Hello listeners. Today is Thursday January 18th, 2018. I'm your host

Charlie Matesion and you are listening to Politico's Nurdcast. We've got lots to cover this week so we've lined up some of our top reporters

to talk about the possible government shutdown, the

shothole controversy that will not go away, and yes the 2020 presidential

race because it's never too early to talk about the presidential race.

Before we get started, a reminder.

Please subscribe to the Nurdcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite listening app.

Rate us and write a review.

And let's kick it off this week.

So let's get started.

Here to join us this week is the Pride of Minnesota. White House reporter

Eliana Johnson. Hello. Congressional reporter Kyle Cheney. Good to be here.

And White House reporter, Nancy Cook. Hello.

Hey guys, so our first data point today is 28.

That's the number of days the government will be funding in the latest CR

or continuing resolution.

And so basically the nation's finances CR or continuing resolution.

And so basically the nation's finances are operating on a high wire.

The last continuing resolution, which was itself a temporary fix, was passed on December 21st

to get Congress out of Dodge. Now that funded

government through January 19th 2018 meaning it expires at midnight on

Friday. So now with government funding set to run out and the two sides far apart

...