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WASHINGTON — The crises at the heart of the government shutdown fight in Washington were coming to a head Saturday as the federal food assistance program faced delays and millions of Americans were set to see a dramatic rise in their health insurance bills .

The impacts on basic needs — food and medical care — underscored how the impasse is hitting homes across the United States, including in Iowa . Plans by the Trump administration to freeze payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on Saturday were halted by federal judges , but the delay in payouts will still likely leave millions of people short on their grocery bills.

It all added to the strain on the country, w

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