A record 37 days! Why has the U.S. government shutdown lasted so long? Both parties are digging in their heels. Democrats and Republicans remain locked in a bitter fight over healthcare spending – but that's only part of the story. Behind the scenes, each side is playing political chess: the Trump administration has used the shutdown to downsize the federal workforce and weaken agencies led by Democrats, while Democrats are seizing the moment to project unity and rally voter support around healthcare benefits. As partisan divides grow ever deeper, shutdowns are becoming less of an exception – and more like a routine in American politics.

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