From WNYC Studios, I'm Brian Lehrer.

This is my daily politics podcast.

It's Wednesday, October 8th.

So the federal government shutdown entered its second week this morning.

The latest developments include increasing air travel delays.

You've been hearing about this. Maybe you've been experiencing this with air traffic controllers

not getting paid and increasingly calling out sick. Newark Airport is among those affected the most.

We will talk to New Jersey Senator Cory Booker in just a minute. But here's another

development that adds a new dimension compared to previous government shutdowns. Usually,

those essential workers like air traffic controllers who don't get paid but are required to work

during a shutdown get their back pay once the shutdown ends. But President Trump says maybe this time they won't.

Listen. I would say it depends on who we're talking about. I can tell you this. The Democrats have put

a lot of people in great risk and jeopardy, 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.

And with that as Prelude, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker,

maybe still recovering from his 25-hour floor speech six months ago, who knows,

joins us.

Senator, always good of you to come on for your

New Jersey constituents and those other Americans eavesdropping on our national podcast version.

Welcome back to WNYC.

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