What Next | Daily News and Analysis Actually the Government Shut Down Months Ago
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Oct 2, 2025 
David Dayen, executive editor of The American Prospect and an investigative journalist specializing in government policy, dives into the complexities of the ongoing government shutdown. He discusses how Trump's view of a shutdown as a power move has backfired, outlining the implications for federal services and worker pay. Dayen also highlights the executive branch's financial control, the political theater surrounding layoffs, and the public's shifting blame. He warns of the deeper fight over congressional power and how Democrats can leverage the situation for healthcare advocacy.
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Slow-Motion Shutdown Already Underway
- The Trump administration has been selectively withholding federal funds for months, producing a slow-motion shutdown.
- That makes the formal shutdown feel like little changed because spending choices were already politically controlled.
Executive Picks And Chooses Spending
- The Supreme Court and the White House have increased executive discretion over spending, undermining Congress's power of the purse.
- That shift turns appropriations from law into an option the president can choose to honor or not.
Health Subsidy Cliff Creates An Attention Event
- Enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expire at year-end and could raise premiums by about 75% for many.
- That administrative cliff could create a visible, urgent moment forcing political action.