CNN’s much-hyped Shutdown America town hall was, by and large, little more than an extended infomercial for socialism in America, with Kaitlan Collins acting mostly as a facilitator. Little was achieved by this exercise except to showcase the maximalist demands of guests Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders in exchange for an end to the ongoing government shutdown.
The question mix was pretty interesting: of the 14 audience questions we counted, five were considered to have come from a right-leaning perspective, six were neutral, and only three were from the left.
The first question is on hardship assistance for furloughed government employees. AOC’s response was to both call for opening the government AND for negotiations, which would likely keep it closed:
First question for AOC is on hardships for federal employees: AOC simultaneously calls both for opening the government RIGHT NOW, and for negotiations. pic.twitter.com/V0KpGNvaGN
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 16, 2025
A Trump-voting Democrat then asks Bernie how Democrats justify fighting over subsidies as opposed to the current hardships suffered by federal workers. Bernie’s response: class warfare.
Second question: Trump-voting Maryland Dem asks Bernie how he justifies "choosing a fight over subsidies that might help people in the future over workers who are definitely suffering today." Bernie pivots to class warfare. AOC refuses to accept a compromise proposal of a… pic.twitter.com/JSxn6PlM6x
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 16, 2025
After a College Republican asked Bernie which Republicans he could work with to get to a continuing resolution, AOC is asked for her suggestion on what government workers should do for food when the funds stop flowing. AOC’s response was to defame Speaker Mike Johnson.
ATC from MS asks, "what do you suggest government workers do for food money when the checks stop coming?" AOC responds with more shutdown gaslighting, smears Speaker Johnson with false quote "we want to make this the longest shutdown." Collins confronts AOC with Schumer's "every… pic.twitter.com/bKpKMoa1Zs
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 16, 2025
A Democrat student from George Washington University asks why the GOP is so much more effective on social media. Bernie claims the GOP controls the platforms, AOC goes off into a weird rant about masculinity.
Dem GWU student: Why is the GOP so much more effective on social media?
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 16, 2025
Bernie: GOP OWNS SOCIAL MEDIA! SOCIALISM!
AOC: Authenticity, toxic masculinity, white supremacy so Elon, Zuck, Thiel get tax cuts
AOC will impose censorship first chance she gets pic.twitter.com/OMlc4t5D0F
A Democrat bartender from Mississippi asks what the guests are doing to end the stalemate. Each goes to what is likely some form of their joint stump speech. Collins confronts AOC on her past statements regarding shutdowns as “hostage-taking”:
Democrat bartender from Mississippi asks Bernie and AOC what they are doing to end the stalemate. Bernie goes back to healthcare hysterics. AOC is incensed that Republicans are not complying with Democrats' "hostage-taking." pic.twitter.com/zywvQRdthI
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 16, 2025
Grover Norquist is made proud as one of his interns asks Bernie a question on how the shutdown reflects on Chuck Schumer’s leadership. Bernie tries to throw the question back at the young man, only to get COOKED:
Rohan Naval, AU student and @taxreformer intern: "How do you think this shutdown reflects on Chuck Schumer's leadership?"
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 16, 2025
Bernie tries to flip the question back to Naval and gets SHUT DOWN pic.twitter.com/VuXToWTa0v
Collins follows up with a Senate primary question for AOC:
Kaitlan Collins asks AOC the inevitable Senate primary question. AOC hystrionically brushes the question off, Bernie yells at clouds. pic.twitter.com/guSy9Qf7Zl
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 16, 2025
Should taxpayers pay for healthcare for illegals? AOC dodges by advocating for single-payer as Bernie rants about billionaires.
AOC gets the question on whether taxpayers should pay for healthcare for illegal aliens, dodges the question by advocating for single-payer. Bernie goes back to yelling about the billionaires pic.twitter.com/e8OxmkUyzE
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 16, 2025
AOC reluctantly credits Trump for the release of hostages in Gaza.
AOC reluctantly gives President Trump credit for the hostage release in Gaza, calls him an "obstacle to peace." Good on Collins for sticking to the question. pic.twitter.com/K0mBG3MU3d
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 16, 2025
Bernie praises Zohran Mamdani, calls for that to take place in all 50 states.
Bernie lavishes praise on Zohran Mamdani: "WHAT IS NOT TO LIKE?... I would like to see that take place in 50 states in this country." pic.twitter.com/ytlGcGxg7Z
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 16, 2025
One imagines that this town hall is similar to the socialism events that Bernie and AOC do throughout the country. As a nation continues to face down the barrel of a shutdown, the people are needing leadership. Instead, and with a big assist from CNN, it is our sense that the people got the former.