HEATHER HIGGINS (CEO, INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S VOICE): Well, the first thing I think that people are missing about the shutdown is that the longer it goes on, the more -- many people are aware of how nonessential a lot of these nonessential workers actually are. The reality is is that most people aren't affected by it. The media is driving the story about the 800,000 employees plus the contractors, et cetera. And this has been a failure of messaging on the Trump administration's part because they haven't been able to break through, that this is really about getting the border security that people who are border security specialists say they need, not a coast to coast wall but in strategic places. So, that is the first thing. You're not seeing that much sympathy among the average American because, if you look at the data, the average government worker's compensation is significantly more and arguably up to roughly twice what it is for the average American worker. So, you know, they are -- they understand that this is hard times, but this is not the same as losing your job, or feeling like you're at risk, or something is seriously wrong in your community with opioids and everything else. 

Previously:

Fox News figures downplay the effects of the government shutdown

On CNBC, Commerce Secretary Ross downplays effect of government shutdown: “I don't really quite understand” why federal employees need food banks

As furloughed workers speak out on financial hardship, Fox News continues to downplay government shutdown