The federal government shutdown entered its fourth week with growing economic and political strain as key programs near expiration and controversy swirls around the demolition of the White House’s East Wing.

On this week’s Oklahoma Memo, host Ryan Welton spoke with journalist and podcaster Grant Hermes of Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes about how the shutdown’s impacts extend from healthcare subsidies to food assistance. Hermes noted that the Affordable Care Act’s pandemic-era tax credits are set to expire November 1, a change that could leave roughly six million Americans without coverage.

The conversation also examined the compounding effects on food security. Roughly 687,000 Oklahomans rely on SNAP benefits that could lapse if Congress fails to act. Federal workers are already missing paychecks, and a proposed fairness measure to compensate them failed in the Senate.

Hermes said internal Republican pressure is mounting, citing letters from vulnerable House members and comments from Oklahoma Representative Tom Cole, who urged colleagues to return to Washington and restart negotiations.

Beyond budget politics, the hosts discussed new satellite images showing large-scale demolition of the East Wing of the White House—long home to the First Lady’s offices. Hermes called the teardown “erasing a piece of our collective memory,” noting it bypassed typical public-review processes.

Funding for a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site reportedly comes from private donors, including major corporations. Hermes warned the arrangement “looks a lot like pay-for-play,” arguing that contributors are likely to expect future influence.

The episode also touched on former President Barack Obama’s renewed focus on redistricting, which Hermes described as both an attempt to rebuild state-level Democratic strength and evidence that the party still lacks clear leadership.

Oklahoma Memo is a weekday newsletter and podcast covering state and national news and politics from an Oklahoma perspective. Subscribe free at oklahomamemo.com.

Go find Grant on his YouTube channel for Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes. You can also listen to Grant everywhere you get your podcasts.