The People's Think Tank: Government Shut Down

To save our democracy we, the people, must flood the zone with facts.

Nov 06, 2025

Far-right billionaire funded think tanks have spent 50 years flooding the zone with culture war B.S.—making us angry, scared, and hateful. Now, millions of our loved ones cheer the Constitution’s destruction.

Fight for democracy by replacing their toxic propaganda with healthy, pro-democracy journalism. By volunteering as an operative for the pro-democracy People’s Think Tank you might just save America.

This brief provides fact-based context to the issues of the day. Share it with someone. Then share the resources within as widely as possible across your social media and in your group chats. More here.

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US government shutdown enters 36th day to become longest in history The Guardian, November 5th

“The standoff began on the first day of October, after Democratic senators refused to vote for a government funding bill unless it included an extension of Joe Biden-era tax credits that lower costs for health plans purchased through Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges. Tens of millions of Americans are expected to be unable to afford insurance once the credits expire at the end of 2025.”

The federal government is still shut down. Here’s what that means across the country NPR, Updated November 3rd

“Prominent Republican lawmakers have claimed the Democrats are looking to provide tax dollars to help pay for the health care of undocumented immigrants. That is not true.”

Why Trump Is Allowing Food Stamp Funding to Run Out The Nation, October 30th

“On the same day that Trump pledged to CNN that he would continue SNAP payments in November, his own Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the government wouldn’t. The next day, the USDA used its website to double down on the SNAP shutdown, using lies about immigrants and a false smear against transgender Americans in a partisan message that clearly violated the federal Hatch Act prohibition on using tax dollars for partisan purposes.”

Trump Is Illegally Withholding Food From Needy Families The American Prospect, October 29th

“But the reality is that not only is the contingency fund meant to be used in this exact fashion, it’s illegal for the Trump administration to refuse to do so. The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which reauthorized the food stamp program and changed its name to SNAP, states clearly that benefits ‘shall be furnished to all eligible households who make application for such participation.’”

The Hunger Games Begin Paul Krugman, October 28th

“Why are Republicans hostile to a program that benefits tens of millions of Americans? Pay attention to right-wing rhetoric about food stamps and you’ll hear again and again assertions that SNAP beneficiaries are lazy malingerers — the “bums on welfare” who should be forced to go out and get jobs.

But that myth is punctured by a quick look at who gets SNAP. The fact is, the great majority of SNAP recipients can’t work: 40 percent are children; 18 percent are elderly; 11 percent are disabled. Furthermore, a majority of recipients who are capable of working do work. They are the working poor: their jobs just don’t pay enough, or offer sufficiently stable employment, to make ends meet without aid.”

LISTEN

The NPR Politics Podcast (20 minute listen) Millions of Americans set to lose federal food aid Nov. 1 due to shutdown

WATCH

PBS NewsHour Report, November 3rd SNAP benefits will be partially funded as shutdown stretches on, White House says

Bernie Sanders’ Instagram Republicans: Don’t Shut Down The Government

@berniesanders

A post shared by Bernie Sanders on Instagram: "Republicans are poised to shut down the government.

Here’s how they can get my support:

1) Don’t take health care away from 15 million people with Medicaid cuts

2) Don’t increase premiums by 75% for 20 million Americans

3) Don’t don’t move us toward authoritarianism"

Sawyer Hackett’s Instagram If Dems are weak on the shutdown fight, why are Trump and Republicans desperately lying to spin it?

@sawyerhackett