The federal government shut down last week after Congress could not come to an agreement on a budget. Republicans and Democrats blamed each other for the stalemate. Bill Bramhall leads the editorial cartoon gallery with his view that Democrats are taking a gamble by holding out, even though Republicans control both the House and the Senate.
Walt Handelsman's Uncle Sam hoists a giant tube of Krazy Glue to mend the divided Congress. Nick Anderson and David Horsey see the shutdown as a presidential ploy to fire more federal workers under the Project 2025 blueprint. Michael Ramirez portrays Democrats as threatening to jump from a high building as a negotiating tactic, except no one is watching. Mike Luckovich sees Republicans as the captain blaming the jet crash on "the donkey in aisle 3." Phil Hands thinks we need a government "shut up" as President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer throw toddler tantrums.
The week's other big news was Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's address to generals and admirals summoned to Quantico, Virginia, from around the world. Anderson finds irony in the tiny Hegseth lecturing giant military leaders on the warrior ethos. To Joel Pett, Trump's speech about using the military against "the enemy within" was really about stirring up protests in Democrat-led cities so that he can grab more power. "Worst Portlandia episode ever," Ohman writes.
Other news events in this week's gallery include a mass shooting at a Michigan church; a peace ultimatum in Gaza; and the death of Jane Goodall, who expanded our understanding of primates.
Cartoons were drawn by Jack Ohman, Nick Anderson, Bill Bramhall, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and Mike Luckovich, Steve Breen and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate.