The partial government shutdown that began Dec. 22 caused roughly 420,000 federal employees to work without pay. This week, the IRS said it will recall thousands of workers to handle tax returns. (Jan. 17) AP
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A new poll shows that support for President Donald Trump is slipping among white evangelical Christians as the government shutdown continues. 
The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll shows that 66 percent of white evangelical Christians approve of the job Trump is doing as president, whereas 23 percent disapprove and 11 percent are unsure.
That is a change from the December NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll. A month ago, 73 percent of white evangelical Christians approved of the job Trump was doing. Seventeen percent disapproved and 9 percent were unsure. 
The margin of error for the December poll is +/- 3.7 percentage points and +/- 3.8 percentage points for the January poll.
White evangelicals are considered to be a part of Trump's base. Exit polls for the 2016 presidential election showed an overwhelming number of white evangelical voters cast their ballots for Trump. 
However, interviews conducted Jan. 10-13 for the new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll occurred in the midst of the longest government shutdown in the country's history.
Overall, Trump's approval rating is down. In January, 39 percent of U.S. adults approve of the job he is doing as president, 53 percent disapprove and 8 percent are unsure. In December, 42 percent of U.S. adults approved, 49 percent disapproved and 9 percent were unsure.
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Reach Holly Meyer at hmeyer@tennessean.com or 615-259-8241 and on Twitter @HollyAMeyer.