The US is hurtling towards a government shutdown on Tuesday night, and there appears to be little appetite on either side of the partisan divide to avoid it.
A last-ditch meeting between President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders in Congress made little progress. If anything, both sides have been digging deeper into their positions.
I think we're headed to a shutdown because the Democrats won't do the right thing, Vice President JD Vance told reporters after the meeting at the White House. You don't put a gun to the American people's head and say, 'Unless you do exactly what Senate and House Democrats want you to do, we're going to shut down your government'.
Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said there were still very large differences between his party and the White House.
No one sounded optimistic.
These positions hardened further on Monday night after Trump posted an AI video mocking the Democratic leadership.
In terms of the substantive demands from each side, Republicans want a short-term extension of current spending levels – essentially continuing the status quo. Democrats, however, are opposed to such measures without firm agreements on healthcare subsidies for low-income individuals and an end to unilateral spending cuts from the Trump administration.
As both parties prepare for a potential showdown, the political stakes are high, with both sides seeking to minimize blame should a shutdown occur. Past experiences during shutdowns have shown that public sentiment can shift unpredictably, complicating the political calculations for both Republicans and Democrats.
The most recent government shutdown during Trump's first term lasted 35 days, setting a record and revealing the severe consequences of such political stalemates.
