By STEPHEN GROVES and MATT BROWN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hopes for a quick end to the government shutdown were fading Friday as Republicans and Democrats dug in for a prolonged fight and President Donald Trump readied plans to unleash layoffs and cuts across the federal government.

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Senators were headed back to the Capitol for another vote on government funding on the third day of the shutdown, but there has been no sign of any real progress toward ending their standoff. Democrats are demanding that Congress extend health care benefits, while Republicans are trying to wear them down with day after day of voting on a House-passed bill that would reopen the government temporarily, mostly at current spending levels.

“Until they have eight or hopefully more — 10 or more — people who want to, decide they want to end the government shutdown, I’m not sure this goes anywhere,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Thursday.

Although Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress, the Senate’s filibuster rules make it necessary for the government funding legislation to gain support from at least 60 of the 100 senators. That’s given Democrats a rare opportunity to use their 47 Senate seats to hold out in exchange for policy concessions. The party has chosen to rally on the issue of health care, believing it could be key to their path back to power in Washington.

Their primary demand is that Congress extend tax credits that were boosted during the COVID-19 pandemic for health care plans offered under the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

Standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said, “Understand this, over the last few days and over the next few days, what you’re going to see is more than 20 million Americans experience dramatically increased health care premiums, co-pays and deductibles because of the Republican unwillingness to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.”

The shutdown gamble

Democrats are running the high-risk strategy of effectively voting for a government shutdown to make their stand. Trump has vowed to make it as painful as possible for them.

The Republican president has called the government funding lapse an “unprecedented opportunity” to make vast cuts to federal agencies and potentially lay off federal workers, rather than the typical practice of furloughing them. White House budget director Russ Vought has already announced that he is withholding funds for infrastructure projects in states with Democratic senators.

Jeffries displayed no signs of budging under those threats.

“The cruelty that they might unleash on everyday Americans using the pretense of a shutdown is only going to backfire against them,” he said during an interview with The Associated Press and other outlets at the Capitol.

Still, the shutdown, no matter how long it lasts, could have far-reaching effects on the economy. Roughly 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, and they could lose out on $400 million in daily wages. That loss in wages until after the government reopens could drive down wider demand for goods and services.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday that “real pain is being inflicted upon the American people because 44 Democrats in the Senate have voted for the third time to reject” Republican legislation that would reopen the government and keep spending levels mostly the same.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., pauses as he blames the government shutdown on Democrats during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Who will take the blame?

The American public usually spreads the blame around to both major political parties when it comes to a government shutdown. While Trump took a significant portion of the blame during the last partial government shutdown in 2018 as he demanded funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, this standoff could end differently because now it is Democrats making the policy demands.

Still, lawmakers were relentlessly trying to make their case to the American public with a constant beat of news conferences, social media videos and livestreams. Congressional leaders have been especially active.

Both sides expressed confidence that the other would ultimately be found at fault. And in the House, party leaders seemed to be moving farther apart rather than closer to making a deal to end the shutdown.

Jeffries on Thursday called for a permanent extension to the ACA tax credits. Meanwhile, Johnson told reporters that “conservatives are very concerned about the subsidies,” saying they have “lots of problems.”

Talks in the Senate

A few senators have engaged in bipartisan talks about launching negotiations on extending the ACA tax credits for one year while the Senate votes to reopen the government for several weeks. But those discussions are in their early stages and appear to have little involvement from leadership.

As senators prepared for their last scheduled vote for the week on Friday, they appeared resigned to allow the shutdown to continue at least into next week. Thune said that if the vote failed, he would “give them the weekend to think about it” before holding more votes.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, in a floor speech, called for Republicans to work with her and fellow Democrats to find “common ground” on the ACA subsidies, saying their expiration would impact plenty of people in states with GOP senators — especially in rural areas where farmers, ranchers and small business owners purchase their own health insurance.

