A: Hey there! Heard anything interesting lately?

B: Not much, just living life here in Japan. Why?

A: Oh, it's about back home. Seems like there's a big issue with the government shutdown.

B: Government shutdown? What happened?

A: Well, Democra...I mean, the Democrats and Republicans couldn't agree on a funding bill. Now they're arguing over healthcare for undocumented immigrants.

B: Whoa! That sounds serious! What about the layoffs?

A: Yeah, a White House official warned that if they don't reach an agreement soon, federal workers might start losing their jobs.

B: Wow...I hope they can solve this quickly so no one gets hurt.

A: Agreed! And it seems like the Democrats are ready to talk about it anytime, anyplace. Let's hope for a quick resolution!