The ongoing federal shutdown has become the longest in American history and its effects are mounting by the day.
Millions of people are feeling the impact: roughly 40 million Americans face difficulty accessing food assistance, more than a million federal employees are working without pay, health insurance premiums are rising for many, and air travel is being disrupted.
Lawmakers remain deadlocked over a funding bill. Democrats are insisting on measures that would expand tax credits to lower health insurance costs for millions and reverse planned cuts to federal agencies. Republicans and other negotiators have pushed back, producing a standoff that shows no immediate resolution.
Recent state and local election results favored Democrats, and President Donald Trump has attributed those losses to the political fallout from the shutdown. That has renewed questions about whether the White House will shift its approach and engage in serious compromise.
Key questions now are whether either side will offer concessions sufficient to break the impasse, how long essential services can be stretched without lasting damage, and what short- and long-term costs the shutdown will impose on households, federal workers, and the broader economy.
Presenter: Bernard Smith
Guests:
– Mark Pfeifle, Republican strategist
– Jeremy Mayer, Professor of Political Science, George Mason University
– David Bolger, Democratic strategist
As negotiations continue, many Americans are watching closely for signs of movement in Congress or a change in strategy from the administration that might end the stalemate.