As members of the cabinet met at the White House to celebrate the beginning of the end of the war in Gaza, a product of the peace deal that Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised as “a historic moment in the history of our country,” the Senate prepared to vote.

Historically, no one really wins a government shutdown. But JD Vance might. In the 24 hours after Senate Democrats voted against a continuing resolution to keep the federal lights on, the vice president quickly became the face of the White House counterargument.

The pain of a government shutdown won’t just be political: Millions of low-income women and children could be left hungry as soon as next week if congressional Democrats and the White House do not come to a deal.