As the government shutdown nears the one-month mark, senators are finding ways to pass the time while negotiations to reopen the government remain stalled.
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, Punchbowl News reporter Andrew Desiderio shared a humorous moment from the Senate chamber when South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham accidentally triggered his iPhone’s voice assistant.
“Funny moment just now in the Senate: Lindsey Graham whispered something into his phone and then Siri responded with full volume: ‘Calling Sean Hannity mobile,’ ” Desiderio posted on X.
The incident quickly drew reactions online. One commenter wrote, “If any Democrat senator had this happen on the Senate floor… ‘Calling Rachel Maddow mobile,’ the R party and their Fox News soldiers would be covering it nonstop for a week.” Another joked, “Yes, it’s extremely embarrassing for Lindsey Graham that we now know he still uses Siri.”
Graham later addressed the slip-up himself, saying, “Siri: Tell my friends to watch more Fox News. Why was I calling Sean Hannity? Breaking news: I like his show and I’ll be a guest tonight! Tune in.”
Meanwhile, Desiderio also noted that discussions in Congress have turned to “rifle-shot” funding bills — single-issue proposals meant to cover critical areas like military pay and SNAP food benefits — as broader negotiations remain gridlocked.
As states begin warning citizens about looming suspensions in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, the U.S. Department of Agriculture posted a notice this week blaming congressional Democrats for the ongoing shutdown, accusing them of “holding out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures.”
The shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, is now the second-longest in U.S. history. The main sticking point centers on the Affordable Care Act: Democrats want to extend ACA tax credits to prevent a spike in healthcare premiums, while Republicans argue those discussions should wait until after the government reopens.
This isn’t the first time Graham has found himself in an awkward spotlight. In May 2022, CNN aired audio of the senator recorded on Jan. 6, 2021, where he criticized Donald Trump’s actions during the Capitol riot and expressed support for then-President-elect Joe Biden.
“We will actually come out of this thing stronger,” Graham said in the recording. “Moments like this reset. It’ll take a while. People will calm down.”
When New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin asked if Biden would be better for the country, Graham replied, “Yeah, totally, he’ll be maybe the best person to have, right? I mean, how mad can you get at Joe Biden?”
