The U.S. federal government shutdown has entered its 38th day. On Thursday, Senate Democrats huddled behind closed doors to discuss ways to end the stalemate, as Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune prepared a Friday vote on a package of spending bills that once again omits Democrats’ key demand: an extension of federal health insurance tax credits set to expire on December 31. Without an extension, the average enrollee will see premium costs more than double. Millions would lose coverage entirely.