NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

Note: This segment aired before the shutdown was official at midnight on October 1.

The federal government shut down at the stroke of midnight on Oct. 1 as Congress remains in a deadlock. Democrats are demanding a bill that reverses cuts to Medicaid and prevents health insurance premiums from going up at the end of the year. President Trump has threatened to use a shutdown to reduce the size of the federal workforce permanently. Lisa Desjardins and Liz Landers report.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

Key terms

furlough — a temporary layoff of workers

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. What are the demands that Democrats are making to secure their votes for the budget bill?
2. When did the government last shut down, and for how long?
3. How do Republicans say Democrats are responsible for the shutdown?
4. Who posted AI video of Democratic leaders?
5. Why might the current shutdown be longer than some other shutdowns in recent history, according to Lisa Desjardins and Liz Landers?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

• Why do you think our system of government allows for shutdowns when Congress can't produce a budget?
• Do you think the system is useful for forcing compromise, or should it be changed? If you think it should be changed, how would you change it?

Media literacy: Take a look at the chart below, which appears in the News Hour segment on the shutdown. How do you think politicians make decisions based on polls like this? How do you think these particular polls might influence their decision-making?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Watch the two video clips below, one from a Democratic Congressperson and one from a Republican Congressperson. As you watch, note every time they blame the other party or describe their goals with negotiations. Then discuss as a class:

• Where is there actual agreement between their positions?
• What sort of compromise do you think might lead to an end to the shutdown?

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