U.S. Government Shutdown: Who to Follow on Twitter

As Americans consider the ominous specter of a government shutdown, here, below, is a list of Twitter accounts that will keep you informed

But before we get to that, here's a bit of background on what exactly a "government shutdown" means, and how Washington's political gridlock reached this point

Like so much of modern American political theater, this predicament has its roots in the debate over Obamacare, U.S. President Barack Obama's law aiming to restructure the American healthcare system

Against that backdrop, we have the U.S. government's standard fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30. Among the most basic duties of Congress is passing spending bills to keep the government running for the next fiscal year. From the military to the National Zoo, these annual spending bills pay for a wide range of public services and government institutions Read more...