The second-longest government shutdown in history:

The federal government shutdown has entered its 38th day this week, now the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The impasse centers on Affordable Care Act healthcare subsidies set to expire at the end of 2025, with approximately 24 million people who buy health insurance through the ACA marketplace caught in the middle.

Food crisis deepens:

On November 1, around 42 million Americans who rely on food stamps saw that the aid abruptly stopped. Two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funds to provide SNAP benefits, as Americans were scrambling to meet their basic nutrition needs.

Nuclear Option Debate

President Trump urged Senate Republicans on Wednesday to use the “nuclear option,” eliminating the legislative filibuster to pass bills on simple majority voting. This includes a measure aimed at ending the shutdown. Wyoming senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis confirmed they remain opposed to the idea, citing the specter of Democrats’ retaliation in the future.

Public Opinion Turns:

Three-quarters of Americans express concern about the shutdown, with 63% disapproving of Trump’s handling of the federal government. Public opinion increasingly holds Trump and Republicans responsible for the crisis.