President Donald Trump and Democrats spent Monday afternoon giving reporters conflicting messages about whether they were talking to each other about the health care impasse at the center of the shutdown.
Long story short: They’re not.
But Trump’s suggestion that he was speaking with Democrats about their health care demands raised the possibility that an off-ramp might be in distant sight.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who has been engaged in bipartisan discussions with senators, said Monday Trump’s comments were “helpful” because “the president saying this is something that we need to address is important.”
But GOP leaders are sticking to their strategy: No talks till the government reopens. Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to keep pressure up by forcing daily votes on the House-passed CR, while Speaker Mike Johnson doesn’t plan on bringing the House back until the Senate acts.
Out of nowhere, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene added new pressure to GOP leaders Monday, calling them out for not prioritizing the expiration of ACA subsidies.
“Not a single Republican in leadership talked to us about this or has given us a plan to help Americans deal with their health insurance premiums DOUBLING!!!,” the Georgia Republican said in an X post that rocketed around Capitol Hill group chats.
One other thing the White House is eyeing to force movement is Trump’s threat to move ahead any day now with mass firings of federal workers.
But Democrats are largely unfazed — buoyed by encouraging early polling and the support of federal worker unions, who are already suing to block the move.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Monday night that blame for the layoffs “falls on Donald Trump’s shoulders … and the American people know that.”
What else we’re watching:
— What’s next in the funding fight: The Senate is expected to take its sixth vote Tuesday on dueling partisan stopgap funding bills. Meanwhile in the House, Johnson will host a news conference at 10 a.m., and Democratic leaders will meet at 6 p.m.
— Bondi heads to the Hill: Attorney General Pam Bondi will testify in front of Senate Judiciary at 9 a.m. Expect questions on everything from the Jeffrey Epstein files to an FBI probe that captured phone data belonging to GOP members of Congress as part of the investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
— Two years since Oct. 7 attack: Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) will host a 2 p.m. news conference announcing new legislation on the second anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. He’ll be joined by other members of Congress at the House Triangle.
Jordain Carney and Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.
