NPR Politics Podcast

Episode: "Congress Deadlocked As Possible Government Shutdown Looms"

Date: September 22, 2025
Host: Danielle Kurtzleben
Contributors: Deirdre Walsh, Mara Liasson

Brief Overview

In this episode, NPR’s top political correspondents examine the possibility of a looming federal government shutdown set for October 1, 2025. They break down what a shutdown actually means for Americans, why Congress continues to deadlock on spending bills, the political calculations for both parties—especially in the Trump administration’s second term—the stakes of this shutdown compared to previous ones, and the broader implications for American governance and democracy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Happens During a Government Shutdown?

• Definition & Impact
  • Mara Liasson explains that government shutdowns have evolved but essential services continue: Social Security checks, air traffic control, border protection, hospital care, and power grid maintenance.
    • “The government does not grind to a halt.” – Mara Liasson [01:31]
• Practical Consequences
  • Deirdre Walsh details that federal workers (including TSA agents) would not be paid, potentially affecting services like flights and disaster relief (e.g., FEMA in North Carolina).
  • She underscores the economic cost, citing the 2018 shutdown’s $11 billion hit.
    • “Federal workers would not be getting paid... there could be an economic impact if [a shutdown] lasts.” – Deirdre Walsh [02:15]

2. Why is Congress Deadlocked?

• Stalled Negotiations
  • Walsh says there are essentially no active negotiations, with both parties entrenched and no incentive to compromise.
    • “Right now, there's a real standoff... I think both sides are very stuck in their corners and don't really want to back down.” – Deirdre Walsh [03:41]
• Leadership Dynamics
  • After failed Senate action, Democratic leaders are pushing for a meeting with President Trump, hoping for a breakthrough but expecting little movement.

3. Senate Math and Legislative Hurdles

• Votes Required
  • Despite GOP majorities, Senate Republicans lack the 60 votes needed to advance funding, and only one Democrat (John Fetterman) has crossed party lines.
    • “Republicans have a 53 seat majority. They actually lost a couple of their own members on the vote last week...” – Deirdre Walsh [05:21]
• Shifts in Bipartisanship
  • Contrast with March 2025 when some Democrats worked to keep the government open; now party unity trumps pragmatism, driven by base anger over compromise.

4. Increasing Polarization & Collapse of Compromise

• Bipartisanship Breakdown
  • Liasson remarks on a near-total collapse of bipartisan dealmaking in appropriations, predicting that even the filibuster might be at risk.
    • “The need for bipartisanship that was baked into the system... is really almost completely breaking down.” – Mara Liasson [07:48]
• Shift in Political Incentives
  • Both parties’ bases now demand confrontation, not dealmaking.
    • “There's not a lot of incentive structure anymore for those kinds of bipartisan spending bill deals.” – Deirdre Walsh [16:09]

5. Democratic and Republican Priorities

• Democrats’ Demands
  • They want: government funded through October, rollback of GOP Medicaid changes, extension of ACA subsidies, and protection against executive branch funding clawbacks.
    • “These are all sort of demands that are non-starters for Republicans.” – Deirdre Walsh [08:41]
• Republican Opposition
  • GOP refuses to undo core tax legislation or accept further social spending increases.

6. Who Gets the Blame?

• Usual Rule (Incumbent Blame) Now in Doubt
  • Historically, the party holding the White House suffers most, but with Republicans controlling all branches and Trump openly dismissive of government, political fallout is uncertain.
    • “Donald Trump has fired tens of thousands of government workers... there were many, many parts of the government we could just do without.” – Mara Liasson [13:15]
• Messaging Battles
  • Early blame game: Republicans dubbing it the “Schumer shutdown,” Democrats arguing responsibility lies with the GOP as they control government.

7. Why This Shutdown Is Different

• Rise of the Executive
  • Liasson sees a new era where the presidency dominates the other branches, especially as the Republican Congress cedes its powers.
    • “Our form of government is changing before our eyes. We're getting a much more all powerful executive.” – Mara Liasson [14:45]
• Congressional Dysfunction
  • Chronic inability to pass bills, reliance on stopgap “mega-CRs,” and persistent threats of shutdown showcase a broken system.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Essential Services During a Shutdown

  • “They're still gonna get their Social Security check and they might not notice much.” — Mara Liasson [01:31]

• On Deepening Partisan Divide

  • “The Democratic base is very angry with Democrats who cooperate with the Trump administration. And they want a fight.” — Deirdre Walsh [07:18]

• On Democratic Calculations

  • “If they do hold out for these subsidies to be extended... they might just be helping Republicans hang on to the House.” — Mara Liasson [10:03]

• On Structural Dysfunction

  • “Congress doesn't have its act together and can't get its act together to pass spending bills.” — Deirdre Walsh [15:25]

• On Compromise in today’s politics

  • “This time is more of the same, but I think on steroids because of the polarization.” — Deirdre Walsh [16:23]

• On What a Shutdown Signals

  • “If we get a shutdown and there are no political repercussions, I think that will be a huge marker along the slippery slope of Democratic decline.” — Mara Liasson [15:24]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:31] What is a government shutdown and how is it experienced?
• [02:15] Practical effects—who is affected, historical context, regional impacts
• [03:41] The state of negotiations: deadlock and political calculation
• [05:21] Why Republicans, despite majority control, can’t pass a funding bill
• [07:48] Breakdown of bipartisanship and the impact on the appropriations process
• [08:41] Democrats’ demands and non-starters for Republicans
• [12:14] Party unity and early dynamics of the blame game
• [13:15] Discussion: Who will suffer politically for a shutdown?
• [14:45] Why this shutdown may be fundamentally different from the past
• [16:09] Lack of incentives for bipartisan deals and shifting party agendas

Episode Takeaways

• Shutdowns don’t halt government, but have real human and economic costs—felt hardest by federal workers and specific communities.
• Both parties are politically entrenched, driven by increasingly confrontational bases, with little appetite for compromise.
• The Trump administration’s stance and Republican control of Congress have dramatically shifted the balance of power, with Congress’s authority over the purse eroding.
• This shutdown battle isn’t just about dollars and cents—it’s a test of institutional norms and the resilience of American democracy.

Summary compiled and structured for listeners seeking an in-depth, clear understanding of the episode’s core content and key moments, preserving the original language and tone of NPR’s expert political team.