WASHINGTON — Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon is staging a marathon speech on the Senate floor to protest President Donald Trump's "tightening authoritarian grip on the country" amid the government shutdown.

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Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon is staging a marathon speech to protest what he calls President Donald Trump's "tightening authoritarian grip on the country" amid the government shutdown

Merkley started speaking at 6:21 p.m. Tuesday and was still speaking Wednesday morning, pausing only for occasional questions from other Democratic senators

The lengthy speech comes as Democrats have forced the government shutdown over their demands to extend government health care subsidies and as Republicans have refused to negotiate over the expiring tax credit

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