Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin expressed strong confidence that the U.S. government shutdown, now in its 35th day, could be resolved this week. The shutdown has matched the 2018-2019 record for the longest in history, impacting financial markets significantly. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has proposed a solution involving a short-term funding bill and an extension of ACA subsidies, which could help break the deadlock. Despite Mullin's optimism, challenges remain, including President Trump's push to eliminate the Senate filibuster rule and internal Democratic disagreements. A resolution could potentially be reached as early as Wednesday night, though Thursday is more likely.