Episode notes
As the 2025 shutdown dragged on for 43 days, millions of Americans went without pay while Congress continued cashing their checks. This post breaks down what that imbalance reveals about power, privilege, and accountability in Washington.
References
Hsu, Andrea. “How Trump Is Decimating Federal Employee Unions One Step at a Time.” NPR, 1 Sept. 2025, www.npr.org/2025/09/01/nx-s1-5515633/trump-federal-workers-labor-unions-va.
Hsu, Andrea. “‘I’m Done Being Afraid’: How the Shutdown Has Led Federal Workers to Speak Out.” NPR, 10 Oct. 2025,
Keywords
Government ShutdownU.S. government shutdown explainedShutdown blame gameWashington accountabilityFederal workers furloughedFederal government funding crisis