“Unfortunately, right now our Republican colleagues are not working with us to find a bipartisan agreement to prevent the government shutdown and address the health care crisis,” she said. “We know that even when they float ideas — which we surely do appreciate — in the end the president appears to make the call.”

Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking and Joey Cappelletti contributed.

Minnesota United vs. Sporting Kansas City

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Allianz Field
Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Weather: 84 degrees, clear skies, 17 mph north wind
Betting line: MNUFC minus-170; draw plus-350; Kansas City plus-360

Form: Third-place Minnesota (15-7-10, 55 points) avoided consecutive MLS defeats with a 1-1 draw at Colorado on Saturday. Eliminated from the MLS Cup Playoffs, Kansas City (7-19-6, 27 points) have one win and one draw in their last 11 matches.

Recent matchups: Loons head coach Eric Ramsay remained undefeated (3-0-1) against Sporting since 2024, with a 3-3 draw at Children’s Mercy Park in March. This is an 180-degree turn from former manager Adrian Heath, who routinely struggled against Minnesota’s closest MLS competition.

Absences: FW Kelvin Yeboah (hamstring) and Carlos Harvey (knee) are out. Both are expected out for the remainder of the regular season, which ends Oct. 18, but Yeboah was in good spirits when spotted working on the side at training on Tuesday.

Context: The top of the Western Conference is tight. Loons are two points behind San Diego and Vancouver, while two points ahead of Los Angeles FC, but LAFC has two games in hand and Vancouver one. The most-important thing might be how they are nine points clear of fifth-place Seattle, given the top four get home-field advantage in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Scouting report: Dejan Joveljic has had an incredibly productive first season after his move from L.A. Galaxy, with 18 goals, but the 26-year-old Serbian been fortuitous, too, with 13.5 expected goals this season.

Stat: The Loons have averaged 0.6 goals across their three games without either top strikes Tani Oluwaseyi and Yeboah.

View: Without those top forwards, Bongi Hlongwane stepped in against Colorado, but didn’t provide a heck of a lot going forward (0.2 xG). Ramsay said he will mix and match at that position for the rest of the regular season. Perhaps it’s Robin Lod’s turn up top, with Dominik Fitz and Joaquín Pereyra underneath. That could be a creative threesome.

Prediction: Kansas City has tallied the most losses in MLS this season and anything short of three points for Minnesota will be another example of how the club might have already peaked this season. That still-possible reality is staved off this weekend at least. Loons win 2-nil.

With free agency arriving at the end of this season, Minnesota United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair is trying to let his game do the talking — especially with no contract extension discussions happening between the Loons and his camp.

“I know I need to do well to in order to get what I want,” St. Clair told the Pioneer Press on Tuesday. “I think I know my value and I hope the club can see that value and reach that value.”

The Loons’ sixth-year goalie is No. 1 in MLS in save percentage (79.8) and No. 2 goals against per 90 minutes (1.0), but is the 14th highest paid ‘keeper in the league.

“The market value in terms of our league has gone up substantially in the past few seasons,” said St. Clair, who was elected to the MLS Players’ Association executive board on Sept. 1. “I think Roman Burki, of course, is a big one.

The St. Louis City goalkeeper left German giant Borussia Dortmund and is now MLS’ highest paid goalie ($1.7 million), while four others goalies earn over $1 million in guaranteed compensation, per MLSPA. A similar seven- figure sum might be a benchmark for St. Clair with a new contract.

St. Clair signed a three-year deal with MNUFC in 2021, with an option year for 2025. He is currently being paid $631,875.

“You’re starting to see more guys in bigger contracts, and you’re seeing the value of goalies winning games, too,” St. Clair said. “… In this league, obviously, there’s a lot of money spent on attacking players, but you need somebody to stop those attacking players.”

The Loons drafted St. Clair with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 draft and should be able pay the two-time MLS All-Star more than other MLS clubs this winter.

MLS announced Thursday some key offseason roster-building dates, clubs exercising contract options and offers to players on Nov. 26 and free agency beginning Dec. 10.

