As the shutdown, which has left 800-thousand federal workers without pay, hit its 35th day - Democratic leaders have floated the idea of giving Trump most or all of the money he seeks for security along the Mexican border, but for items other than the 70-billion-rand wall he wants. Today, about 800,000 federal workers will start to miss their second paychecks since the shutdown began last month. As Trump insists he will not give ground on the wall, although it seems has more to lose than Democratic leaders if the impasse continues to inflict harm on government workers and Americans who rely on services from housing and food assistance to airport security. Is there an end in sights?

Guest: Brooks Spector is the Associate Editor at Daily Maverick and a retired American diplomat.