WSJ What’s News The House Prepares to Vote On Bill to End the Government Shutdown
Nov 12, 2025
Anvi Bhutani, a Washington politics reporter, discusses the key components of a spending bill aimed at ending a historic government shutdown. Nick Timiraos, the Chief economics correspondent, delves into the Federal Reserve's internal debate over inflation versus the labor market risks ahead of a pivotal meeting. Allison Poley sheds light on the fallout from the shutdown on airlines, including canceled flights and financial implications. Together, they offer a gripping look at the intersection of politics, economics, and travel disruptions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Short-Term Funding And Workers Protected
- The spending bill would extend funding for much of the federal government through January and fully fund Agriculture, Military Construction, and the Legislative Branch.
- It also guarantees back pay for furloughed workers and reverses Trump-era federal layoffs during the shutdown.
Worker Pay Restored And Beefed-Up Security
- The bill includes provisions to reverse federal layoffs and ensure furloughed employees receive back pay, a win for federal workers.
- It also adds hundreds of millions for security for lawmakers and other officials after recent threats.
Potential Payouts Draw Bipartisan Criticism
- The bill contains language that could award about $500,000 to several Republican senators over past DOJ phone-record probes.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson said Republicans will seek to repeal that provision next week amid bipartisan criticism.