politically. basically, the obama administration is making a big bet that folks will like this. but the consequences are yet to be seen. >> susie kim gets the last word. you can joan my show "now," and rachel mad owe is up next. and we are live. what was expected to be a drama-filled night with negotiations going up until the last moment did not turn out that way, and we have known for the better part of an hour now that house republicans had decided to just let this government shutdown happen. there does not seem to be a plan for what to do next. close your eyes, jump, see what happens. most of the day today, most of the last week has been consumed

by a strange sort of political theater where house republicans made funding for the government contingent on killing the president's health law, and then house republicans try it again and then again right up until the bitter end. as of tonight at this hour, we have no deal. and there was one last minute to try and kill obama care for a precondition for funding the government but the democrats rejected that ma tphaneuver. >> as we gather here, i am reminded that president washington when he was leaving office cautioned against political parties that were at war with their own government and here we are tonight. >> now, the shutdown is in

effect as of now. we are advised the office of management and budget authorized the execution of the shutdown underway, and we are told to expect sometime in the next 30 minutes more voting in the house of representatives. if the house of representatives want to change the tact, if the republicans conveyed the message they want to do something different now, conceivably the shutdown could be unwound, i suppose, after it already started, but we have no idea what the specifics would look like. >> on embarrassing hour

president, the president of the united states. they think the election is coming this november. he was elected by 5 million vote over what romney got. 5 million votes. wasn't too close. so it's really too bad. madam president, i would ask this consent, but i would ask that we are going to go out tonight, come back at 9:30 in the morning so the consent is that we are going to recess at 2:15, from 12:30 to -- so sorry, we are going to recess until 9:30 tomorrow morning, but i want the senators who are here

on the floor to be able to talk for five minutes each, so i ask consent, so we are adjourned in the 9:30 on october 1st. and at that time i would be recognized at 9:30, and that senate recess from 12:30 to 2:15 tomorrow to allow for weekly sox meetings and before this is implemented, that everybody understands that when we receive that message from the house, i hope we have it in the morning when we come in, i will make a motion to table it as we have done two other times just in the last few hours. if there is no further business coming before the hour, i ask the following statements of mendez, durbin, murray, and that the --

>> could i yield just for a question? >> yes. >> i just asked the leader the only way to keep the government open would be for the house to pass the resolution that we have already sent them. is that correct? >> that's right. it keeps the government funded, and they have had that for days now. they could do it with the way they vote in a matter of ten minutes. >> but nothing we can do with this resolution -- >> nothing we can do. >> they are over there now negotiating with themselves, i guess. >> yeah. isn't it true, leader, that until they vote for that resolution the government will remain shut? >> that is absolutely -- >> they can send us 100 different little do dads and gizmos and everything else, and it's our wish, isn't that true,

sir, that they could pass the resolution to keep the government open? >> it's in their coat. >> hearing no objection without objection, so ordered. >> the senator from new jersey? >> madam president -- >> this is what right now, what harry reid had just done is the senate will adjourn until tomorrow morning and there are a number of senators who are at the the senate right now, and senator menendez, durbin, and schumer with the leader himself. in terms of what is going on in the house right now, you heard some reference to it between schumer and reid, the advice we have, house republicans will schedule some sort of next vote

on what they consider to still be live. they -- before we just heard what we just heard from harry reid the house had been that the house would vote for a second time on what the senate sepblt back to them, sometime between 2:00 and 2:15 this morning, and that side of the senate will be in adjournment and not doing anymore business until 9:00, and i assume the 2:00 a.m. votes are off. and the democrat speaking on the left side of your screen, and they are planning another vote in the house sometime in the next 20 to 30 minutes. it looks like. joining us now is chuck todd. he is the political director and host of msnbc's "the daily rundown." what is going on right now? >> harry reid just announced --

by the way, had he says when he comes back in at 9:30 and wants to be recognized and he said it in passing, and whatever message the house sends over i will go ahead and table that, and in washington speech he says if the house sends this vote to go to conference, if they are going to vote conference committee and takes the dispute for how to fund the government for the next 45 to 75 days, if you are going by november 15th, the house and the senate has two different dates, and they will say no, they are not going to do that, and that's why schumer did that thing to reinforce that. the house still plans on doing this, and this is another ask of the conservative wing of the house republican caucus, and they are the ones that are suggesting to go to conference, and this is not a boehner idea, and i first heard about this at

