Shutting match: what will break the US federal impasse?

熄灭火种:什么将打破美国联邦僵局?

The Intelligence from The Economist

2025-10-23

23 分钟
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The government shutdown in America is now the second-longest on record. Yet there is no apparent urgency to end it, either from Republicans or Democrats. Why Ghana has escaped the jihadist violence of its neighbours in the Sahel. And bottled water is going upmarket.  Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+
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  • The Economist Hello and welcome to The Intelligence from The Economist.

  • I'm your host, Rosie Bloor.

  • Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

  • In recent years, jihadist rebels have swept through many countries of the Sahel.

  • So why does neighbouring Ghana remain a sanctuary of relative peace and stability?

  • Our correspondent travelled there to find out.

  • And when you live in lovely London, you're lucky enough,

  • in my view, to have delicious water literally on tap.

  • But those folk whose job it is to sell bottled water think they can do better and are apparently trying to turn their product into a luxury good.

  • But first...

  • The government shut down in America is now the second longest on record.

  • Yesterday,

  • it surpassed the 21-day suspension of federal services under President Bill Clinton in 1996.

  • Hundreds of thousands have been furloughed, many others are working without a paycheck,

  • and some may be out of work permanently.

  • The Census Bureau stopped work.

  • So has the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

  • What happens if we have another hurricane outbreak and some wildfires on the west,

  • severe drought in the Midwest, all of a sudden you're stretching that workforce so very thin.

  • Most staff at the Department of Education have been sent home too.