Day 18 of the U.S. government shutdownThe partial U.S. government shutdown, now the second longest in history, is like sand in America’s gears. Impact: Secret Service agents, who are working without pay, told us that there is growing agitation in their ranks. A near-standstill at the Securities and Exchange Commission is just one of the government’s many stoppages of major functions, with more looming. Some economists on Wall Street are predicting the shutdown will measurably reduce growth. What’s next: President Trump is set to deliver a prime-time address about the shutdown on Tuesday night and plans to travel to the border later in the week in an effort to persuade Americans of the need for a wall.

Source: New York Times January 08, 2019 04:34 UTC