When will the government reopen? Here's how long past shutdowns lasted Government shutdowns lasting more than a few days were relatively rare — until recently. The 2018-2019 shutdown was the longest in U.S. history, stretching on for five weeks. Rachel Treisman
What will Congress do after the shutdown? We asked a Republican and a Democrat Most of the federal government is shut down after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement. We asked two House members — a Democrat and Republican — where they think talks go from here Obed Manuel
What happens when the firewall between the White House and the DOJ comes down? President Trump is pressuring the Department of Justice to pursue his political enemies, like former FBI director James Comey. Legal scholar Barbara McQuade explains how this damages the rule of law. Tonya Mosley
Hundreds of celebrities relaunch a McCarthy-era committee to defend free speech The Committee for the First Amendment first launched in the 1940s, when the House Un-American Activities Committee accused Hollywood actors, directors and writers of being communists or sympathizers. Anastasia Tsioulcas
Government shutdown begins after Congress fails to agree on spending bill Much of the federal government shut down Wednesday after Congress failed to reach a deal to keep government programs and services running before the midnight deadline. Claudia Grisales
Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., talks about the government shutdown NPR speaks with Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., about the government shutdown. Leila Fadel
Federal agencies are rehiring workers and spending more after DOGE's push to cut Eight months after the Department of Government Efficiency effort to shrink the federal workforce began, some agencies are hiring workers back — and spending more money than before. Stephen Fowler
Poll: Agreement that political violence may be necessary to right the country grows On hot button issues, a majority say children should be vaccinated; controlling gun violence is more important than gun rights; and Epstein files should be released, in a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. Domenico Montanaro
A GOP push to restrict voting by overseas U.S. citizens continues before 2026 midterms Republican officials are pushing for more voting restrictions on U.S. citizens who were born abroad and have never lived in the country, after unsuccessfully challenging their ballots in 2024. Hansi Lo Wang
Government shuts down after Congress fails to reach a funding agreement Much of the federal government is now shut down after Republicans and Democrats in the Senate failed to agree on a funding plan to keep the government open. Sam Gringlas