# Multimedia Multimedia --- - [Podcasts](/podcasts) - [Cato Video](/multimedia/cato-video) - [Video Series](/search/category/video-series) - [Events](/multimedia/events) [ Download Episode ](https://feeds.acast.com/public/streams/5e28e0d8963f166217546493/episodes/691b439e67ed28baecd44c9e.mp3)Subscribe: [ Apple Podcasts ](http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/cato-daily-podcast/id158961219) [ Spotify ](https://open.spotify.com/show/4dHRhKEljj8zcLdl3Gvsv7) Cato Weekly Podcast • November 18, 2025 # The Shutdown That Solved Nothing Romina Boccia, Michael F. Cannon, and Adam Michel break down the 43-day government shutdown driven by demands to extend temporary Obamacare subsidies for upper-income households earning well into six figures. The trio examines how the stalemate exposed deeper structural problems: runaway entitlement growth, perverse state incentives, a fragile food stamp and air-traffic control system, and a federal budget process unable to handle partisan deadlock. [![Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Clipboard and US Dollar](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/GettyImages-2224143377.jpg?itok=m_EyKSAB)](https://www.cato.org/blog/food-stamp-shutdown-reveals-fragility-federal-welfare) blog ### [Food Stamp Shutdown Reveals the Fragility of Federal Welfare](/blog/food-stamp-shutdown-reveals-fragility-federal-welfare) By [Romina Boccia](https://www.cato.org/people/romina-boccia) and [Tyler Turman](https://www.cato.org/people/tyler-turman) SNAP’s centralization in Washington leaves millions vulnerable when Congress stalls. [![Stethoscope on book](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/GettyImages-155099359.jpg?itok=N9YT6HHC)](https://www.cato.org/blog/end-obamacares-welfare-wealthy-covid-credits) blog ### [End Obamacare’s Welfare for the Wealthy COVID Credits](/blog/end-obamacares-welfare-wealthy-covid-credits) By [Romina Boccia](https://www.cato.org/people/romina-boccia) and [Tyler Turman](https://www.cato.org/people/tyler-turman) Let the boosted ACA subsidies expire. [![Congress covered in yellow tapes labeled "shutdown"](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/GettyImages-1097423698.jpg?itok=VjI6fePB)](https://www.cato.org/blog/thoughts-about-government-shutdown-1) blog ### [Thoughts About the Government Shutdown](/blog/thoughts-about-government-shutdown-1) By [Romina Boccia](https://www.cato.org/people/romina-boccia) Shutdowns rarely deliver what their instigators demand. They hand the President and OMB extra discretion—hardly a smart move for Democrats. More often, shutdowns backfire politically without lasting policy change. [![Airplanes lined up on a tarmac](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2021-01/GettyImages-1225481364.jpg?itok=71q_ulHg)](https://www.cato.org/blog/air-traffic-control-or-chaos) blog ### [Air Traffic—Control or Chaos?](/blog/air-traffic-control-or-chaos) By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) For a nation that pioneered aviation, we should be leaders on ATC and efficient airport screening, and we will only get there by moving these systems out of the federal bureaucracy. [![obamacare](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/obamacare.jpg?itok=QseixRLY)](https://www.cato.org/blog/six-reasons-not-extend-enhanced-obamacare-subsidies) blog ### [Six Reasons to Not Extend the Enhanced Obamacare Subsidies](/blog/six-reasons-not-extend-enhanced-obamacare-subsidies) By [Adam N. Michel](https://www.cato.org/people/adam-n-michel) The enhanced subsidies are a costly reminder of how temporary government programs can become billion-dollar permanent entitlements. [![medicaid](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2023-12/Medicaid%20.jpg?itok=dd4Odexe)](https://www.cato.org/blog/medicaid-dishonest-budgeting-excessive-spending) blog ### [Medicaid: Dishonest Budgeting, Excessive Spending](/blog/medicaid-dishonest-budgeting-excessive-spending) By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) Congress is spending more on Medicaid than it told voters it would. [![obamacare](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/obamacare.jpg?itok=QseixRLY)](https://www.cato.org/blog/what-will-it-take-congress-admit-obamacare-has-failed) blog ### [What Will It Take for Congress to Admit Obamacare Has Failed?](/blog/what-will-it-take-congress-admit-obamacare-has-failed) By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) If the first $700 billion didn’t make Obamacare affordable, why would another $500 billion? Is more government spending on the most expensive health sector in the world all that Obamacare supporters have to offer? [![Looking up in the US Capitol rotunda ](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2021-01/GettyImages-903808716.jpg?itok=Cg1Vt5VP)](https://www.cato.org/blog/only-defensible-obamacare-deal) blog ### [The Only Defensible Obamacare Deal](/blog/only-defensible-obamacare-deal) By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) At a time when Republicans should be building on Trump’s greatest first-term health care victory, some are trying to give Democrats everything they want on Obamacare for nothing in return. [![obamacare](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/obamacare.jpg?itok=QseixRLY)](https://www.cato.org/commentary/democrats-latest-shutdown-stunt-exposes-obamacare-fraud) Commentary ### [Democrats’ Latest Shutdown Stunt Exposes the Obamacare Fraud](/commentary/democrats-latest-shutdown-stunt-exposes-obamacare-fraud) By [Michael F. Cannon](https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon) Billions flow from taxpayers to insurance companies while families pay more for less care and shrinking doctor networks. ##### Featuring [![Romina-Boccia-cropped2.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2022-09/Romina-Boccia-cropped2.jpg?itok=7drYb2ok)](/people/romina-boccia) ##### [Romina Boccia](/people/romina-boccia) Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy, Cato Institute [ ](https://x.com/RominaBoccia) [![Michael F. Cannon](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2021-01/Michael%20Cannon.jpg?itok=0UROn8Dc)](/people/michael-f-cannon) ##### [Michael F. Cannon](/people/michael-f-cannon) Director of Health Policy Studies, Cato Institute [ ](https://x.com/mfcannon) [ ](mailto:mcannon@cato.org) [![Adam N. Michel cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2023-02/adam-michel-cropped.jpg?itok=2xIg84-_)](/people/adam-n-michel) ##### [Adam N. Michel](/people/adam-n-michel) Director of Tax Policy Studies, Cato Institute; Former Deputy Staff Director at the US Congress Joint Economic Committee [ ](https://x.com/adamnmichel)