The government shutdown enters its second week as Congress remains deadlocked.

I think it’s around October and we’re two years apart in Congress.

Two years ago this October, the House unceremoniously ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif), paralyzing Congress for more than three weeks without a leader.

And in October of this year, Congress was paralyzed again, unable to find the votes to reopen the government.

“There’s nothing for us to negotiate,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said. “We did the work to keep government open. Now it’s up to Senate Democrats.”

Ominous red and orange skies brought attention to the Capitol as a lockdown loomed

But Democrats say that’s a problem. There were no negotiations. Last week, President Trump and the top four bipartisan, bicameral congressional leaders held a brief White House meeting a day before the shutdown.

“Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R.D., says, ‘We’re going to have a conversation.’ We need more than a conversation. We need real negotiations,” Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) told Fox.

So there is no conversation. And both sides seem to be talking past each other.

As closure negotiations stall, Congress appears to be heading nowhere positively. (Elizabeth Franz/Reuters)

So they turned into handicaps.

Republican Senator John Kennedy predicted the shutdown would last another week.

Kennedy predicted, “It’s not going to end until everyone in the Senate puts away their pride and takes a shot.”

It is and always will be about math.

Senate Republicans can use the votes of 55 senators to stop the filibuster on a government funding bill passed in the House. But I need 60. And Republicans are determined to stick to their playbook.

“I would say there are at least five Democrats in the Senate who know that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has led them into a box canyon with this Schumer shutdown,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., told Fox. “But the consequences are going to start piling up.”

Reporter’s Note: Senate votes again today on ending government shutdown

White House press secretary Caroline Levitt did not directly answer questions about what would trigger federal layoffs. But Leavitt made it clear that jobs are in the balance.

“We don’t want to see people getting laid off, but unfortunately, if these closures continue, layoffs will be an unfortunate outcome,” Leavitt said.

Democrats accused the Trump administration of implying it would cut programs and jobs at agencies that are important to them.

“Americans really hate bullying, and this kind of bullying from the White House will be met with a backlash because they understand that an authoritarian president is using subsidies to New York for infrastructure, laying off workers and intentionally inflicting suffering,” predicted Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. “Don’t cause unnecessary pain and brag about it.”

Some Republicans actually enjoyed the White House’s approach.

“All is fair in love and war, and I think Democrats should pay the price for stopping this,” said Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan. “This will be part of the outcome.”

Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., argued that the shutdowns are “collective punishment” and equally harshly undermine Republican lawmakers. (Tierney L. Cross/Getty Images)

But one Democratic lawmaker argued that the Trump administration’s strategy would weaken Republican lawmakers and voters who support the president. The same goes for blue states.

There are many people in Vermont who voted for President Trump, and there are many people in Illinois who voted for President Trump. So this kind of collective punishment is happening, Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) told Fox. “I think it’s a really bad idea.”

But the president is coy about when the shutdown could trigger federal layoffs.

“It can be done,” the president said. “It will happen someday.”

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said there had been a “slight increase” in air safety staff calling in sick because they had not been paid during the lockdown.

“They’re wondering how I’m going to get paid, how I’m going to pay for my car,” Duffy said.

White House expands lockdown consequences as Democrats show no signs of burgeoning: ‘Kamikaze attack’

But if you squint, you can see some signs of bipartisanship.

Johnson is discussing Obamacare subsidies with a prominent Democrat.

“I think I had a fruitful discussion with Senator Patty Murray about two days ago, a day or so ago,” Johnson said of efforts to address the upcoming ObamaCare premium hikes. “Whatever proposal the conference committee comes up with, I’ll put it on the floor. I’m ready to go.”

But Schumer is skeptical about the chairman’s promises.

“Delays have always been Chairman Johnson’s MO. Chairman Johnson has survived by kicking the can,” Schumer said. “When Johnson said it later, they knew he never meant it.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R.D., argued that Democrats are “playing a losing game.” (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

Tensions are rising as the shutdown enters its second week, with lawmakers whirling around.

“I know my Democratic colleagues are under pressure from members of the far left, but they are playing a losing game here,” Thune said.

But now the two sides are playing a game of congressional chicken. Republicans will not budge in demanding Senate Democrats approve their funding plan. And Democrats will not back down from their insistence that both sides strengthen Obamacare subsidies.

“I will not vote to reopen the government until we find a way to do that,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.

Even some Republicans are concerned about Obamacare prices rising.

“There are some people among blue-collar workers who are a new segment of the Republican Party,” said Rep. Jeff Van Drew on Fox Business. “We have to be careful how we do this. You can’t cut it. You have to use a scalpel, not a sledgehammer.”

Shutdown sparks strategist debate: Will Trump and Republicans pay a political price in 2026?

But even if senators from both parties reach a deal, the plan could run into a brick wall in the House.

“Republicans have spent most of their careers opposing Obamacare. Why would they expand it and add subsidies on top of subsidies?” asked House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla.

Now the debate is raging over which side will give in. Or which party faces political consequences.

Naturally, Republicans believe Democrats will pay a price.

“Their radical base just wants to see them fight Donald Trump here, not because of any particular issue,” House Minority Leader Steve Scalise said.

But Democrats see no political downside.

“Are you concerned in any way about the political ramifications of voters in the future possibly criticizing your side?” You sincerely asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DY.

Jeffries responded, “The American people know very clearly who shut down the government.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said it was “clear” to Americans who was responsible for the shutdown. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

But some lawmakers doubt whether voters care who ‘shuts down the government.’

“My constituents don’t care about criticism. They just want us to govern,” said Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa.

As the deadlock deepened, the Senate shifted from a parliamentary stance to an ecumenical intercession.

“On the third day of the government shutdown, inspire them to work for your glory in everything they think, say, and sow,” Senate Chaplain Barry Black prayed during last week’s Senate campaign.

Here’s what Trump wants to do to reorganize the federal government during the shutdown.

And then there’s the sideshow. The White House sent out a meme depicting Budget Director Russ Vought as the Grim Reaper. And the president trolled Jeffries through an AI-generated social media video, casting Jeffries wearing a sombrero and mustache while mariachi music played in the background.

At the same time, Republicans warned of serious consequences of a shutdown.

“The real suffering is what real people are enduring,” Johnson said.

But in the next moment, the Speaker defended the President, describing the trolling as “entertainment” and ignoring the situation.

“That’s what President Trump is doing. People are enjoying it,” Johnson said.

I didn’t let it go.

“On the one hand you say this is very serious, people have a job. On the other hand you say, ‘Oh, this is just fun and games and trolling.’ Which is it?” I asked.

Johnson responded, “What they are trying to make fun of and make light of is pointing out the absurdity of the Democratic Party’s position.”

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump’s view of the current situation as “entertainment.” (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

So we don’t know if or when Vought will drop the anvil on federal employees. But one senator who joined with Democrats to vote for the Republican plan signaled that his support could erode if Republicans exert too much influence.

“If they start laying off thousands of people or rolling back other kinds of programs, I think that could hurt our chances of solving this problem,” said Sen. Angus King, I-Maine.’

The Senate has now blocked House-approved spending packages six times. The two sides are having a light conversation. But nothing happened.

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It’s as if Congress is on a merry-go-round that goes nowhere. Everyone is getting dizzy. And they just want to get off.