Good morning.
It's Tuesday, December 23rd.
I'm Gideon Resnick in for Shemita Basu.
This is Apple News Today.
On today's show, a closer look at children in ice custody,
while you might see a surprise tariff fee on some of your holiday gift orders,
and a few helpful tips to keep that TSA line moving this week.
But first, Congress left for the holidays last week,
winding down a year that has been among the least productive in modern history.
That's according to a tally of enacted legislation.
The longest government shutdown we've ever seen did not yield a resolution on expiring health care subsidies with millions of Americans poised to face higher premiums next year.
And a record number of lawmakers are deciding not to run for reelection,
including 11 senators and 44 members of the House.
NPR recently examined the factors that led Congress to this point.
We have an environment that's increasingly partisan,
which is frustrating on a personal level, but also on a legislative front.
There's a steady increase of death threats and threats of political violence against members and their families and their staff.
That takes a toll.
And people feeling like they can't just get stuff done.
Barbara Sprunt covers Congress for NPR.