Disagreements among Democrats have emerged over how to conduct political messaging on the government shutdown as the party battles with the GOP over whom the public should blame for the impasse.

The Democratic National Committee raised eyebrows Wednesday when it posted a shutdown explainer video featuring cats, attracting criticism from some observers who called it “cringe.”

Separately, House Democrats attracted criticism from inside and outside party circles for a marathon livestream that kicked off in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

On the other hand, progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) received praise for a video they shot together explaining the shutdown on Capitol Hill, with others lauding it as “organic” and “authentic.”

“The two most prominent progressives in America who support Medicare for All deliver the most compelling message of anyone in the party about ACA subsidies,” said Jon Favreau, co-host of “Pod Save America” and former speechwriter to former President Obama.

The shutdown marks the biggest battle yet between congressional Democrats and President Trump during his second administration. That has put a spotlight on every communication on both sides.

For example, former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), an outspoken Trump critic, bemoaned a selfie taken by House Democratic leadership ahead of a vote to prevent the shutdown.

“These selfie things need to stop guys. Honestly the Democrats were great at social media but social media moved on from them. The kitschy, goofy ‘choose your fighter’ type stuff needs to stop. Just serious,” Kinzinger said in a post on the social platform X.

Democrats have struggled to hit back at the administration and have come under criticism from within for not doing more to curtail Trump’s........

© The Hill