(AP) Employees at the Small Business Administration were instructed to set out-of-office auto replies that blamed Democrats for the shutdown. (HuffPost) Sad trombone sound: Polling shows that currently, far more Americans blame Republicans than Democrats for the shutdown. (Washington Post) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the disgraced, deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein was “the greatest blackmailer ever”—not exactly the message the administration has honed over the past months. (Washington Post)• An instructional assistant at a Fairfax high school was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting two students. (ALXnow)• A bill that would require a 10-cent deposit on bottles sold in the District “faces fierce opposition from the beverage industry, the mayor and some local retailers.” (Washington Post)• The “Demon Star” is above us.