What you need to know
• Historic shutdown: We are now in the longest government shutdown in history, at 36 days. It surpasses the previous record set during President Donald Trump’s first term.
• Stalemate in Congress: Roughly a dozen Senate Democrats have privately signaled they are willing to support a stopgap funding deal in exchange for a future vote on health care, according to sources. Negotiations are still ongoing on exactly what kind of legislation the Senate would take up.
• Trump meets GOP lawmakers: Trump — who blamed the shutdown in part for GOP losses in yesterday’s elections — spoke to Republican senators at a breakfast this morning and acknowledged the slew of defeats.
• Widening impacts: The White House said yesterday it would follow through with plans to partially fund food aid benefits after Trump threatened to withhold them until the shutdown ends, and Federal Aviation Administration staffing shortages have been causing delays at major airports.
