The Brief

Voters across the country backed Democrats Tuesday at the polls, adding fuel to the government shutdown fire that reached a historic moment Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

"We must get the government back open soon," Trump said during a breakfast meeting Wednesday with GOP senators at the White House, saying it was "negative" for Republicans.

Trump says shutdown bad for Republicans

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to Senate Republicans at a breakfast in the State Dining Room of the White House on November 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is speaking with Republican senators as the U.S. government shutdown has reached day 36. Expand

The backstory:

President Trump met with and spoke to GOP senators Wednesday morning as the shutdown entered its 36th day and became th

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