Donald Trump and the Republicans send conflicting signals as to what might bring an end to the standoff, now in its 22nd day.

His televised speech is laden with dark rhetoric on immigration but provides little to help break the shutdown stalemate.

Changes to past policies will make the payments possible. Furloughed IRS workers will be recalled, probably without pay, to process returns.

The extreme step is necessary at popular sites that are open during the shutdown, top parks official says, but its legality is questioned.

The president raises the issue of bypassing Congress by declaring a national emergency to get the border wall funding he seeks.

The partial government shutdown persists through a 12th day over the president's $5.6 billion demand to build a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

The meeting is set for the day before the Democrats take over the House and introduce bills to reopen the government without wall funding.

In his first visit to troops in a troubled region, the president tells service members at an air base, "We're respected again as a nation."