on Wednesday morning, the United States federal government shut down. We explain why a debate over health care policy was central to Democrats and Republicans’ inability to make a deal to extend funding for federal agencies.

Sen. Cory Booker on the Democrats’ risky shutdown bet

Post Reports is the daily podcast from The Washington Post. Unparalleled reporting. Expert insight. Clear analysis. Everything you’ve come to expect from the newsroom of The Post, for your ears. Martine Powers and Elahe Izadi are your hosts, asking the questions you didn’t know you wanted answered. Published weekdays around 5 p.m. Eastern time.