Overview
- Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked House GOP reopening measures while tying a deal to extending pandemic-era Affordable Care Act premium subsidies.
- Roughly 42 million people could see Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits interrupted in November as USDA limits use of contingency reserves.
- Multiple states are moving to sue the Trump administration to force deployment of available funds, accusing officials of withholding contingency resources that could prevent a lapse.
- Jake Tapper’s on-air clash with Rep. Melanie Stansbury underscored the standoff, with Tapper noting Democrats are choosing not to vote to reopen the government.
- CNN’s analysis of AP-NORC data shows Republicans’ congressional standing has improved during the shutdown as Democrats’ numbers sink to their weakest in about two decades, and Sen. Chris Coons acknowledged the tactic has not advanced an ACA subsidy extension.