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( NewsNation ) — In an exclusive interview with NewsNation, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Democrats have to “free the hostage” and end the government shutdown before any negotiations can begin.

The shutdown has now lasted 14 days with no end in sight as both sides appear to be entrenched in their positions.

“Don’t take the federal government hostage,” Thune said of Democrats.

Senate Republicans are holding out in hopes five Democrats will cross the aisle and allow them to pass a clean continuing resolution that maintains current funding levels.

Senate Democrats are demanding changes, the main one being an extensio

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