THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HAS NOW BECOME THE LONGEST IN HISTORY, BEATING THE RECORD 35-DAY SHUTDOWN BACK IN 2019.

CONGRESS HAS LET FEDERAL FUNDING LAPSE SEVERAL TIMES SINCE 1981, FORCING A PARTIAL SHUTDOWN. THE MAJORITY HAVE SPANNED JUST A FEW DAYS, BUT ONLY TWO — INCLUDING THE CURRENT SHUTDOWN — HAVE LASTED MORE THAN A MONTH.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AGREE ON PASSING A BILL FUNDING GOVERNMENT SERVICES SINCE OCTOBER 1ST, WHEN THE PREVIOUS FEDERAL BUDGET EXPIRED.

SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE NOW VOTED OVER A DOZEN TIMES AGAINST REOPENING THE GOVERNMENT.

THEY INSIST THEY NEED PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM FIRST ON AN EXTENSION OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SUBSIDIES THAT ARE SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader:

"Americans are on the brink of a health care crisis, unlike any we have seen in our lifetimes."

++WHITE FLASH++

"It's tragic. And, of course, it didn't have to be. But Republicans are doing nothing."

BUT REPUBLICANS SAY THEY WANT TO NEGOTIATE THE HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDIES SEPARATELY.

SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. John Thune, Senate Majority leader, (R) North Dakota:

"Thanks to Democrats, federal workers are lining up with food banks."

SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"All they have to do is vote to open the country. And we only need five Democrats. They have a lot of Democrats. We only need five."

MEANWHILE MILLIONS FACE UNCERTAINTY OVER SNAP FOOD AID BENEFITS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN FURLOUGHED OR ARE WORKING WITHOUT PAY, AND THE NATION IS SET TO SEE A RISE IN THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE BILLS.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO OFFER SUBSTANTIVE CONCESSIONS AND BELIEVES THE DEMOCRATS WILL BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE PUBLIC'S BLAME.