🎧 Audio
📖 Script
The United States was facing a government shutdown, which is when the government temporarily stops its operations because it lacks the necessary funding. This situation occurred because President Trump and Congress could not agree on a budget. President Trump suggested a change in Senate rules to end the shutdown. He wanted the Senate to remove the filibuster rule. The filibuster is a rule that allows a minority group of senators to extend a debate indefinitely, effectively blocking a vote. By removing the filibuster, the Republican majority in the Senate could pass a budget without needing support from the Democratic minority. This proposal was controversial because the filibuster is seen as a way to encourage compromise and ensure that all voices are heard in the Senate. Critics argued that removing it could lead to more partisan decisions and less cooperation between political parties.
This situation was not just a political issue; it had real consequences for many people. During a government shutdown, many federal employees are furloughed, meaning they are put on temporary leave without pay. Essential services, like national security and air traffic control, continue to operate, but many other services are halted. This affects everything from national parks to food safety inspections. The longer a shutdown lasts, the more significant its impact on the economy and people’s daily lives.
In this case, President Trump’s call to scrap the filibuster was an attempt to quickly resolve the shutdown by allowing the Republican majority to approve a budget. However, the proposal faced opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans who were concerned about the long-term implications of such a change. The debate highlighted the challenges of governing in a divided political climate and the importance of finding ways to work together for the good of the country.
📝 Vocabulary
- filibuster: a political procedure where debate is extended to delay or prevent a decision
例文: “The senator used a filibuster to delay the vote on the bill.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- use a filibuster
- end a filibuster
- filibuster tactic
フィリバスター、議事の引き延ばし - furlough: a temporary leave of absence from work without pay
例文: “Many workers were furloughed during the government shutdown.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- be furloughed
- furlough days
- prolonged furlough
一時解雇、無給休暇 - bipartisan: involving two political parties
例文: “They reached a bipartisan agreement on the new policy.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- bipartisan support
- bipartisan effort
- bipartisan agreement
超党派の、二党連立の - shutdown: a closure of operations, often due to lack of funding
例文: “The government shutdown affected many public services.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- government shutdown
- temporary shutdown
- shutdown crisis
閉鎖、シャットダウン - compromise: an agreement where each side makes concessions
例文: “They had to compromise to reach a final decision.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- reach a compromise
- compromise solution
- compromise position
妥協、折衷案
✏️ Grammar Point
Conditional Sentence Type 1 – “If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
この文法は、ビジネスや会議で将来の計画について話す際に使われます。
📝 使用例文
“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: President Trump wanted to keep the filibuster to resolve the government shutdown.
- MCQ: What was the main reason President Trump wanted to scrap the filibuster?
a) To increase military funding
b) To quickly pass a budget
c) To improve relations with Democrats
d) To reduce taxes - MCQ: What happens to federal employees during a government shutdown?
a) They receive a bonus
b) They work extra hours
c) They are furloughed
d) They get a pay raise
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- b) To quickly pass a budget
- c) They are furloughed
📚 Reading Questions
- What did President Trump suggest to end the government shutdown?
- Why might some people oppose removing the filibuster?
- What does the word “furloughed” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- President Trump suggested removing the filibuster rule.
- Some people might oppose removing the filibuster because it could lead to more partisan decisions.
- “Furloughed” means being put on temporary leave without pay.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
アメリカの政府閉鎖は、予算の合意が得られない場合に政府が一時的に業務を停止する状況です。この問題は経済的影響だけでなく、多くの人々の日常生活にも影響を及ぼします。今回のフィリバスターを廃止する提案は、共和党が民主党の反対を回避して予算を通過させるためのものでしたが、長期的な政治的影響を懸念する声も上がりました。日本においても、政治的な意思決定の仕組みやその影響について学ぶ良い機会となるでしょう。日本の政治においても、合意形成の重要性が増しており、国際的な視点からも注目されるでしょう。
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/10/31/nx-s1-5591978/trump-senate-scrap-filibuster-end-government-shutdown
