Trump cuts funds to Americans in Democratic states during shutdown fight

Shutdown Impact - The shutdown is hurting Americans, including Trump's base, such as farmers and rural communities [1][6] - Key services are affected, including farm aid, small business lending, and small-town airport subsidies [1][2] - Republican states with large numbers of federal employees, like West Virginia and Oklahoma, are significantly impacted [2][3] - SNAP, which feeds over 40 million people, faces funding shortages, impacting states across the political spectrum [13] - Healthcare subsidies under the ACA, disproportionately used by Republicans in states that did not expand Medicaid, are also at risk [7] Political Positions - Trump views the shutdown through a partisan lens, aiming to target Democratic programs and protect Republicans [5] - The administration blames Democrats for the shutdown, claiming any pain is due to their refusal to open the government [8] - Democrats are seen as digging in regarding ACA subsidy extensions [18] - There is a risk that Republicans will be blamed if healthcare premiums increase due to the expiration of subsidies [20] Potential Solutions and Outlook - The President needs to want the shutdown to end; currently, he may see it as a win [25][26] - Extending subsidies to ensure health insurance affordability benefits everyone, regardless of party affiliation [27] - The long-term political impact of the shutdown is uncertain, as the next election is over 12 months away [21][29]