Strap in, folks -- Washington’s latest government shutdown has devolved into a political quagmire, and even a Democrat is admitting that both parties have a hand in this embarrassing mess.

On Wednesday’s airing of NBC’s Meet the Press Now, the persistent government shutdown took the spotlight as Rep. Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington state, confronted tough questions about how the public perceives this crisis and who bears the responsibility, as Breitbart reports.

A recent Associated Press poll lays bare the widespread frustration among Americans, with the majority holding both Democrats and Republicans accountable for the deadlock that’s brought federal operations to a grinding halt.

Public frustration boils over

It’s hardly a surprise that hardworking taxpayers are at their wits’ end, seeing this fiasco as yet another chapter in D.C.’s infuriating cycle of blame rather than a genuine attempt to fix the problem.

The sentiment echoing across the country couldn’t be clearer: enough with the partisan theatrics, it’s time for both sides to roll up their sleeves and prioritize the nation over petty squabbles.

During his segment, Rep. Smith didn’t dodge the criticism, openly conceding that accountability isn’t exclusive to just one political faction in this ongoing debacle.

Democrats emphasize subsidies

“Of course, we all bear some responsibility for it,” Smith acknowledged on Meet the Press Now, though he promptly shifted the narrative to focus on what each party is striving to achieve amid the chaos.

Democrats, as Smith portrays it, are dedicating their efforts to safeguarding health insurance for millions of Americans, presenting their cause as a vital shield against widespread hardship.

“What Democrats are trying to accomplish is we’re trying to save millions of Americans’ health insurance,” Smith asserted during the interview, painting their battle as a noble defense of everyday citizens facing potential coverage losses or skyrocketing premiums.

Smith takes aim at GOP

Turning his gaze to the other side, Smith unleashed a pointed critique of Republicans, charging them with refusing to negotiate or even keep the House in session while the shutdown drags on unresolved.

From a conservative standpoint, that jab might irritate, but it raises a legitimate concern: where’s the GOP’s detailed roadmap to reopen the government while standing firm on their principles of fiscal responsibility?

Smith’s irritation was palpable as he questioned the Republican strategy, suggesting they’re willing to let critical health care protections collapse rather than engage in meaningful dialogue to break the impasse.

Spending issues intensify partisan divide

Adding another layer of contention to the standoff, Democrats are sounding alarms over what they view as presidential spending outside legal boundaries, a grievance Smith highlighted as a central sticking point in the dispute.

For those of us who remain vigilant about government overreach, this issue strikes a chord, though it’s reasonable to ask whether Democrats are scrutinizing their own fiscal policies with the same intensity or merely leveraging this as a convenient political weapon.

Ultimately, this shutdown catastrophe mirrors the deeper dysfunction plaguing Washington -- both parties offer arguments with some merit, yet neither seems prepared to make concessions, leaving ordinary Americans to shoulder the consequences of a capital mired in stubborn partisanship and ceaseless political posturing.