about 5:00 this afternoon, coming from some of the conservative side of the house of republican conference, and this is going on that front, and what i wonder is does reed said on the floor right now make the house leaders decide, you know what, maybe we ought to throw in the towel, and do we throw in the towel tonight at 2:00 in the morning and keep it going, or do we cave sometime tomorrow afternoon or wednesday afternoon or thursday afternoon because i can't figure out what their end game here is on this and there are some house republicans that don't know what the end game is. >> you are saying the harry reid comments what he just said is essentially telling the house if you try anything else like what you have been trying, including to take us to conference,

anything you do other than funding the government it will be over as soon as it gets here so don't bother. >> that's the power he has as majority leader. he can table it and send it back. they have been referring to it as a hot potato. nobody wants it in their lab as the clock strikes 12:00, so right now back in the house's lap, and it was trying to get it into harry reid's lap, and i will be honest, i think the idea that the house republicans making harry reid the boogie man, and there you see it, that was not the focus for the last week, and this is their focus for all of about 90 minutes. >> when you were talking about how the republicans react to what harry reid just said and

when they think about, well, do we throw in the towel tonight or on wednesday or try to hold on to the towel as long as we can before we throw it in, do you have any sense of how their strategy changes or what their plans are once the shutdown happens, were they always planning to give up once that happened or could the shutdown go on for a long time? >> it could go on for a long time. boehner's move was he wanted to shift it away from the budget and shutdown talk and lump it into the debt ceiling. six hours ago i thought this is where it headed, they passed a three week resolution, and low and hold it would expire at the same time as the debt ceiling, and they are trying to negotiate the president to negotiate over the debt ceiling, and he says they won't do it, and if you put

it together they have to negotiate something, and the debt ceiling was in there, too. and this is what i think boehner supposedly what he was telling some republicans quietly, you have to pick one, if you have to pick your poison, shut down the government and make the last stand on health care or try to do the debt ceiling and make that the last stand on health care, and you can't do both. it's politically risky to do one. you try to do both, and they can turn the conventional wisdom upside down, and it's something they are concerned about. i don't know what the evened game is here, and maybe they get out of it in the next 12 or 15 hours, and then suddenly there's a short term funding resolution by closing tomorrow, but if they don't get it done tomorrow then maybe it does last a week. >> wow, chuck todd, political

director, and the most of msnbc's t"the daily rundown," i bid you good night, sir. thank you for staying up with us. >> all right. this just in, actually, one of the questions coming into this final day of negotiations has been what would happen to members of united states military if the government shuts down, whether they might conceivably be asked to serve without the paychecks that they and their families depend on? the pentagon said that that would be what would happen in the event of a shutdown, and today congress did pass a bill to insure that servicemen and women will get paid even though as most personnel will not get paid. president obama signed that bill on military pay just hours ahead of the midnight shutdown tonight, and now just moments ago, this is just in, the white house released this message from

president obama that is a message from president obama as commander in chief directly to the troops, and it's a video message, and here sit in full. >> hi, everybody. as president and as your commander in chief, i have worked to make sure you have the strategy and the resources and the support you need to complete the missions our nation asks of you, and every time you have met your responsibilities and performed with extraordinary professionalism still and courage. unfortunately, congress has not fulfilled its responsibility. it has failed to pass a budget and as a result much of our government must now shut down until congress funds it again. secretary hagel and general dempsey and your commanders will have more information about how this affects you and your families. and i want to speak to you directly what happens to you next, and those of you in uniform will remain on your duty

status and the threats of national security have not changed and we need you to be ready for any contingency, and efforts in afghanistan will continue, and if you are serving in harm's way we will make sure what you need in your missions and congress has passed and i signed into law legislation to make sure you get your paychecks on time, and we will continue to address any impact this shutdown has on you and your families. i know the days ahead could mean more certain more uncertainty, including possible furloughs. you deserve better than the f dysfunction we are seeing in congress. i will keep working to get congress to re-open our government and get you back to work as soon as possible. finally, i know this shutdown

