GOVERNMENT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WALL: “The partial government shutdown is now the longest in American history. The shutdown entered its 22nd day on Saturday [1-12-19], surpassing the previous 21-day record set in late 1995 and early 1996 during the Clinton administration. Nine federal departments and several smaller agencies – one-fourth of the federal government – remain closed as the standoff barrels into its fourth week with no end in sight. Members of the House and the Senate both went home to their districts on Friday [1-11-19] and won’t return until Monday, guaranteeing that parts of the government will remain closed at least through early next week. When will it end? Hard to say. President Donald Trump is threatening to declare a national emergency so he can access federal funds to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. That would allow the government to reopen since the shutdown stems from a budget battle between the White House and congressional Democrats over border wall funding. But exactly when Trump might invoke an emergency isn’t clear.”
–Michael Collins, John Fritze and David Jackson, “Government shutdown sets record as longest in U.S. history. When will it finally end?,” USA Today, January 11, 2019 11:15 am