GOP Lawmaker Compares Congress' Approval Rating to Kim Jong Un Amid Government Shutdown

Government Shutdown Stalemate

• 📌 The US government shutdown has reached day 39, with Democrats and Republicans locked in a stalemate.
• ⚠️ A Supreme Court ruling late Friday allowed the Trump administration to pause full SNAP payments temporarily.
• 📉 President Trump is reportedly working on lowering prices ahead of the holidays, but a community note on X suggests a Walmart Thanksgiving meal comparison may be misleading.
• 📊 Inflation is currently at 3%, a significant decrease from its 9% peak under the Biden administration, but still above the Federal Reserve's target of 2%.

Congressional Inaction and Public Frustration

• 🎯 California Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley states that Congress' approval rating is at a peak level of 13%, comparable to public perception of Kim Jong Un or Vladimir Putin.
• ✈️ The shutdown is negatively impacting essential workers, such as air traffic controllers who are stressed about making ends meet and some resorting to driving Ubers after work.
• 🏛️ Kiley criticizes the House of Representatives for being recessed for six weeks, hindering efforts to find common ground and reopen the government.
• 🗳️ He believes Republican voters should be particularly upset, as the Republican majority is being underutilized with legislative agendas and oversight hearings cancelled.

Proposed Solutions and Compromise

• 🤝 Kiley advocates for compromise as the key to resolving the shutdown, criticizing the current narrative that focuses on blame and winning.
• 💰 He highlights the need for the government to be open and for people to access the benefits they deserve.
• 🏥 Kiley is co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill with Congressman Sam Lacardo to provide a two-year extension of ACA subsidies, including reforms to cut costs, prevent fraud, and ensure it is paid for.
• 🚀 This bipartisan approach is seen as a potential path to create momentum for reopening the government and moving past the current impasse.