Read Time: 3 min 33 sec

Why isn’t the government reopening?
You know how on movie night, when 22% of the room wants action, 37% wants a rom-com, and 41% are too spineless kind to make a decision? So you just keep scrolling…

Congress has been scrolling Netflix for more than 720 hours without a compromise.

What needs to happen?
To get Uncle Sam back to work, Congress needs to pass a law (or twelve). There are generally twelve “appropriations bills” that fund the federal government every year. Each one needs to pass the House (with a simple majority) and the Senate (with 60 votes) and be signed by the president to keep the government funded and open.

Alternatively, they could pass a “continuing resolution” (CR), which keeps funding at the prior year’s levels while debate continues.

What’s the holdup this time?
The Senate.

Republicans control a majority of the House of Representatives (219 Republicans, 213 Democrats, three vacancies), and they have passed a Continuing Resolution. But that bill is stalled in the Senate, where there are 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats (visualize the numbers in this diagram). 

Recent votes have ended 55-45 (with three Democrats joining Republicans)—short of the 60 needed to move forward.

What does each side say?
Senate Democrats say that if Republicans want their votes, they must negotiate with them. They’ve vowed to oppose any bill that doesn’t extend healthcare subsidies used by 24 million Americans, which are set to expire at the end of the year.

Republicans say they’ll negotiate the healthcare subsidies only after passing a “clean” Continuing Resolution to reopen the government. They note that Democrats voted for CRs 13 times under President Biden, and claim Democrats are digging in because shutting down the government is their only point of leverage.

How long will this last?
In theory, it could go on forever. In practice… probably not too much longer, as more programs run out of old funding. This shutdown started 31 days ago, and the longest ever was 35 days. 

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PRAY WITH US
If our hope is based on political negotiations, then we live in fear because we could lose everything. But if our hope is rooted in Christ, we can weather any storm. Express your trust by praying for our government:

God, our Creator, You are nature’s Lawmaker. These lawmakers are only in their seats on Your appointment. Would you make them wise in their management, humble in their discussions, and clever in their compromises so that they might promote the peace and prosperity of all? While we wait, make us patient. Transform our feelings of helplessness into acknowledgements of utter dependence on You. In discomfort and frustration, make us steadfast, at peace. In lack and in plenty, provide for our every need. Amen.

This eternal perspective is an excerpt from our new Sunday newsletter, Praying the News. For more reflection and a prayer for the shutdown in your inbox tomorrow, subscribe for free here.

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Solving four Wordles at once.

A landscape… inside a rock.

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Top News Article: Some birds were trapped in Hurricane Melissa’s eyewall 😱

Top Christian Perspective: A reminder that in the wake of devastation, followers of Christ have the opportunity to respond in love. (Donate to World Concern’s Hurricane Melissa efforts here.) (Download shareable images of this week’s top verse here.)

Top Whipped Cream: 🐘 When you give an elephant a pumpkin…

In my living room, thanks to Nourish Move Love*

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A Liturgy for the Ritual of Morning Coffee:

“Meet me, O Christ, in this stillness of morning. Move me, O Spirit, to quiet my heart. Mend me, O Father, from yesterday’s harms. From the discords of yesterday, resurrect my peace. From the discouragements of yesterday, resurrect my hope. From the weariness of yesterday, resurrect my strength. From the doubts of yesterday, resurrect my faith. From the wounds of yesterday, resurrect my love. Let me enter this new day, aware of my need, and awake to your grace, O Lord. Amen.”
Every Moment Holy, Volume 1, page 135