLY (D-AZ): Well, as I've said, Chris, we are dealing with an irrational President. I know people are frustrated. You know, people could be frustrated with leadership in the Senate and the House. I'm frustrated with the White House and a President. I mean, he sued — he filed a lawsuit to keep kids from getting SNAP benefits, taking away food from kids for leverage. I mean, that's who the American people should be really upset with and frustrated with is the guy in the White House.
JANSING: There's a lot of frustration out there among rank and file Democrats about the strategic way this was handled. So, let me ask you very directly. Do you support Chuck Schumer to lead Senate Democrats going forward?
KELLY: So, Chris, again, we found ourselves in a situation I don't think the Senate has found itself in before. I think under any President, Democrat or Republican, they're gonna care about the American’s people healthcare and care if they're gonna be able to put food on the table and try to bring down costs, not do the opposite for the American people. So, when I hear folks say things like that, I understand their frustration. But I also hope they understand that we all need to be on the same team here. And what matters at this point is restoring these tax credits if we can do it in December, and we're gonna work really, really hard and we're gonna focus on getting the Republican votes necessary to do that.
But beyond that, it's winning the election in 2026. This President controls the House and the Senate. He controls those votes. He's got, you know, all the levers of power here with our government. So, we have to win this election in 2026. And if we do, we can hold him accountable and we can take some steps to try to improve the situation that millions of Americans now find themselves in: not being able to afford rent or mortgage payment or groceries or healthcare.
JANSING: I will note, Senator, that given two opportunities, you did not voice your unequivocal support for Chuck Schumer. But his job, at least for the moment, is not over. If this compromise plan does lead —
KELLY: Chris. Chris —
JANSING: — to the government —
KELLY: — I will say, Chuck Schumer and the leadership of the Senate are dealing with an incredibly complex situation where, you know, it's hard to find a way out. But I am gonna continue to fight for my constituents and the American people to just make life affordable for them.
(…)
