NBC’s Seth Meyers devoted Wednesday’s “Closer Look” segment on Late Night to how the government shutdown has affected air traffic control. At the end, Meyers blamed Republicans for not caving to Democrats’ demands on extending the Biden-era Obamacare subsidies.

Meyers introduced a pair of clips by bringing back his favorite tradition: praising Sen. Bernie Sanders, “As a reminder, this shutdown is happening because of health care. Premiums are about to skyrocket. Democrats just want to extend the subsidies that will prevent that from happening. Republicans admit it's a problem and claim they'll negotiate after the government reopens. But Senator Bernie Sanders isn't so sure.”

In the second clip, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked, “Tonight, he [President Trump] posted on Truth Social, basically, you need to reopen the government first before you can have that conversation. Are you willing to do that?”

Sanders replied, “No, of course not. Who trusts them? You know, look, they have had months and months to negotiate, and they have chosen not to. The Speaker of the House has said to his members, ‘You don't even have to come back to Washington, D.C.’ Before any Democrat, sane Democrat, would agree to anything, has to be explicit, written down, cross their fingers, you know, and so forth and so on. You can't, ‘Oh, we'll negotiate with you.’ Really? Who believes that?”

Meyers appreciated the answer by breaking out his Sanders impression, “Bernie always shoots it straight. Maybe we should hire him as an air traffic controller. ‘Okay, United, you can go. Southwest, you've gotta wait. I know—I know you're confused, Southwest.’"

He then added, “The president could easily solve this by negotiating with Democrats in Congress, but he refuses. So, now our government is descending into chaos. Just remember the next time you're traveling, your flight might be, much like a song by our next guest—”

Meyers punctuated his thought with a callback to a truncated version of a clip he played earlier of a local news anchor simply saying, “Cancelled.”

Throughout this shutdown, the liberal comedians have dutifully stood behind Democratic efforts to extend the Obamacare subsidies, but not once has any of them pointed out that these were meant to be a temporary COVID relief measure. Nor has anyone referenced that the Biden-era program removed the original cap that limited recipients to those who make 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

Here is a transcript for the October 8-taped show:

NBC Late Night with Seth Meyers

10/9/2025

12:50 AM ET

SETH MEYERS: As a reminder, this shutdown is happening because of health care. Premiums are about to skyrocket. Democrats just want to extend the subsidies that will prevent that from happening. Republicans admit it's a problem and claim they'll negotiate after the government reopens. But Senator Bernie Sanders isn't so sure.

MORGAN NORWOOD [10/7]: President Trump is now calling on Democrats to reopen the government, writing on Truth Social, "I am happy to work with the Democrats on their failed health care policies or anything else. But first, they must allow our government to reopen."

KAITLAN COLLINS [10/6]: Tonight, he posted on Truth Social, basically, you need to reopen the government first before you can have that conversation. Are you willing to do that?

BERNIE SANDERS: No, of course not. Who trusts them? You know, look, they have had months and months to negotiate, and they have chosen not to. The Speaker of the House has said to his members, "You don't even have to come back to Washington, D.C." Before any Democrat, sane Democrat, would agree to anything, has to be explicit, written down, cross their fingers, you know, and so forth and so on. You can't, "Oh, we'll negotiate with you." Really? Who believes that?

MEYERS: Bernie always shoots it straight. Maybe we should hire him as an air traffic controller. [Bernie Sanders Impression] "Okay, United, you can go. Southwest, you've gotta wait. I know — I know you're confused, Southwest."

The president could easily solve this by negotiating with Democrats in Congress, but he refuses. So, now our government is descending into chaos. Just remember the next time you're traveling, your flight might be, much like a song by our next guest—

LOCAL NEWS REPORTER: Cancelled.