You've been on this podcast more times than there have been government shutdowns, I think.

I think that's probably true, because I've lived through really three big government shutdowns

since I've had this beat, so I've been on for more than that. That's our colleague, Shavon Hughes, who covers Washington.

And how does this one, this one feel any different from those others?

This is much worse.

So we're 16 days into this shutdown so far, which is about halfway to the record of 34 days. Do you think we're

going to surpass that record? Well, it's important to know that the White House is certainly messaging

that we are going to surpass that record. And right now, they certainly aren't putting any pressure on lawmakers to resolve this

quickly. Where are people starting to feel the pain from the shutdown? It's not affecting every

person in the country the exact same way, but it's multiple small harassments that add up into something bigger.

I was talking to someone who handles coal miner health,

and he said that these little mobile facilities that drive around coal communities

to scan for black lung, those are essentially not operational

because there are no x-rays being performed.

And so that's not something that's going to hit the entire country, but it's an aggravation and it starts to wear.

These x-rays for black lung are just one example of countless government services across the country that are unavailable right now.

And there's no telling when they'll be back.

It does not seem right now like there is an end in sight.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power.

I'm Ryan Knudsen.

It's Thursday, October 16th.

Coming up on the show, the government shutdown enters its third week. 300 sensors.

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