The stalemate over how to reopen the government is being inflamed by something no policy provision can fix: A deep-seeded distrust between the leaders of the parties.

The trust gap has a lengthy history and a profusion of roots. But it's resurfacing now over the thorny issue driving the budget impasse: Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.

Republicans say they're open to discussing the topic, but they’re insisting those talks happen later in the year.

“Dec. 31 is when that expires,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters Friday in the Capitol. “So Congress has three months to negotiate that.”

That timeline is a non-starter with Democrats, who simply don't trust GOP leaders to remain good to their word, particularly when it comes to strengthening a hea

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