The U.S. Senate has advanced a deal to end the record-breaking 40-day government shutdown, marking the first step towards reopening following weeks of deadlock. A bloc of eight Democrats voted with Republicans in a 60-40 vote on a package that would temporarily fund the government until January 30, 2026, and fully fund several key agencies for the entire fiscal year. The package also includes a future Senate vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies. This is the first step toward