With government funding negotiations at a standstill, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller explore what may break the deadlock and how long this standoff could last. Then, Brendan and Annalyse welcome Phil Mattingly, CNN's Chief Domestic Correspondent, to the show for a discussion about OMB director Russ Vought’s influence, how the Trump administration is handling the shutdown, and if Congress will reassert its spending authority.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Phil Mattingly, CNN

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

Politico: ‘I don't know why this is so complicated’: Shutdown could drag on for days

Reuters: Another deadline in US shutdown: Will troops get paychecks on October 15?

Politico: House will stay out of session next week as Senate works to solve shutdown

CNN: Trump’s shutdown architect: Russ Vought’s plan to deconstruct the government was years in the making

With funding set to lapse in just hours, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss if a deal can be reached to avoid a government shutdown – and if not, how leaders will get out of one. Then they are joined by Seven Letter partner Mike Ricci, a top adviser to two GOP speakers, for a trip down memory lane as they revisit the 2013 government shutdown. What was the strategy going into and during the fight? When did things start going off the rails? And what lessons does that experience offer Democrats?

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Mike Ricci

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

AP: Congressional leaders leave White House meeting without deal to avoid government shutdown

NYT: How Congressional Leaders Are Positioning Themselves in the Shutdown Fight

Politico: Johnson urges GOP unity as shutdown deadline nears

WaPo: White House begins plan for mass firings if there’s a government shutdown

WaPo: Government shutdowns high on drama, but low on long-term political impact

AP: A look at previous government shutdowns and how they ended

Republicans and Democrats are gearing up for a shutdown and neither side appears ready to blink. Hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by HuffPost senior reporter Igor Bobic to break down the stalemate. They discuss the strange timeline, compare this debate to past shutdown fights, and question Senator Schumer’s endgame. Plus, will the GOP come to regret changing Senate rules? And will Congress conduct oversight of the FCC in the wake of the Jimmy Kimmel situation?

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Igor Bobic, HuffPost

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles Discussed:

Punchbowl: Both sides dig in as shutdown looms

Politico: Tables turn for Democrats as they use shutdown for leverage

Reuters: Democratic leaders in US Congress demand meeting with Trump as government shutdown looms

Politico: Thune mocks Schumer’s shutdown stance: He ‘knows where my office is’

NBC News: Senate Republicans poke holes in the filibuster despite vowing to protect it

HuffPost: GOP Senators Criticize FCC's Threats Against ABC And Jimmy Kimmel