Notes from a Government Shutdown

The federal government is closed for business — again. But this time, it isn’t about border walls or spending caps. It’s about health care. As the 2025 shutdown drags into its third week, Democrats are demanding an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies for 20-plus million Americans, while Republicans push a “clean” funding bill that leaves those benefits to expire. In the middle: a trillion dollars in Medicaid cuts, a president keeping his distance, and millions of families caught in the crossfire. Host Hillari Lombard breaks down what’s really driving the standoff — from the politics of Obamacare’s popularity in red states to why both parties think they’re winning — and what November 1 means for America’s health-care future.