As Congress reconvenes in Washington, the looming threat of a government shutdown takes center stage, with funding set to expire on September 30th. The clock is ticking for lawmakers to pass a continuing resolution, but disagreements between Republicans and Democrats over the duration of the stopgap measure and attached provisions are complicating matters. With the 2024 elections casting a long shadow over these discussions, Jacob Bogage from the Washington Post shares that both parties need to carefully weigh their options to balance immediate needs with long-term political strategies.