Giving into extortion tactics means you will face more extortion.

Yes. They gave up their opportunity to actually negotiate and legislate in favor of not rocking the boat.

That is their claim.

Gary Peters (MI): @peters.senate.gov
Jeanne Shaheen (NH): @shaheen.senate.gov
Brian Schatz (HI): @schatz.bsky.social
Angus King (ME)
Maggie Hassan (NH)

Chuck Schumer (NY): @schumer.senate.gov
Richard Durbin (IL): @durbin.senate.gov
Catherine Cortez Masto (NV): @cortezmasto.senate.gov
John Fetterman (PA): @fetterman.senate.gov
Kirsten Gillibrand (NY): @kirstengillibrand.bsky.social

Their basic argument is that if the government gets shut down then it automatically produces a list of essential employees and therefore everyone else will permanently lose their funding. It's Chamberlain's strategy.