Government Shutdown: Who Blinks First?

The government shutdown is now in its fifth day, and things are getting tense. The White House is warning that if talks don't go anywhere, federal workers might start losing their jobs. Kevin Hassett, who works for the National Economic Council, said on CNN that everyone is hoping for a breakthrough this week. But so far, Democrats and Republicans can't agree on much. Democrats want to talk about healthcare right now, but Republicans say that should wait until December. This is making the whole situation more complicated. The Senate tried to pass two bills to end the shutdown, but both failed. The Republican plan was to fund the government until late November, while the Democrats wanted extra money for healthcare. President Trump has said the shutdown gives him a chance to cut down the size of federal agencies. But so far, that hasn't happened. Hassett mentioned that Trump and Russ Vought, who runs the Office of Management and Budget, are getting ready to take action if needed. Still, Hassett thinks there's a chance Democrats will compromise this week, avoiding layoffs. The big question is: who will blink first? Both sides seem dug in, but the pressure is on to find a solution before things get worse. Federal workers are caught in the middle, hoping for a quick resolution.