I'm Mario Glass. On This American Life, we tell real life stories, really good ones.

My mother said, I'm sorry that you weren't here because Father Sager was here visiting, and he found a very nice orphanage for you.

And I said, but I'm not an orphan.

Surprising stories.

In your podcast feed, This American Live.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton.

President Trump says he's going to follow the law when it comes to furloughed federal workers getting back pay when the government shutdown ends. But as NPR's Deepa Shiverom reports, the administration argues that

doesn't necessarily mean all workers will be paid. A law from 2019 signed by President Trump in his

first term stipulates that all federal workers whose paychecks are paused during a government

shutdown will receive the pay they've missed. But this time around when Trump was asked whether

furloughed workers should be paid. But it really depends on who you're talking about. But for the

most part, we're going to take care of our people. There are some people that really don't deserve

to be taken care of and we'll take care of them in a different way. Trump's comments come on the

heels of a draft memo from the White House that

suggests that any back pay would require congressional action. Deepa Shiverram, NPR News, the White

House. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says President Trump has no legal authority to refuse

back pay for furloughed federal workers and said Democrats would fight to make sure payments are made.

Every single furloughed federal workers and said Democrats would fight to make sure payments are made. Every single furloughed federal employee is entitled to back pay.

Period. Full stop. The law is clear. And we will make sure that that law is followed.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson says he wants federal workers to receive back pay,

but also says payments could be withheld if the White House wants to do so. The Democratic governors

of California and Illinois are threatening to leave the bipartisan National Governors Association.

...