occurs against the background of changes, and the war in iraq is over and the war in afghanistan will end next year, and we are moving off of war footing, and yes, our military will be leaner, and as a nation we face difficult budget choices going forward, but here is what i want you to know. i will keep fighting to get rid of those across the board budget cuts, the sequester, which are hurting our military and economy. we need a responsible approach that deals with the fiscal challenges and keeps our military and economy strong. i will make sure you stay the greatest military in the world bar none. that's what i am fighting for. that's what you and your families deserve. on behalf of the american people, thank you for your service which keeps us free, and thank you for your sacrifice, which keeps our nation and military the greatest force for freedom the world has ever known. god bless you and your families, and god bless the united states

of america. >> president obama tonight thanking the nation's servicemen and women in a video message released that will be shown in military bases, and essentially the president trying to reassure servicemen and women that even as the federal government shuts down is he said if you are serving in harm's way we will make sure you have what you need to succeed in your missions. the united states federal government is shut down for the first time in nearly two decades, and the shut down at this point is indefinite and there is no plan for how to re-start.

it's official. your federal government has been shut down, or as house republicans might say, mission accomplished because this was their mission from way back. details ahead.

the reason we're here today is that the speaker of the house refused to name budget negotiators in the senate republicans block negotiations. now why would you do that? because you have to compromise when you go to a budget. >> democrats have been saying for weeks that they would place the blame for a government shut down at the feet of the republicans. well, here we are. as of right now, the federal government is closed for business. what happens next? can republicans be publicly shamed into allowing the government to come back on line or are we living in a post shame

political world where we will need a different strategy. joining us now is a congresswoman from illinois. thank you for being with us tonight. >> i would say good evening, but we passed that bewitching hour now. >> obviously exhausted and upset is what's going on in half the house. what is the mood like in the house? is there any expectation of any continued forward movement? or does it just feel like it's done? >> i don't really see it. harry reid said unless there is a vote on a clean cr, continuing resolution that he's not going to negotiate. he's not going to appoint conferees. i don't see how it happens. i really don't see how it happens. >> in terms of the continued votes that are planned tonight in the house, obviously senator

reed reid has said unless there is that clean vote, don't bother. it will be tabled as soon as the senate comes back into session tomorrow at 9:30. it seems that the republicans are planning on going ahead with further votes tonight, proposing a conference committee to work on differences between the bills. what's your take on that? >> well, you know, as you played in the clip, six months ago, we called the bluff of the republicans. and the senate passed a budget and the republicans have failed for since months to appoint a conference committee. at this moment, 17, 18 minutes after the government has already shut down, now they're saying they want to go to conference. for what? i mean, if we don't have some sort of assurance that the government is going to stay open, it absolutely makes no sense. harry reid, for better or for worse said we're not going to have a conference with a gun pointed at our head, so that's simply not going to happen, the

thing -- you know what's breaking my heart tonight? this is completely unnecessary. it's completely unnecessary. i was talking to some of the guards at the capitol as i was coming in, the capitol police. they said well, we have to be here tomorrow, but we don't know, we're not going to get paid until after the shut down is over. we're talking about gs-2, gs-3. people who make 20, 30, maybe $40,000 every year, and these people are going to be furloughed? they're not going to get paid up to 600,000 people? this is a disaster for them. and you were talking about the military, rachel, about 72% of the civilians that work for the intelligence community are going

to be furloughed. you know who's going to be furloughed? we're not going to be able to supply the kind of personal protection for diplomats overseas in dangerous situations. does that raise the benghazi question? people who want passports. it's going to cost it's estimated over $150 million a day to shut down the government. it's absolutely crazy. >> do you think that there is any institutional memory in the congress as an institution about the last shut down? anything about the previous times this was tried, particularly 17 years ago when we had the longest shutdown in history? it was the last shutdown we had. is there any institutional memory in the congress about that previous experience that's informing what people are doing now? or is this like a bunch of goldfish swimming around a tiny bowl being surprised by the castle every time? >> that's pretty much what it is. we've got, the people that are driving this shut down are people who don't have any institutional memory, and many

of them, actually, have no legislative experience whatsoever. the legislative memory. so they came here on a mission that was to shut down the government. they, a couple of them bragged about it early on. for what? you know the other thing that breaks my heart, rachel is that this is a moment where our economy could be actually leaping forward. we are at a point where we could be creating jobs. we could be in a great position right now. and instead, we're going to be seeing, i think, really tragic consequences in terms of the economy and individual american families. >> congresswoman from illinois. i hear the feeling behind what you are saying in your voice as you say it. and i know this is a difficult time and it's a lady thing. thank you. >> thank you, rachel. as tonight proved, for some congressional republicans, failure is not only an option, it is a strategy.

