Blame Trump: US govt shutdown to hurt Republicans more than Democrats

The GOP is not operating as an effective governing coalition, in part because its leader does not provide a consistent strategic vision for the party

Government shutdowns are rare.

This one is unique because the US has never before experienced a shutdown under a unified government, a time when the White House and Congress are controlled by the same party.

The policy consequences of this shutdown are likely to be minimal. And, the shutdown itself will also probably be short-lived.

However, the political consequences and long-term “optics” may be significant – and are more likely to negatively impact Republicans than Democrats.

Politics are key

A government shutdown occurs when Congress and the President fail to pass required annual appropriations into law, and they also fail to pass a temporary funding