While MNUFC has not been actively working on a new deal for St. Clair, left wingback Anthony Markanich did sign a new three-year deal in late August. Extensions can come during the MLS season, but it appears to be a choice for things to play of St. Clair.

“Keeping all opens open to have as much leverage as I can because, I think, the way our free agency rules work in this league, you very rarely get leverage,” St. Clair said. “Not just my situation, but I think any time a player has leverage in the sports world, you got to try to take advantage of it and maximize what you can get out of it.”

St. Clair, now 28, has one eye on the FIFA World Cup next summer, where he is penciled in as Canada’s No. 1. goalie for the tournament held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. He earned that spot while with the Loons.

“I’ve had success here, past and current,” St. Clair said. “So it’s definitely somewhere where I feel like I can have that success continue.”

Highest paid MLS goalkeepers

1. Roman Burki, St. Louis, $1.7 million
2. Pedro Gallese, Orlando, $1.2 million
3. Andre Blake, Philadelphia, $1.1 million
4. Sean Johnson, Toronto, $1.06 million
5. Zach Steffen, Colorado, $1 million
6. Patrick Schulte, Columbus, $957,083
7. Yohei Takaoka, Vancouver, $873,713
8. Kristijan Kahlina, Charlotte, $788,750
9. Oscar Ustari, Miami, $744,000
10. Daniel de Sousa Britto, San Jose, $742,500
11. Hugo Lloris, Los Angeles FC, $700,000
12. Joe Willis, Nashville, $658,333
13. Maxime Crepe, Portland, $648,333
14. Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota, $631,875

Source: MLS Players Association’s shared guaranteed compensation data from May 2025.

Anthony Edwards was all smiles as he fielded questions during Timberwolves’ Media Day on Monday.

During his time at the press conference table, it was noted he was no longer “one of the young guys” on the team.

“I’m 24, y’all,” he responded.

So it’s time to get going, then.

While Edwards meant the statement as a reminder he is still a young player, many of the game’s best in recent decades fully exerted their league-wide dominance at that age.

In their Age 24 seasons ..

–Michael Jordan won his first NBA Most Valuable Player award.

-LeBron James won his first MVP award.

-Kawhi finished second in MVP voting.

-Kobe Bryant finished third in MVP voting.

Winning the MVP this season is a stated goal for Edwards. Asked how he can join that conversation – Edwards has yet to finish in the top six in voting – he noted the Timberwolves have to “win at a high level,” while adding he needs to “average a whole bunch of points.”

The former is certainly a requirement to claim the honor, and the latter never hurts your bid. But Leonard averaged just 21.2 points when he was MVP runner-up. However, that was also the season in which he claimed his second straight Defensive Player of the Year honor.

At age 24.

And he’s not alone in his two-way excellence:

In their Age 24 seasons:

-Michael Jordan also won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.

-LeBron James finished second in DPOY voting.

-Kobe Bryant made his fourth-straight NBA All-Defense team.

Those players separated themselves from the pack by dominating both ends of the floor.

That’s something Edwards has yet to do consistently in his career. In five seasons, he has not sniffed an All-Defense team. That’s despite having the physical ability to be one of the League’s biggest defensive disruptors.

His transition block at the buzzer to beat the Pacers in 2024 stands as one of the most electric defensive plays of the decade. More recently, Edwards was the motor behind Minnesota’s dominant defensive display in its Game 3 win over Oklahoma City in last year’s Western Conference Finals.

“We all have seen the type and level of defender Ant can be,” Finch said.

But those moments have been far more the outliers than the norm for Edwards early in his career. The guard is talented enough to raise that level in spurts. But it hasn’t been engrained enough to be who he is.

His pressure on the ball comes and goes. His off-ball attention wanes. His effort fluctuates. His post-Jan. 1 defensive rating was far and away the worst on the team last season (113.6).

Can that be different this season?

