government shutdown – Notes from the edge of the system

If the Government’s Shut Down, Why Is Congress on “Vacation” and Still Getting Paid?

The U.S. Capitol stands in sharp relief against the evening sky during the government shutdown.

Congress is on “vacation” while workers go unpaid, airports run partisan videos, and health care hangs in the balance. It’s time to fix the rules.

Stop Blaming Immigrants for America’s Health Care Crisis

Trump’s shutdown spin blames immigrants for America’s health care crisis. The law says otherwise—and the real fight is about protecting Americans’ coverage.

When One Party Wants It All: Why Shutting Out Democrats Is Anti-Democracy

Donald Trump’s call to “not deal with Democrats” goes beyond tough politics — it challenges the very idea of democracy. If we accept that one party should rule while the other is silenced, we’ve abandoned what makes this country a democracy. Here’s why that matters, and why respecting opposition is essential to keeping our system alive.