WASHINGTON — With several high-profile federal programs on the cusp of running out of money Saturday, Republicans and Democrats ratcheted up their blame game on Day 29 of the government shutdown with no clear end in sight. Neither side showed any signs of backing off their entrenched positions Wednesday, as hundreds of thousands of federal employees work without pay.

What You Need To Know • The government shutdown is now in its 29th day • Democrats and Republicans seem no closer to achieving a resolution than they were when the shutdown began Oct. 1 • "On Saturday, this gets very real," House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on Wednesday, referencing the temporary halt of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits starting Nov. 1 • “Republicans are using the government sh

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