"Real people are being affected by the games here, and they're sick of it," said Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as he criticized Democrats during a news conference on the eighth day of a government shutdown. He discussed ways that the shutdown was hurting states across the country, and called on Democratic senators from those states to vote to reopen the government. In addition, he discussed funding for the military and air traffic controllers, and answered questions on numerous topics, including whether federal workers would receive back pay. Members of House Republican leadership spoke, as well as Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK), who discussed efforts to negotiate with Democrats and pass spending bills.