Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Washington Week with The Atlantic

Why this shutdown is different and what Trump gets out of it

Season 2025 Episode 40 | 9m 12s

At some point, the government will reopen, but the fight that has shut the government down this week is in some ways unique. For Democrats, this is the chance to show their base they have the capacity to stand up to President Trump. For Trump, this is an opportunity to punish Democrats, cut funding to blue states and fire even more federal workers.

Major funding for “Washington Week with The Atlantic” is provided by Consumer Cellular, Otsuka, Kaiser Permanente, the Yuen Foundation, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.