Democrats sift through shutdown’s ashes after resistance finally breached

After 42-day standoff, government is back open - and minority party won no concessions from party in power

More than 42 days ago, beleaguered congressional Democrats employed a tactic they were not known for using - refusing to fund the government unless their demands, in this case, an extension of tax credits that lowered costs for Affordable Care Act health plans, were met.

Fast forward to Wednesday evening, and the federal government is back open, the Democrats' resistance breached by the combined forces of Congress's Republican majorities and a splinter group of Democratic senators who provided just enough votes to get a funding bill past the chamber's filibuster.