The federal government has officially shut down. What’s next?

The government has shut down for the first time in nearly seven years after not being able to reach a funding deal by midnight. Democrats have centered this battle around healthcare trying to extend Affordable Care Act or Obamacare-subsidies that’ll expire at the end of the year and looking to reverse cuts to Medicaid made by the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. 

Both sides have played a blame game, but polling is showing that Americans will fault Republicans for more of this than Democrats. A politcal journalist and a policy expert share their analysis on how this move will impact federal workers in Illinois and the many people who rely on federal benefits.

GUESTS

Paula Worthington 
Senior Policy Advisor, Civic Federation; Adjunct Lecturer, Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago

Daniel C. Vock 
Freelance reporter based in Washington, D.C.