(CNN)The government has been shut down for more than a month and there's no end in sight.
President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can't even agree on how to be in the same room with each other, since she said he should not give the State of the Union address in the House chamber with the government shut down. He said he'll be giving it anyway, setting up a side showdown over that issue.
Surely, some sort of negotiations have been happening at the staff level, but the principals -- Trump, Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell -- will have to talk things out for the shutdown to end.
Judging by this timeline of their public talks and interactions, something will have to change. Because things aren't going very well.
December 11 - A televised disaster
Pelosi and Schumer visit the White House and get into a televised argument with Trump about the wall and the shutdown. Trump says he'd be proud to shut down the government.
Photos: The next two years of US government in one dramatic Oval Office scene
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Photos: The next two years of US government in one dramatic Oval Office scene
Trump was constantly leaning forward, sitting at the edge of his seat and using his hands to gesticulate and interrupt. He leaned toward both Pelosi and Schumer, but he seemed to spend most of the time leaning very directly at Schumer, who, for the most part, looked not at Trump, but at Pelosi. In this image, Trump's hands are helping him make a point, while Schumer's are clenched.
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Photos: The next two years of US government in one dramatic Oval Office scene
Despite the disadvantage of her soft seat, Pelosi sat ramrod straight, projecting strength right back at Trump. When Trump said, "Nancy is in a situation where it's not easy for her to talk right now, and I understand that," referring to her upcoming leadership election, Pelosi pushed back. "Mr. President, please don't characterize the strength that I bring to this meeting as the leader of the House Democrats who just won a big victory," she shot back at him.
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Photos: The next two years of US government in one dramatic Oval Office scene
Schumer's body language was very interesting throughout the meeting, as he slouched forward and nodded his head during Trump's comments, clasping his hands and letting Trump speak. But after a barb about the 2018 midterms seemed to get under Trump's skin, Schumer drew from Trump this pledge: "I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck."
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Photos: The next two years of US government in one dramatic Oval Office scene
Out of view of the cameras were staffers from both sides. Here is a phalanx of White House staffers, apparently watching the exchange with as much anticipation as those of us who saw it on TV. Note that White House communications director and former Fox News executive Bill Shine is looking at the cameras in this photo, while outgoing White House chief of staff John Kelly and presidential advisers -- and daughter and son-in-law -- Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are looking at the leaders.
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Photos: The next two years of US government in one dramatic Oval Office scene
The most intriguing participant in the meeting may have been Vice President Mike Pence, who said nothing. Rather, he routinely closed his eyes and seemed to be retreating as his boss did verbal battle with the Democrats. You also see here Trump's direct and near-constant focus on Schumer rather than Pelosi.
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Photos: The next two years of US government in one dramatic Oval Office scene
Trump's contentious meetings with lawmakers have been reported before. Remember the "s#$%hole countries" episode? He's also brought in cameras for meetings that were supposed to be private. But this was a rare occasion in which reporters and cameras were brought into an Oval Office meeting that veered so wildly off-script and turned contentious, for full display on TV.
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Photos: The next two years of US government in one dramatic Oval Office scene
Who will replace Kelly as chief of staff and be left to help manage Trump is a very open and important question. His concerned, intent, face-in-hands expressions during Trump events have been scrutinized before. Now, as a short-timer, pushed out by an unhappy boss, what must he be thinking about his service at the White House?
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Photos: The next two years of US government in one dramatic Oval Office scene
When Pelosi or Schumer did talk and counter his points, Trump would purse his lips and stare ahead. Even if there aren't any more meeting like this over the next two years of divided government in Washington, there will certainly be a lot more talking past each other.
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December 22 - Partial shutdown begins
January 2 - A closed-door standoff
Pelosi and Schumer, joined by their Republican counterparts -- House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and McConnell -- go again to the White House. This time the meeting is not televised, but it doesn't go any better. Shortly thereafter, Pelosi officially becomes speaker and begins moving bills to temporarily open the government.
They don't have the votes to pass the Senate, and McConnell won't give them time on the Senate floor.
Schumer: GOP using shutdown as hostage 02:19
January 8 - Both sides take their arguments to the people
Trump addresses the nation from the Oval Office, says there's a crisis at the border and that he can solve the problem in 45 minutes with a meeting the next day. Pelosi and Schumer address the nation from Capitol Hill and say they won't approve a wall.
How Trump and his opposition talk about the border issue 01:46
January 9 - Trump walks out on Pelosi and Schumer
The leaders meet again at the White House and Trump quickly asks if Pelosi will ever let him build his wall. She says no. He walks out.
Schumer: Trump walked out of the meeting 01:35
January 16 - Pelosi asks Trump not to give State of the Union if shutdown is in effect
She doesn't tell him he can't come, exactly. But her letter's meaning is clear. The speech had been planned for January 29.
January 17 - Trump cancels Pelosi's trip to Afghanistan
Publicizing her planned trip to a war zone, Trump sends Pelosi a letter denying her the use of a military aircraft and invites her to fly commercial.
January 23 - Trump informs Pelosi he expects to give State of the Union address, she counters
In a letter, Trump rejects Pelosi's letter saying he should delay the State of the Union address, which brings us to stalemate on two issues.
Pelosi responds to Trump's letter with a letter of her own, telling him she won't allow the State of the Union address in the House this year while there's a shutdown.
"I am writing to inform you that the House of Representatives will not consider a concurrent resolution authorizing the President's State of the Union address in the House Chamber until the government has opened," Pelosi wrote.