“Ah, it’s going to be tough,” Edwards said.

Why? Well, Mike Conley noted after that Game 3 performance from Edwards that he has the thought of “Why don’t we do this all the time?” when the guard is wreaking defensive havoc. But the veteran noted Edwards is “asked to do a lot.”

“So it’s really hard for him to give the energy all the time that he can defensively,’ Conley said at the time.

That’s a fallacy in the mind of Wolves coach Chris Finch.

“It’s an NBA mantra that if you do so much on offense, you’re allowed to not play defense,” Finch said. “The best teams don’t do that. They do what’s necessary as much as they possibly can.”

The same is true for the best players, as proven by the greats who’ve come before Edwards.

The Timberwolves held a team dinner Monday on the eve of training camp. Conley said the discussion was centered on what the team’s goal was for the season. The consensus was a championship.

For Minnesota to contend for a title, it has to be one of – if not the – best defensive teams in the NBA. That can’t happen without Edwards serving as a gamebreaker on that end of the floor.

“Ant, you want to win a championship, we expect you to guard like you’re a top-five perimeter defender in the league, which we believe you are,” Conley said. “Jaden, myself, whoever is out on the court, we have a job to do, and then we got to be consistent every single day. And Ant’s at the front of that. Especially on that defensive end, with him competing the way he can compete, we’re a completely different team.

“He knows it, and it’s going to require a lot more. It’s going to get him uncomfortable, a little bit. A little bit more tired, a little bit more in shape he has to be. But those are things we’re trying to round out to try to knock down that door.”

Truthfully, Edwards has worn down by the end of each of Minnesota’s last two playoff runs. You have to be in phenomenal shape to be one of the game’s true two-way players.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) poses for a photo during the NBA basketball team’s media day, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Edwards seems to understand as much. Tim Connelly, the Timberwolves president of basketball operations, said Edwards’ work ethic has always been great, but noted it was “at a whole other level” this summer. Edwards looks leaner in camp and lighter on his feet. He feels as though he’s quicker and can jump higher. And he noted he now has eight-pack abs, to boot.

“His body is in unbelievable shape,” Connelly said. “It’s pretty impressive to see how quickly he’s matured, not just as a player, but as a professional with his approach.”

That includes sleep, something Edwards made a point all offseason to get 7-to-8 hours of each night.

How much shuteye was he getting in past seasons?

“None of your business,” Edwards replied with a smile.

He pleads the fifth.

“The little things, the consistency, the maturity of getting to the next play. This is what’s going to take him from a really, really good player to a unique, all-time great player and I think is what’s going to allow him to be the best in the world at impacting winning,” Wolves center Rudy Gobert said. “I really sense that he understands that now. … I think he understands his recovery, his sleep, the way he eats, all these things are really going to impact his success and our success as a team. It’s fun to see that. It’s good to see. I’ve been on his (butt) for a few years, but it’s fun to see that. That, to me, is clear maturity. He’s still really young, but to watch that he understands that now and he carries himself that way, it’s going to come a long way for us.”

Edwards is skeptical he can join the likes of Leonard and Jordan in winning Defensive Player of the Year, noting Gobert and Jaden McDaniels are already in that conversation for the Wolves. But the goal of making an All-Defensive team – a tongue-in-cheek aspiration in the past – is now a legitimate venture as he aims to “show the world” the defender he can consistently be.

“Because we’re trying to get back to the number one defense in the league, and I know it starts with me, especially my pressure on the ball,” Edwards said. “I can’t guard one game and not guard the next game because we’re playing, you know, somebody who’s not up to par. I’ve got to be ready every night, and I’m going to take pride in that. I told my teammates to hold me accountable, coaches included.”

You hear that, Finch?

“Ant has got to measure up here,” the coach said. “Just continue to be that every-night player at a high level that we know he can be, which is what you need to do if you want to be an MVP in this league. I certainly think he’s got the DNA for it, and he just has to really fully embrace it.”

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