Capitol Journal · Alabama Public Television

October 25, 2025

·57 min·5 clips

The government shutdown hits its fourth week, leaving federal workers without full paychecks as Congress remains deadlocked.

This Capitol Journal episode covers the ongoing federal government shutdown entering its fourth week. Host Todd Stacey presents reporting from Washington correspondent Alex Engel on the political stalemate. The episode focuses on the impacts in Alabama and the positions of the state's congressional delegation. The Republican-led House passed a continuing resolution to fund the government at current levels through November 21st. Senate Democrats have rejected this measure, insisting it include an extension for Affordable Care Act premium tax subsidies. This demand has denied Senate Republicans the 60 votes required to proceed. Federal programs like SNAP are now running out of money due to the lapse. Approximately 41,000 federal civilian workers in Alabama will miss their first full paychecks. The Senate recently rejected competing bills aimed at paying these employees during the shutdown. Open enrollment for the ACA marketplace is scheduled to begin on November 1st. Senator Katie Britt of Alabama expresses frustration, calling the political stalemate "incredibly short-sighted" and "selfish." She argues that hard-working Americans are bearing the price of the gridlock. Democrats contend the ACA premium issue is urgent and reject the Republican stance that it is a "fix-it-later" problem. The reporting indicates Congress is no closer to a resolution now than at the start of October. The shutdown has reached an inflection point with tangible consequences for both federal programs and workers. The tone is straightforward and informational, delivered in a classic public radio news style. It blends studio hosting with field reporting from the Capitol. Listeners interested in the local impact of national politics and federal budget negotiations would find this episode relevant. Those seeking entertainment or broad cultural commentary might prefer to skip it.

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