The Democrats shut down the federal government as a mere political ploy, former DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz plainly acknowledged on CNN today.

The straight-faced admission even stunned host Brooke Baldwin.

Groping for any positive political ray of light from the shut down, Baldwin said of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, “What one thing did he get from Republicans to justify shutting down the government in the first place?”

“So the one thing I would say that he did get is the potential for momentum, because I’m certainly hopeful that’s what occurs,” Schultz responded.

“If Mr. McConnell, the Majority Leader, can be taken at his word over the next three weeks, before Feb. 8, they can negotiate on protecting the ‘Dreamers,’ on making sure that we can have a full year comprehensive budget that lifts the caps and really makes sure that we can responsibly budget,” she continued before Baldwin interjected.

Laughing, the host said, “I’m sorry — I’m still hung up that I know Americans are listening and they heard you say, and it’s reverberating, ‘potential for momentum’…”

“Yeah,” Schultz said.

Baldwin continued, “And they’re thinking, was that really worth shutting the government down?”

“The potential for something?” she wondered.

Schultz defended the shutdown.