Tamara Keith

But this is just this toxic political environment.

Jimena, I wonder, as you were speaking with people who are taking this hopeful step of becoming United States citizens, what they make of this time in the country.

All right, let's leave it there for today.

I'm Tamara Keith.

I cover the White House.

I'm Ximena Bustillo, and I cover immigration policy.

And thank you for listening to the NPR Politics Podcast.

Hey there, it's the NPR Politics Podcast for Tuesday, January 27th.

I'm Tamara Keith.

I cover the White House.

And we are recording this at 1.10 p.m.

Eastern Time.

And today on the show, Congress may be headed toward a partial government shutdown.

Last week, it seemed like lawmakers were on track to approve a package of bipartisan spending bills ahead of a government funding deadline at the end of the month.

But that all changed after federal immigration officers failed.

killed 37-year-old Alex Preddy on Saturday.

Senate Democrats now say they will not vote to fund the Department of Homeland Security without major changes to the bill.

And that puts all of the other remaining funding measures in peril, too.

So, Sam, what are Democrats asking for?

And this is a leverage point.