And joining us now is Democratic Senator Gene Shaheen of New Hampshire. She's one of the eight Democrats who voted with Republicans to reopen the government and was directly involved in shutdown negotiations. Senator Shaheen, first I have to thank you for your patience uh with all that breaking news this morning.I know you've been waiting for a while. We really appreciate you doing that and joining us for this conversation. >> You of course have faced Thank you.You've faced a lot of criticism, I know, from ...

Government Shutdown & Funding - The Shutdown Fairness Act aims to ensure federal employees receive paychecks during shutdowns [1] - Senator Johnson introduced the Eliminate Shutdown Act to permanently prevent government shutdowns [2] - The current shutdown is entering its fourth week, forcing essential federal workers to work without pay [2][3] - The existing appropriations process is highly ineffective, with a 96.7% failure rate in passing appropriation bills [10] - The "uni party" (big spenders in both parties) contributes to government dysfunction and increasing debt, currently at $37 trillion [11] Healthcare & Obamacare - The debate centers on extending enhanced subsidies under Obamacare, with concerns about fraud estimated at $20 billion to $30 billion annually [19][20] - Democrats are portrayed as wanting to continue enhanced subsidies, while some Republicans fear the political fallout of ending them [20] - The speaker is open to working with Democrats to repair the damage done by Obamacare, which has driven up premiums and deductibles [21][22] - Obamacare's design flaws are cited as the primary reason for rising premiums, not the potential removal of enhanced subsidies [28] - The speaker argues that even without enhanced subsidies, people will still receive subsidies under the original Obamacare framework [31] - Obamacare has led to a 118% increase in premiums, significantly exceeding the 39% inflation rate [32]

Government Workforce Reduction & Veteran Impact - Federal government firings, impacting 4,000 to 40,000 federal workers, disproportionately affect veterans, who constitute approximately 30% of the federal workforce [1][9] - The firings contradict the administration's messaging of protecting veterans and service members, as many affected individuals are veterans [7][8] - Affected federal workers express feelings of betrayal, given the implicit agreement between veterans and the government regarding care and benefits, including veteran preference in retention [1][10] Justification & Counterarguments - The administration justifies the layoffs as necessary due to the government shutdown and to free up funds for essential duties [11] - Critics argue that the cost savings from firing federal workers are a small fraction of the federal budget and will not significantly aid other programs [12] - There are concerns that the firings are politically motivated, potentially targeting federal workers perceived as Democrat-oriented, which is refuted by the apolitical nature of their work [14][15][16] Impact on Individuals & Families - The layoffs create uncertainty for affected individuals and their families, impacting financial stability and future plans [13] - Those affected are described as everyday Americans, including veterans and service-disabled veterans, who have served the country honorably [17][18][20][21]

Day eight of the government shutdown and both parties remain firm in their positions at least for now. Joining us to talk more about it is former Senator Democrat Heidi Heightamp. She is the director of the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics and a CNBC contributor and former chief of staff in the first Trump administration, Mick Mulaney.He is the co-chair of Actim Strategic Advisors. And and welcome to both of you. Um you two have both lived through government shutdowns in the past.You've seen th ...

Government Shutdown & Potential Firings - The report highlights the potential for mass firings of federal workers due to the government shutdown, initiated by the Trump administration [1] - The report emphasizes that there is no legal requirement to fire employees during a shutdown, and such dismissals have never occurred in the nation's history [2] Project 2025 & Russ Vought's Role - The report points out President Trump's apparent endorsement of Project 2025, despite previous claims of having no knowledge of it [3][4] - Russ Vought, described as "He of Project 2025 fame," is identified as a key figure in the shutdown, focusing on agencies and jobs for potential cuts [3][5] - The report suggests Vought has been planning to slash government spending for years, viewing it as a long-term goal [6][7] - Senator Mike Lee indicates that Vought has been preparing for this moment since puberty, aiming to empower Trump further [9] Potential Erosion of Checks and Balances - The report suggests that Vought's efforts are enabling Trump to exert authority more aggressively, potentially threatening the constitutional system's checks and balances [8]