what the congresswoman was talking about there about people coming to congress for the first time, bragging that three were going to shut down the government and that was their goal as a brand new member of congress, we've got the evidence on that, next. 

there is procedural action still scheduled in the u.s. house of representatives at this hour. now about 30 minutes past midnight on october 1st.

the u.s. government is officially shut down as of midnight. but in the house, one more vote at least is scheduled for tonight or this morning, whatever you want to call it. house speaker john boehner will have a vote on whether to have a conference committee with the senate. that's something they had said no to for months before the government was shut down. but now that it is shut down, that's their idea. there will be time for the debate after the vote. the house of representatives may well be in session far into this early tuesday morning, maybe even toward dawn. whatever the results of that vote, senate it majority leader harry reid said that the senate is done for the night. so there's not going to be any resolution at least until 9:30. as you saw there, the house is still working, and the federal government is shut down. much more to come. stay with us. [ lane ] do you ever feel like you're growing old

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when president obama was elected in 2008, he came to washington with a democrat controlled house and democrat controlled senate. in the two years where that held true in washington,

we got wall street reform, health care reform, the gi bill, they reauthorized the children's health program. we got expanded national service programs. they fixed the sentencing disparity for crack cocaine versus powdered cocaine. they passed the 9/11 first responders bill. they passed the hate crimes act. they repealed don't ask don't tell they did cash for clunkers. that was all done in two years by the congress that was elected at the same time as president obama. but then in the midterms, republicans did really, really well and they took control of the house and john boehner became the speaker of the house instead of nancy pelosi. since then not a single significant piece of legislation has been enacted into law. not one. republicans won the elections in 2010 and got control of the house, right, and they were sworn in in january 2011.

since then, zero legislative accomplishment. and that is because they have been otherwise occupied. after getting sworn in in january, by april, they threatened to shut down the government. by july, the republicans forced the first ever debts ceiling crisis in american history. by september they were threatening another government shut down. by april the next year more threats from republicans of another government shut down. by december, republicans were pushing us over the fiscal cliff. by january, republicans were talking about forcing another crisis before they backed down, but now they have caused a government shut down, at wrong last. and this is not an accident. we are deep into year three of them running the house. and in year three of them run, the house we've had zip from them in terms of law or policy. and we are at seven and counting when it comes to can't keep the lights on failures of basic

governance. and that is not a mistake. that is how they planned it. in september 2010, a few weeks before those mid term elections where the house republicans won back majority, a republican congressman from georgia spoke to a conservative audience at a christian event, and he exhorted them that they were going to need their support when the republicans shut down the government, which he said they were planning on doing that. he said republicans would do it again just like the last time they took power in the house after the 1994 elections. >> the government will shut down. [ applause ] >> that's what i wanted to hear. if we hold the line, if we get those courageous men and women to be part of or majority and we say look, we're in partnership

with the american people. we're listening to the american people. this is what we're going to do. if the government shuts down, we want you with us. we want you with us. we got to have you. we got to have you because later on you all will call us and say i didn't get my check. we need to make sure you're going to be with us. >> that was before the 2010 election. when we get the majority, we're going to shut down the government. we're going to need you to be with us. that was their plan from the beginning. that's what they were promising their supporters. quote, i am almost giddy thinking about a government shut down next year. i cannot wait. that was before the 2010

election. that is what republicans were promising their base and what their base was expecting from them and then they went for it. >> we will do what we have to do to shut down the government if we have to. >> even if that were to happen theoretically, it wouldn't be as bad as people make it out. >> no. >> i really don't. >> you think shut down should being off the table? >> everything should be on the table. >> most people in my district say shut it down. this country may very well need some kind of shock therapy. >> would it be a good thing fiscally and philosophically if the government did shut down and that people would see life will go on you without the federal government for a while. >> i don't think it would hurt one bit. >> even if it means showing how serious we are. okay.

