Shutting down the government is about more than health care for congressional Democrats. It's about the very future of their party.

Why it matters: To combat Trump and regain the trust of their voters, the party establishment is seizing on a growing strain of Democratic populism like never before. • "It's not the radical or the most agitated element of the base that feel that way" anymore, said one House Democrat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to offer candid thoughts about the political dynamics of the shutdown. • "Now, it's the mainstream of the Democratic party that's saying, 'We've given [Trump] every opportunity and he's shown no willingness to do this, so now we have to take more radical measures.'"

Axios has reported throughout the year how Hill Democrats have been b

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