Authorities shutdown: What’s taking place and the way we received right here

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Welcome to The Logoff: The federal authorities is hours away from the beginning of a near-certain shutdown — and, probably, an unprecedented energy seize by President Donald Trump.

What’s happening? Authorities funding runs out tonight at midnight, which suggests the federal government will shut down at 12:01 am tomorrow except Congress passes a funding invoice first. After talks between Trump and congressional Democrats fell by on Monday, that doesn’t appear like it can occur.

Why hasn’t Congress handed a funding invoice? Though Republicans have unified management of the federal government, they want Democratic votes within the Senate to move a invoice beneath present guidelines. Democrats are withholding these votes except Republicans comply with additionally prolong well being care subsidies which can be about to run out and reverse earlier cuts to Medicaid.

Exterior of the precise well being care combat, this shutdown has broader stakes for Democrats: Their base is more and more livid with get together management for not doing extra to withstand Trump, and the shutdown is a means to do this — or at the least appear like they’re doing one thing .

So what occurs now? The federal government will shut down — after which it’s onerous to say. As my colleague Eric Levitz wrote yesterday , Democrats are taking a giant danger by transferring ahead with a authorities shutdown and hoping that Trump is bluffing.

If he isn’t bluffing, nevertheless, this shutdown may look far totally different from these prior to now: The Trump administration has already threatened to fireside federal staff outright fairly than furlough them, and to additional intestine the regulatory state.

When — and the way — does this all finish? We don’t know. The longest (partial) authorities shutdown in historical past, throughout Trump’s first time period, lasted 35 days and ended after Trump backed down. On this case, it’s potential Democrats may relinquish their well being care calls for and comply with move a short-term measure to reopen the federal government — or the shutdown may push Senate Republicans to do away with the filibuster and obviate the necessity for Democratic votes.

And with that, it’s time to sign off…

Hello readers, I've one other Unexplainable podcast for you tonight; they’re that includes an episode of Sean Illing’s great podcast The Grey Space with creator Olga Khazan. Sean and Olga go deep on whether or not it’s actually potential to vary who you're as an individual — it’s an awesome episode and you may pay attention here . We’ll see you again right here tomorrow!