President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he departs the White House for Joint Base Andrews on October 24, 2025. Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

A defining week has dawned in American politics with huge implications for Donald Trump’s second presidency, for his fellow Republicans and for a Democratic Party seeking to build a new future from the ashes of its 2024 election humiliation.

The government shutdown is now in its 34th day and less than 48 hours from becoming the longest ever. But none of the political stakes compare to the misery of millions of Americans now struggling to get by on $0 paychecks, or who risk losing health care or vital food assistance.

“It feels as if the government doesn’t care. The holidays are coming — people are going to be hungry. We are the land of opport

See Full Page