Will Rogers once joked, “I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.” A century later, nothing’s changed. This shutdown proves another of his lines — “Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.” Out here in Oklahoma, we fix barns before the roof caves in, but in Washington they’ll debate the color of the tin while the rain’s pouring through.

That rain is falling hardest on people who didn’t ask for any of this.

Impact on tribal nations

Oklahoma is home to 39 federally recognized tribal nations. Many rely on federal funding through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, tribal housing and infrastructure grants and education programs. Furloughs and delayed approvals threaten those services. Tribal leaders already are warning that prolonged shutdown

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