What we’re watching: Republicans scramble on government funding

🗓️ What we’re watching

• President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance injected themselves further into an escalating fight over federal spending, insisting that Congress raise the nation’s debt ceiling and cut a range of spending proposals. In a post to Truth Social, Trump dismissed the possibility of a clean CR, and said any Republican that votes for one “would be so stupid as to do this should, and will, be Primaried.”
• Trump ally Elon Musk has also rallied GOP lawmakers against the bill, posting on X “this bill should not pass.” GOP leaders are now considering a plan B to avert a shutdown deadline on Friday.
• Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is floating Musk for House Speaker. “Nothing would disrupt the swamp more than electing Elon Musk . . . think about it . . . nothing’s impossible. (not to mention the joy at seeing the collective establishment, aka ‘uniparty,’ lose their ever-lovin’ minds),” Paul said on X.
• Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is introducing the DRAIN THE SWAMP Act on Thursday to overhaul the federal workforce as she embraces Trump’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
• In a letter Wednesday led by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-Md.), the two said they support an initial effort aimed at border security policies and a second bill that would extend the Trump administration tax cuts while “including necessary spending reforms and cuts.” They hope to use the reconciliation process next year to pass Trump’s agenda on a party-line vote.

🚨What’s up with the nominees?

• Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s picks to be director of national intelligence and secretary of Health and Human Services, respectively, often talked like fairly conventional Democrats when they ran for that party’s presidential nomination. Few Republicans seem to be sweating that political history. 
• Trump has landing teams set up for the Labor and Interior departments.