The U.S. federal government shutdown entered its 20th day on October 20th, 2025, with Democrats wrestling over strategy to end the impasse and House Republicans facing internal division. Speaker Mike Johnson is scheduled to hold a call with House Republicans at 11:30 AM UTC to discuss remaining out of session until the shutdown concludes, with no immediate plans to return. Democrats are debating whether a vote from Senator Thune, an assurance from the Speaker, or a deal with former President Trump is necessary to end the shutdown, according to reporting from Semafor. Democrats are particularly focused on ensuring that Americans' premiums do not increase, as stated by Senator Gallego. Meanwhile, Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has warned that the GOP is on track to lose the House if Americans continue to experience financial precarity, stating, "I can’t see into the future, but I see Republicans losing the House if Americans are continuing to go paycheck-to-paycheck." This comes as Governor Gretchen Whitmer concludes a four-day, three-state trip aimed at preparing for the 2026 midterms by applying her strategies in challenging districts for Democrats, according to a Whitmer political aide. In other developments, China has removed trade negotiator Li Chenggang from his post as permanent representative to the World Trade Organization. This decision by Reuters follows Treasury's Scott Bessent's recent description of Li as "unhinged" at a public event. Separately, an anti-ICE protester in Portland confronted a Federal Protective Service agent, who countered the protester's association of ICE with DHS by comparing it to a butcher and a gas station attendant. Experts are reportedly raising concerns about potential legal headaches associated with sending prisoners home, a move suggested as a way for the administration to "turn the page on this embarrassing episode," according to Reuters.
