Congress has a set a record with the longest government shutdown in history. As talks pick up, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller wonder if this is the week a deal emerges. Then, the hosts take a step back with the help of Carl Hulse, the New York Times’ Chief Washington Correspondent, to examine the broader dynamics shaping action on Capitol Hill. What has differentiated this shutdown from past fights? Is the current dysfunction reversible? Can lawmakers reassert their authority? Is the filibuster doomed? All that and more only on CONTROL.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Carl Hulse, New York Times

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

Roll Call: Bipartisan talks to end shutdown gaining steam, senators say

Politico: John Thune says he is ‘optimistic’ Senate will move to end shutdown this week

Politico: ‘Utterly shameful’: Congress to crush US record this week for longest shutdown

Fox News: Sen. John Thune slams Democrats in fiery floor speech: ‘This isn’t a political game’

Axios: Senator objects to leaving D.C. for long weekend as SNAP benefits run dry

The Hill: Democrats up 8 points on generic ballot: Survey

NYT: Shutdowns, Obamacare and the Risks of Bargaining for Policy Wins in a Crisis

NYT: What Is the Filibuster and Why Does Trump Want It Gone?

As the government shutdown drags on, negotiations on the appropriations bills have taken a backseat. Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by Punchbowl News’ Samantha Handler to learn what has been going on behind the scenes. How far apart are the House and Senate? Why have defense hawks gone quiet? And is a deal even possible or are we headed for another CR?

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Samantha Handler, Punchbowl News

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

AP: Senate rejects bills to pay federal workers during government shutdown

Punchbowl News: Thune skeptical of ‘rifle-shot’ bills

NBC News: Largest federal workers union calls for an end to the shutdown, putting pressure on Democrats

Punchbowl News: Washington begins to confront the funding unthinkable

Roll Call: Appropriations chairman bullish on full-year spending bills after shutdown

Boston Globe: Susan Collins has reached one of the most powerful positions in Washington. It could hardly come at a worse time.

This week Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by GOP Representative Kevin Kiley (CA-03) to hear his perspective on the ongoing shutdown. The Congressman discusses why he continues showing up to Capitol Hill, his problems with Speaker Johnson’s decision to keep the House away, and why he still believes in public service.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Rep. Kevin Kiley

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

The Hill: Thune: Time to think about House returning to DC to vote on government funding

NBC News: Democrats rally at No Kings to protest Trump — but many say they're also unhappy with their own party

WaPo: Senate blocks military spending bill as shutdown drags on

New York Times: The Lonely House Republican Still Coming to Work During the Shutdown

WBUR: Why Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley wants to stop the national fight over redistricting

How Does the Shutdown End? Feat. Mychael Schnell

With the government shutdown dragging on into another week, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss how Congress got to this point and what may break the stalemate. Then, MSNBC congressional reporter Mychael Schnell joins the show to share what she is hearing on Capitol Hill and what pain points still exist to force a deal.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Mychael Schnell, MSNBC

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

Punchbowl: White House: We’re ready for a long shutdown

Politico: Democrats are in a GOP shutdown vise

The Hill: Jeffries, Lawler get into confrontation over ObamaCare: ‘You’re embarrassing yourself’

Fox News: Senate GOP resists 'nuclear option' as Dem shutdown standoff deepens

MSNBC: Private GOP call reveals early fissures over Mike Johnson’s shutdown strategy

With government funding negotiations at a standstill, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller explore what may break the deadlock and how long this standoff could last. Then, Brendan and Annalyse welcome Phil Mattingly, CNN's Chief Domestic Correspondent, to the show for a discussion about OMB director Russ Vought’s influence, how the Trump administration is handling the shutdown, and if Congress will reassert its spending authority.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Phil Mattingly, CNN

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

Politico: ‘I don't know why this is so complicated’: Shutdown could drag on for days

Reuters: Another deadline in US shutdown: Will troops get paychecks on October 15?

Politico: House will stay out of session next week as Senate works to solve shutdown

CNN: Trump’s shutdown architect: Russ Vought’s plan to deconstruct the government was years in the making

With funding set to lapse in just hours, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss if a deal can be reached to avoid a government shutdown – and if not, how leaders will get out of one. Then they are joined by Seven Letter partner Mike Ricci, a top adviser to two GOP speakers, for a trip down memory lane as they revisit the 2013 government shutdown. What was the strategy going into and during the fight? When did things start going off the rails? And what lessons does that experience offer Democrats?

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Mike Ricci

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

AP: Congressional leaders leave White House meeting without deal to avoid government shutdown

NYT: How Congressional Leaders Are Positioning Themselves in the Shutdown Fight

Politico: Johnson urges GOP unity as shutdown deadline nears

WaPo: White House begins plan for mass firings if there’s a government shutdown

WaPo: Government shutdowns high on drama, but low on long-term political impact

AP: A look at previous government shutdowns and how they ended

Republicans and Democrats are gearing up for a shutdown and neither side appears ready to blink. Hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by HuffPost senior reporter Igor Bobic to break down the stalemate. They discuss the strange timeline, compare this debate to past shutdown fights, and question Senator Schumer’s endgame. Plus, will the GOP come to regret changing Senate rules? And will Congress conduct oversight of the FCC in the wake of the Jimmy Kimmel situation?

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Igor Bobic, HuffPost

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles Discussed:

Punchbowl: Both sides dig in as shutdown looms

Politico: Tables turn for Democrats as they use shutdown for leverage

Reuters: Democratic leaders in US Congress demand meeting with Trump as government shutdown looms

Politico: Thune mocks Schumer’s shutdown stance: He ‘knows where my office is’

NBC News: Senate Republicans poke holes in the filibuster despite vowing to protect it

HuffPost: GOP Senators Criticize FCC's Threats Against ABC And Jimmy Kimmel

After many close calls, is this the time Congress actually shuts down the government? With just two weeks left until funding runs out, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss the state-of-play. Can Speaker Johnson wrangle enough votes again? Will soaring tensions in the Senate scuttle any deal? They also talk about the murder of Charlie Kirk and its impact on the security needs for Members of Congress. Then, Joel Payne – the Chief Communications Officer at MoveOn – joins the show to offer the Democrat perspective on the shutdown fight and share his advice for the path forward for the party.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Gust: Joel Payne, MoveOn

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

Punchbowl: Congress is barreling toward a shutdown

The Hill: House GOP eyes stopgap into November to avert shutdown

POLITICO: Trump to GOP: Vote yes on the ‘clean’ CR

AP: Schumer warns of a shutdown if Republicans don’t accept Democrats’ health care demands

CNN: White House requests $58 million in security funding from Congress following Kirk assassination

NBC News: Senate Republicans trigger 'nuclear option,' changing rules to speed up Trump nominees

POLITICO: MoveOn demands Schumer and Jeffries ‘hold the line’ on health care in shutdown fight