Democrats are embracing the risky politics of a government shutdown to rein in president, activists say

In holding the line on healthcare' Democrats answered the call to do something in a rare display of unity

For months, as Donald Trump has used the levers of the US federal government to consolidate power, silence dissent and punish his political enemies, Democrats have been bombarded with a single demand: do something. Last week, they did.

In a rare display of unity, out-of-power Democrats embraced the risky politics of a government shutdown - their boldest effort yet to rein in a president whom many Americans and constitutional scholars now view as a threat to US democracy.