THE SIGNAL: The government shutdown has entered its third week, impacting SNAP benefits and causing families to cope with cuts. Democrats are claiming credit for funding measures they previously opposed, while air traffic controllers are rejecting credit for ending the last shutdown.
THE FRICTION: Sources disagree on the political fallout of the shutdown. While Democrats are digging in after election wins, Senator Jeanne Shaheen is facing blowback from her daughter, suggesting varied impacts on different political figures.
THE NOISE: Gavin Newsom's potential 2028 presidential run and the art ownership dispute in Ukraine are unrelated to the shutdown's immediate impact and are likely distractions from the core issue of government funding and its consequences.