Shutdown poker: Which side is winning?

The US government is in a standoff, and the chips are down — with the government shuttered for weeks, federal workers stuck in limbo, and millions who rely on health insurance subsidies scared of losing the shirt off their backs.

- FRANKIE TAGGART

Behind the scenes, it's not just about budgets — it's about who's winning the blame game.

Democrats argue they have the clearer story and the more relatable message. Republicans have President Donald Trump’s megaphone, but critics say their argument is tangled in technicalities.

Polling shows the public assigning blame to both parties. The most recent surveys show a plurality blaming Republicans, although Trump remains largely unscathed.

But with each missed pay check and rising premium, the stakes get higher — and someone is going to fold.

THE STAKES

This shutdown isn’t your garden-variety gridlock — it’s already the second-longest in history and neither side looks close to backing down.

It is the first significant shutdown driven by Democrats, and only the second time the government has paused over demands to spend rather than save.

Democrats want to extend subsidies for health insurance premiums that help millions afford coverage. Republicans say reopen the government first, then maybe we'll talk.