*By Christian Smith*
As the partial federal government shutdown enters enters its 27th day, American businesses are beginning to feel the strain.
For Fat Brands Inc. ($FAT) ー which owns a number of fast food brands Fatburger, among them ー the consequences of the shutdown are slowly trickling up to corporate, but president and CEO Andy Wiederhorn said franchisees are thus far bearing the brunt of the shutdown.
"I think it's really much harder on the franchise operators because they're trying to build stores they've already started to build, or they've got a lease signed up and now they need their loan to get going for construction," Wiederhorn said Wednesday in an interview with Cheddar.
With the Small Business Administration closed, small businesses are unable to access SBA-backed loans. The SBA usually manages over 300 loans each day, which [The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/01/11/congresswoman-calls-trump-restart-small-business-lending-level-anxiety-is-unprecedented/?utm_term=.f50572777f74) reported amounts to roughly $200 million worth of loans for small and midsize businesses.
Small business owners in need of capital during the shutdown must turn to other sources of funding, such as non-SBA-backed loans, which generally come with higher interest rates.
But Wiederhorn noted that every sector of business ー even the major players ー is experiencing negative side effects.
"It's affecting everybody, not just small business, but large business," he said. "It's really very difficult."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/fat-brands-inc-ceo-explains-how-the-government-shutdown-is-impacting-americas-small-businesses).
The Oregon ballot measure permits licensed service providers to administer psilocybin for mental health purposes to those 21 or older, but they don't need to have a medical background or be otherwise credentialed to get certified.
State officials and election experts say the 2020 election unfolded smoothly across the country and without any widespread irregularities.
Ingmar Rentzhog, CEO and founder of We Don't Have Time, joined Cheddar to discuss the difference going forward in climate policy with President-elect Joe Biden.
The popular video-sharing app TikTok, its future in limbo since President Donald Trump tried to shut it down earlier this fall, is asking a federal court to intervene.
Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board and former global economist at Citi, joined Cheddar to discuss the findings of a study about what is actually leading to wealth disparities between Black and white Americans.
A more conservative Supreme Court appears unwilling to do what Republicans have long desired — kill off the Affordable Care Act.
Democrats did not flip a single state legislature as of Monday after the election, and that means the majority of legislative maps will be redone by Republicans.
John Matze, CEO of Parler, says he welcomes Republicans and Democrats alike to create "discussion, debate, and discourse" on the popular "free speech social network."
North Carolina Congressman, Patrick McHenry (NC-10), joined Cheddar to discuss the election process and when a race should be called. McHenry says this election was called prematurely but will likely hold up once the official process is complete.
The course of President-elect Joe Biden's transition to power is dependent in part on an obscure declaration called “ascertainment.”
