Now in its 31st day, the government shutdown now threatens a second paycheck for hundreds of thousands of federal employees. Senate Republicans have put forward a spending bill this week that would require $5.7 billion for President Trump's long-promised border wall and includes a temporary DACA extension. Democrats have called that deal "hostage-taking," and are pushing a bill in the House that would reopen the government with billions of dollars for border security, minus a wall along the southern border. Elsewhere, more Democrats are gearing up for the 2020 presidential race, with California Sen. Kamala Harris the latest to throw her hat in the ring.

Jim Braude was joined by Beth Lindstrom, former state secretary of consumer affairs under Romney, who ran in the Republican primary to challenge Elizabeth Warren in last fall; and Rufus Gifford, former U.S. Ambassador and Obama campaign aide who ran in the crowded Democratic primary for Massachusetts third congressional district.