Congress is barreling toward a government shutdown and Democrats are weighing whether they should use their leverage in this negotiation.

They want to extend Obamacare subsidies and potentially roll back some cuts to Medicaid. President Trump has threatened mass firings of federal workers in the event of a shutdown.

All of this is going on as the country is grappling with a rise in political violence – and political rhetoric that blames the other side for the problem. 

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal joined Soundside to talk more about all of this.

Guest:


Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Representative for Washington's 7th Congressional District. 

Related stories:
Arizona lawmaker calls for WA congresswoman to be executed for urging Trump protests • Washington State Standard
Vance says US 'headed to a shutdown' after meeting with Democrats | Reuters

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Congress is barreling toward a government shutdown and Democrats are weighing whether they should use their leverage in this negotiation.
They want to extend Obamacare subsidies and potentially roll back some cuts to Medicaid. President Trump has threatened mass firings of federal workers in the event of a shutdown.
All of this is going on as the country is grappling with a rise in political violence &ndash; and political rhetoric that blames the other side for the problem.&nbsp;
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal joined Soundside to talk more about all of this.
Guest:
<ul>
<li>
Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Representative for Washington's 7th Congressional District.&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/09/25/arizona-lawmaker-calls-for-wa-congresswoman-to-be-executed-for-urging-trump-protests/">Arizona lawmaker calls for WA congresswoman to be executed for urging Trump protests &bull; Washington State Standard</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-democrats-trump-set-face-off-budget-battle-that-could-trigger-govt-shutdowns-2025-09-29/">Vance says US 'headed to a shutdown' after meeting with Democrats | Reuters</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes" data-stringify-link="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes" data-sk="tooltip_parent">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Congress is barreling toward a government shutdown and Democrats are weighing whether they should use their leverage in this negotiation. All of this is going on as the country is grappling with a rise in political violence...  and political rhetoric that blames the other side for the problem. 

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