Ninth Senate vote fails as U.S. government shutdown hits day 15

The U.S. government shutdown reached day 15, with the Senate failing for a ninth time to pass a funding bill as partisan divisions deepen. Democrats demand restoration of Medicaid cuts and continuation of Affordable Care Act subsidies, while Republicans insist on passing a basic funding plan first. A San Francisco judge has ordered the administration to stop firing federal employees, calling the layoffs politically driven. About 4,000 federal workers have been laid off and 750,000 furloughed without pay as the shutdown enters its third week. C-SPAN announced an upcoming debate between Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on the stalled negotiations.