government's going to have to shut down. >> liberals in the senate would rather play political games and shut down the government instead of making a small down payment on fiscal responsibility, i say shut it down. [ applause ] >> cut it or shut it! i say shut it down, woo hoo. and within a matter of weeks, the house republicans were giving john boehner a standing ovation in their caucus meetings when he said yes, we are preparing for a shut down, that was the first one in april after they got sworn in, in january. this is what they had promised. they weren't promising any result. they were just planning on using this tactic. they used this tactic right away. they have done it repeatedly since then, threatening and getting right up to it. tonight they have succeeded. they have forced the shut down of the american federal government which they have been

threatening all this time. the point is, the tactic is the point for them. it is fun and ideal logically correct for the republican. it's a tactical insult to the idea of governance. it's perfect for the american right. this is what republicans do when they get control of any aspect of government. they've got control of one half of one branch of the government, and what they are doing with it is shutting stuff down. this is not a bug. this is a feature. they have been looking forward to this since their takeover of the house became possible in 2010. that is why whether they came out of door closed door meeting, they did not seem like they were having a somber moment. they did not seem like they were embarking on a bad thing they really didn't want to do. when they decided to do this on saturday, kind of seemed like they were psyched.

>> we're all getting behind leadership. we're excited. we're united. >> it's all good. good plan. >> who'd it go in there. >> went good, very well. >> it's great. we're shutting down the government. what could be better? reporters have been staking out the committee rooms while they've been confabbing and deciding what to do. reporters description about the mood among republicans is jarring. house republicans were ecstatic when mr. boehner and his team presented their plan. the mood was down right giddy. when republican leaders presented their plan, cheers and chants of vote, vote, vote went up. many wore beaming grins. representative john culberson of

texas said he shouted out i said, like 9/11. let's roll. let's roll, let's bring the american government to its knees. just like 9/11. except we're the other side. there's kind of a palpable glee on the republican side about this accomplishment that they have brought about tonight. they are psyched about their. and there is no mirror image between the parties. there is only one major party of the two that we've got that strives for control no government, specifically and only because that is the place from which they can hurt government the worst. they have not passed any legislation into law since having control of the house. but this is our seventh brink.

there's nothing about the last few weeks of political back and forth that explains why this is happening. there's nothing about the political back and forth on the hill that explains why this is happening. there's nothing about health reform specifically that explains why this is happening. this is happening because they like this tactic. in 2011 they didn't bother about making it about health reform. for a while it was about whether your boss can block you from contraception. doesn't matter what they're using it for. it is the point that they are willing to go this far. what is happening tonight is happening tonight because this is what republicans do, this is what they promised to do. this is an end in and of itself, because it displays sufficient fervor. and that is why there is no talking them out of it, elect republicans, and they will burn the place down, and they like the sound of it, and they will laugh while they do it. and now we're all left to figure

out what happens next. joins us now is dave, a political reporter for slate.com and a long time student reporter on the conservative movement. thank you for being here. >> thanks for having me. >> you covered that speech in 2010 before the election. he's already asking for base support for a shut down. when were you covering that at the time was it weird in the moment? or did it seem like kind of expected rhetoric? >> reporter: in the moment it was very coherent for a lot of the reasons you laid out here. and some of the quotes you were playing before made this clear. at the time, republicans were saying they were going to shut down or willing to risk a shut down as rand paul said to make a point in sanity. originally, and this is the reason why more americans were supportive or willing to come along with that for a while, they said let's think about the cost of government. let's have a cr that cuts $100 billion from the government. let's have a debt limit plan that cuts spending for the

future and cuts entitlements. the pivot to obamacare is a pivot very far to the right where they're saying instead of using this for a fiscal goal we're going to use it to attack a program we don't like. and today, this morning, the vitter amendment, that's not even something that they've really scored to cut costs or to delay obamacare. it's just another way to hack at it. what they really used to be for, the spending cuts is really kind of stark. >> in those terms, the term that you're describing there, who pushed for that? i can imagine that's the kind of thing some members would be

