The country reached “a sad milestone” Wednesday, said Montana U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, as the federal government shutdown stretched into its 36th day, breaking a 2019 record for the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

As of Friday morning, the shutdown continued into day 38, still without a definitive off ramp, though senators on both sides of the aisle are reportedly engaging in negotiations to get a deal across the finish line.

Affordable Care Act subsidies, which have lowered insurance premium costs for consumers who make up to 400% of the federal poverty level since the COVID-19 pandemic, remain at the shutdown’s center. Democrats in the Senate have dug in, refusing to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government unless ACA subsidies are part of the deal. Republicans h

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