We asked 1,000 Americans who they blame for the shutdown  —  Here's what they said.  —  Just now  —  How concerned are Americans about the partial shutdown of the federal government and whom do they blame for causing it?  The Washington Post texted a nationally representative sample of 1,010 people on Wednesday to ask.

Trump Finds a New Way to Use the White House for Tacky Racist Trolling  —  DOOM LOOP  —  AI-generated meme of Hakeem Jeffries ran on loop in the press room.  —  Racist AI-generated videos set to mariachi music were played on repeat for hours in the White House in a doom-loop attempt to troll Democrats.

How John Thune sees the shutdown ending … “I keep telling them: When they have eight or 10 — preferably 10, or more — when they have a critical mass, let me know if there's a conversation they want to have,” Thune said.  —  He insisted he would not negotiate on the substance of an extension while the government is closed.

White House Uses Shutdown to Maximize Pain and Punish Political Foes  —  The Trump administration forged ahead with plans to conduct mass layoffs, as the fiscal standoff appeared to intensify.  —  The Trump administration took steps on Wednesday to maximize the pain of the government shutdown …