The new era of divided rule doesn’t seem to be altering President Trump’s negotiating style. “He wrote that Mexico would be paying for the wall along the U.S. border under the parameters of a trade deal he has tentatively inked with Mexico and Canada. This is not true.” From WaPo: Trump falsely claims Mexico is paying for wall, demands taxpayer money for wall ahead of meeting with Democrats.

+ Overflowing toilets at US national parks are serving as an apt metaphor for the ongoing government shutdown. National Parks Service spokesman Andrew Munoz puts the nicest possible spin on the reality that park visitors are shitting in the streets: “With restrooms closed, some visitors are opting to deposit their waste in natural areas adjacent to high traffic areas.”