A government shutdown begins after talks break down

President Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
 (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
 ASSOCIATED PRESS

The first federal government shutdown in years began early Wednesday morning after lawmakers and President Trump stopped negotiations and spent the final hours before the stoppage largely focused on trying to set up the other side to take the political blame.

The victory of gridlock was sealed Tuesday evening when twin Senate votes failed to advance either a Republican bill (even as three members of the Democratic caucus crossed party lines to vote yes) or a Democratic plan. No compromise plan was offered, ensuring the funding lapse.

The shutdown — the first since a seven-week stoppage during Trump's first term — began at 12:01 a.m. ET as the new fiscal year began. That last shutdown took place in 2018-19 and broke the record for the longest in American history.

By Ben Werschkul
Full story at Yahoo News