On this week's episode of Highway to Hill: We're in a partial government shutdown, but you might not have noticed. Why does this shutdown feel so different from the one last year? Charlie and SoRelle break down how Democrats separated out DHS funding, what agencies are actually affected (TSA workers without pay, but ICE is largely funded), and whether this strategy gives Democrats any real leverage. Plus, the White House proposes drastic cuts to federal agencies, and Congress says “no thanks.”

Then, in the Gavel Drop: The State of the Union is coming up, and Democrats are trying to figure out how to protest Trump's speech. And Mitch McConnell's would-be successors in Kentucky can't stop trashing the man who basically built the modern Republican Party in the state.

This week’s syllabus 📚

* “DHS government shutdown is underway. Here are the services affected.” (Kathryn Watson, CBS News)

* Democrats’ letter of demands for DHS funding (Punchbowl News)

* “When is the shutdown ‘snapping point’? Don’t ask the House.” (Valerie Yurk, Roll Call)

* “Trump Sought Vast Budget Cuts. Congress Granted Few.” (Tony Romm, The New York Times)

* “Earmarks flood spending bills after a year’s hiatus” (Aidan Quigley, Roll Call)

* “Mitch McConnell is taking a beating in the race to replace him” (Hannah Knowles, The Washington Post)

* “Republicans worry shutdown will overshadow Trump’s State of the Union”, (Meredith Lee Hill, Jordain Carney, Mia McCarthy and Hailey Fuchs, POLITICO)

* “What Are Earmarks and What Purpose Do They Serve?” (The Peter G. Peterson Foundation)

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