wanting. i would expect that leadership would be able to quell some of the impulse. is there a sign there is not enough leadership strength to stop those impulses on the far right? >> reporter: that's definitely true. they've proved that again and again. it would be possible. and some state, it's possible for a republican speaker to make a deal with democrats. but it's very clear that john boehner would have the votes from the democrat side if he funded the government at a lower level. democrats were starting to remind people of this. the cr as it is structured is based on the sequestration spending caps which they did not like. they started arguing this would be a victory for republicans. republicans should take it. but really from the activist

base, shepherded by a couple members of congress. back to the heritage action. tom graves in the house. ted cruz in the senate. they made the argument that this was the last ditch chance to repeal obamacare and if they didn't do it they were shunning the entire base. two years ago the base was not demanding this. jim dement voted for crs and voted for bill that is did not defund obamacare. the ability for a small number of people to put this demand onto the agenda is striking. it's not something that some of the groups that have funded them have asked for. they're a bit surprised about where it came from and how stark it is. >> agreed. it is as if you have been worried about the driving skills

of whoever is behind the wheel. you're worried about the driving skills of whoever's behind the wheel. and all of a sudden you realize that the car had two drivers or three, or somebody who couldn't reach the pedals. it seems that we have a shift in the radicalism that got us here tonight. thank you. >> reporter: thank you, rachel. >> we'll be right back.

hey, you know what else happened at midnight tonight? the affordable care act started. beginning at midnight, the website health care.gov went live, meaning that americans seeking health insurance were supposed to be able to log on and start getting a health care plan. depending upon where you live, your local exchange is run either by your state government or the federal government, yes, even though the federal government is shut down, the obamacare of it goes ahead. in the midst of a government shut down supposedly to stop obama care, we do have a shutdown, and we do have obama care. john boehner will reportedly address the cameras shortly after 1:00 eastern which is a few minutes from now.

stay tuned. we will have it here live. you tell us what you want to pay, and we give you a range of coverages to choose from. who is she? that's flobot. she's this new robot we're trying out, mostly for, like, small stuff. wow! look at her go! she's pretty good. she's pretty good. hey, flobot, great job. oops. [ powers down ] uh-oh, flobot is broken. the "name your price" tool, only from progressive. call or click today.

even without the shutdown, congress hit a new low today. the new cnn poll released today shows the disapproval of the american congress has reached a new level. the disapproval rating has hit 87%. a historic almost unimaginable number. 87% of americans saying they disapprove of congress, and that poll was taken before they shut down the government, tonight with no one admitting to the fact that that's what they wanted to do. joining us is capitol hill correspondent. luke, thank you for joining us. appreciate having you here. >> reporter: i think one of those polls vladimir putin polled higher than the u.s. congress. that's not a joke.

>> with his shirt on. i know. outrageous. can you give us the latest you've been hearing? i know the house has been voting in the last few minutes. >> reporter: they've been voting on the issue of conferees. but as harry reid said he will table it. what is interesting, i spoke to republican members and they were caught off guard by speaker boehner's motion not expecting him for the conferencees on the cr. they are going to have a press conference around 1:00. they want to continue this message. they want to see the government open and basic fairness for all americans. kind of this push of the vitter amendment. but in terms of where we go from here as we move into tuesday, the idea has always been from republ republicans that a one day shutdown is not the end of the world.

however, we've seen practically every single vehicle they could alter the health care law. now the question goes, what will they do after they've seemed to exhausted every option in trying to change the health care law. and then we get into all sorts of exciting things. do they pull away from health care and go to something else like keystone that is part of the goody bag wish list, or sake you down the path of going back and forth? a lot of republicans i spoke to said they ultimately will see a clean cr bill on the floor, and it's a matter of when we get there. some folks it will happen later today. i haven't heard anybody on the republican side say they want it to go longer for four days. so that is the good news for folks being furloughed. i haven't heard any one on the republican side saying they want this to go longer than four days. >> hearing that that is the plan and that it's that nebulous makes me worry even more. if they're still kicking around ideas that f