Part 12/16:
The ongoing government shutdown remained an unresolved issue. Some Democratic voices suggested leveraging blame to rally support, but most agreed there wasn’t enough pressure to force resolution. Dan predicted the shutdown would likely end around early November, with little progress expected in the short term due to the entrenched positions of both parties—particularly the GOP’s refusal to accept spending compromises without significant concessions.
Sean remarked on how many Americans might not even feel the direct impact yet, with most government services continuing unobstructed and only specialized groups feeling the pinch. Still, the human toll—those not receiving paychecks—remained a serious concern.