The US is on the edge of the economic precipice – and Trump may push it over | Robert Reich

Government shutdowns hurt millions. Great depressions hurt even more. History suggests real pain is round the corner

On Friday, Donald Trump said: "We are totally prepared for a very long shutdown." It was one of his rare uses of the pronoun "we" instead of his preferred - and in this case far more appropriate - "I".

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The shutdown is stoking fears that Trump could do something even more alarming

Related: Trump and Democrats play blame game over government shutdown