Fresh hints of progress toward ending the shutdown are surfacing in the Senate, as pressure points pile up and the federal funding lapse is set to become the longest ever come Tuesday night.
Here’s what we’re watching as the Senate returns for Week 6 of the shutdown:
A RAY OF HOPE — Bipartisan talks among rank-and-file senators appear to be headed in the right direction, according to four people granted anonymity to discuss the talks. The White House has warned it will not meet with Democrats until they open the government but Trump officials are in touch with the Republican senators involved in the talks, according to two of the people.
Several senators are having across-the-aisle conversations, including Sens. Angus King, Maggie Hassan, Jeanne Shaheen, Susan Collins, Katie Britt and Lisa Murkowski.
PAIN POINTS — Millions of low-income Americans are losing access to food aid after SNAP funding lapsed this weekend. A federal judge is ordering the Trump administration to restore funding this week.
Fallout from the looming expiration of Obamacare subsidies is also beginning to land across the country. Open enrollment on most Affordable Care Act state marketplaces and the federal exchange began Saturday, greeting consumers with sticker shock. Some enrollees in New Jersey will see out-of-pocket premiums rise more than 175 percent, while some in Colorado will see a 101 percent increase.
TRUMP NEEDLES — Trump is continuing to prod Republicans into getting rid of the filibuster, even after GOP leaders gently pushed back.
Trump pressured Republicans in Truth Social posts Saturday and Sunday night, warning that they, “will rue the day that you didn’t TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER!!!” On Sunday he said they should “TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, NOT JUST FOR THE SHUTDOWN, BUT FOR EVERYTHING ELSE.”
In a “60 Minutes” interview recorded Friday and airing Sunday, he addressed Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s resistance to the idea: “I like John Thune, I think he’s terrific but I disagree with him on that point.”
ELECTION DAY — Both parties are watching the outcomes in Virginia and New Jersey’s gubernatorial elections on Tuesday night, as well as the New York City mayor’s race and California’s redistricting referendum. Some Republicans including Thune see a potential inflection point for Democrats after Tuesday.
“They’re going to wait till after the election on Tuesday,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin. “And then they’re looking for an exit ramp.”
What else we’re watching:
— War powers resolution: Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) could force a vote as soon as this week on a war powers resolution, amid concerns that the Trump administration may ramp up its strikes around Venezuela and possibly within the country.
— Gamblers tax relief: A bipartisan group of senators is looking to give gamblers some tax relief, after Republicans curtailed a key deduction in the megabill Trump signed this summer. Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Nevada Democrat, said that the “Finance Committee has been working on it” as well as members off the panel.
Jordain Carney, Katherine Tully-McManus, Nicholas Wu, Benjamin Guggenheim and Calen Razor contributed reporting.
