What makes this US shutdown different (and more difficult)

While previous shutdowns have been characterised by late-night talks between the two parties in an effort to get government services running again, there appears to be little of the same spirit of collaboration this time.

Instead, there is rancour. The bad blood continued over the weekend, with Republicans and Democrats blaming each other for causing the impasse.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, accused Democrats of not being serious about negotiating, and holding out over a deal “to get political cover”.

Meanwhile, Schumer levelled the same accusation at the other side, saying that a Republican promise to discuss healthcare subsidies once the government reopens can not be taken seriously.

Trump himself has inflamed the situation by posting a controversial AI-generated image of Schumer and the top Democrat in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, in which Jeffries is depicted with a large Mexican-style sombrero and a moustache.

Jeffries and other Democrats called this racist, which was denied by Vice-President JD Vance.