January 1, Senate Dems Plan Luxury Retreat Amid Shutdown

Wyatt’s Take

• Democrat campaign bosses plan a high-end resort escape while shutdown looms.
• Michigan’s Haley Stevens joins, sparking backlash from regular families.
• Leaders dodge tough questions about cost, purpose, and priorities.

Senate Democrats’ campaign leaders are booking a two-day luxury retreat at a five-star hotel in California’s wine country right as the threat of a government shutdown grows.

Invitations have gone out for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s Napa Retreat at Hotel Yountville, October 13-14.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the DSCC, and other top Democrats are listed as attendees, along with Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens, who is running in a tough Senate primary.

The trip is set to happen just days into a possible shutdown, which could leave federal workers and families in the lurch if Congress doesn’t fund the government by September 30.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) has circulated an invitation obtained by Playbook for a “Napa Retreat” for the DSCC on Oct. 13 and 14. Should the government shut down next week, the retreat could fall on what might be day 12 of a shutdown. @playbookdc

— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) September 27, 2025

The event includes wine tours and gourmet dinners at exclusive vineyards while regular working folks may be wondering how to pay their bills during a shutdown.

Hotel Yountville touts itself as a “luxury escape”—not exactly the first place you’d expect politicians facing a government crisis.

Democrat leaders were pressed on why they’d schedule this expensive getaway, the cost to attend, and who else was invited. They didn’t answer.

Republican Senate hopefuls ripped the retreat as out of touch, calling it an insult to hardworking families worrying about paychecks and rising costs.

Haley Stevens is catching heat not only for her campaign claims but also for joining elite fundraisers while Michigan workers face uncertainty.

Meanwhile, the DSCC has yet to pick sides in Michigan’s heated race, as rivals pile on criticism.

Stay tuned for more as the folks in charge cozy up in wine country while the rest of us wait for Congress to do its job.

Wyatt Matters

Regular Americans keep their promises and show up when times get tough. Folks see the difference between politicians cutting deals in luxury resorts and everyday families who know what it means to work for a living.

Choosing the people’s side shouldn’t be a retreat; it ought to be a duty.

Read the full report