The ongoing government shutdown in the United States has now become the longest in the country’s history, surpassing the previous record of 21 days set in 1995-1996. The shutdown, which began on December 22, 2018, has affected various government agencies and services due to a deadlock over funding for a border wall between the US and Mexico.
President Donald Trump has been at the center of the impasse, demanding $5.7 billion for the construction of a border barrier that he argues is crucial for national security. Trump has stated that the wall is necessary to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking, echoing a key campaign promise from his 2016 presidential bid.
On the other side, Democrats, led by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have refused to allocate any funding for the wall, labeling it as an ineffective and costly solution to border security. Democrats argue that other measures, such as modern technology and more personnel, would be more appropriate and efficient.
The prolonged shutdown has resulted in around 800,000 federal workers going without pay, causing financial hardships for many families across the country. Several government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Internal Revenue Service, have been operating with only essential staff, impacting services like airport security and tax return processing.
As the standoff continues, both parties remain steadfast in their positions, with no clear resolution in sight. The effects of the shutdown are being felt nationwide, prompting concerns about the long-term consequences on the economy and the well-being of federal employees and citizens who rely on government services.
Sources Analysis:
– The White House: The source has a bias towards promoting the interests and agenda of President Trump.
– Democratic Party Leaders: Democrats have a bias against Trump’s border wall proposal and may have a vested interest in opposing it.
Fact Check:
– Trump demands $5.7 billion for a border wall – Verified fact. This information has been confirmed by multiple news sources.
– Around 800,000 federal workers are going without pay – Verified fact. This information has been widely reported by reputable news outlets.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “Government shutdown becomes longest in US history”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.