Read, Watch or Listen

Entering a third week of shutdown, Democrats returned to Washington defiant, twice rejecting a Republican plan to reopen the government as the GOP strategy failed for a ninth time. They dismissed President Donald Trump’s mass firings as bluster, noting a federal judge temporarily blocked the cuts, calling the human cost intolerable. Party leaders insisted the fight centers on expiring health insurance subsidies, not intimidation. Republicans, led by congressional leaders, refused to negotiate until the government reopens and scheduled votes on individual bills, including defense funding, as both sides dug in with no movement.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.