On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti From unthinkable to politics as usual: The government shutdown story
Oct 22, 2025
Mike Davis, an adjunct professor of history, explores the legal beginnings of government shutdowns, highlighting the pivotal 1980 FTC shutdown. Jeremy Mayer, a political expert, dives into the contemporary implications of shutdowns, detailing their economic repercussions and the dysfunction within Congress. They discuss how past shutdowns shaped political strategies, and Mayer emphasizes the detrimental effects on federal workers and operations. The conversation also touches on potential reforms to mitigate these shutdowns in the future.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
A Servicewoman's Offhand Resignation
- Meghna recounts an Air Force servicewoman saying, 'it's basically always shut down, isn't it?' to illustrate public resignation.
- The comment highlights how shutdowns feel routine to citizens now but were rare before 1980.
How A 19th-Century Law Created Shutdowns
- Benjamin Civiletti's 1980 legal opinion activated the Anti-Deficiency Act and created the modern shutdown mechanism.
- A long-dormant law became a political lever that normalized shutdowns in U.S. politics.
Cereal Lobbying Helped Trigger The FTC Shutdown
- Mike Davis recounts the FTC shutdown caused by lobbying against cereal regulation.
- He links industry pressure to Congress delaying appropriations and the FTC's temporary closure.