The shutdown is over, with no winners and much frustration. How did we get here?
The Associated Press traces how the longest government shutdown in history ended in November 2025 with Democrats failing to win an extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credit, only a promised December vote from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and funding extended until end of January 2026. Kevin Freking reports that federal workers went unpaid, food banks saw long lines, and most Democrats and Republicans alike share blame in the public's eyes, with Schumer calling health care costs set to double "in the blink of an eye."
