Sam Greenglass

Congress has voted 14 times on a Republican-backed short-term funding measure to reopen the government.

And 14 times the vote has failed, as Democrats withhold their support until Republicans agree to extend expiring health insurance subsidies.

Some Republicans, like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have been unmoved.

Shutdowns are stupid.

Nobody wins.

This week, some rank-and-file members have hinted that informal talks could produce a deal.

But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has not said what Democrats would be willing to accept.

We had a very good caucus, and we're exploring all the options.

The current shutdown broke a record set in 2019 during President Trump's first term.

Sam Greenglass, NPR News, Washington.

Ahead of a Halloween party here at Mar-a-Lago, Trump wrote on his True Social platform, quote, if we are given the appropriate legal direction by the court, it will be my honor to provide the funding.

The Trump administration has repurposed other funds to prevent U.S.

troops and some federal law enforcement from missing paychecks.

But he said the administration would not use contingency funds for SNAP, a program 42 million Americans rely on.

Even with Friday's court rulings ordering the funds to flow, it is unclear when that will happen.

Sam Greenglass, NPR News, West Palm Beach, Florida.

Sometimes, you know, persons get into quarrels and fights because they are frustrated because the gas supplies are limited and the long lines.

This shutdown is now the second longest in U.S.

history, but both Republicans and Democrats see coming impacts that could compel the other side to back down.

Democrats like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries think expiring health care subsidies will be harder for Republicans to ignore after November 1st, when open enrollment begins for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans.