On the 1st October 2025, the U.S. government has once again ground to a halt — hundreds of thousands furloughed, non-essential federal services frozen, and the world watching a political standoff the Republican president and congressional Democrats unfold. In this episode, Prof. Patrick Kuhn, with inputs from Dr. David Andersen and Dr. Neil Visalvanich, unpacks the mechanics and meaning of the current government shutdown. Why do shutdowns keep happening despite their enormous economic costs? What makes this one different — and potentially more damaging — than those before? From political brinkmanship to the deeper constitutional roots of America’s recurring budget crises, we explore how partisan deadlock has turned governing into a high-stakes game of chicken.

To learn more about the speakers and their research visit their websites:

Prof. Patrick M Kuhn: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/p-m-kuhn/

Dr. David Andersen: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/david-j-andersen/

Dr. Neil Visalvanich: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/neil-visalvanich/

Music: The Good News by SHANTI from https://tunetank.com/track/263-the-good-news/