The high was real—and so was the crash. After celebrating big electoral wins and a fresh wave of optimism, we watched lawmakers fold on a shutdown fight that had voters and even unpaid federal workers urging them to hold firm. That twist didn’t just sting; it exposed how quickly trust evaporates when bold speeches turn into soft votes and “we’ll vote later” promises fade on contact with reality. We unpack the core questions people are asking: Why were federal employees expected to work witho...