As tensions rise in Washington, today marks a pivotal moment as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the White House while U.S. lawmakers grapple with the looming threat of a government shutdown. With both Democrats and Republicans seemingly inching closer to a shutdown, all eyes are on their crucial meeting with President Donald Trump. Each party is strategically positioning itself, convinced that the other will bear the brunt of the blame should the government close its doors.
This morning, House Republicans initiated a series of actions aimed at solidifying their stance. Speaker Mike Johnson convened a conference call urging party members to present a united front, compelling Senate Democrats to either accept the House's proposed seven-week stopgap funding bill or face a government shutdown, as reported by POLITICO's Meredith Lee Hill. The overarching goal of the Republican strategy is to maintain a consistent message, although health care will not be a focal point according to NBC’s Melanie Zanona. House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain advised her colleagues against emphasizing health care, a topic perceived as detrimental, instead steering the conversation toward the economy, which they believe resonates more favorably with voters.
Amidst these discussions, a sense of confidence permeates the Republican conference. Majority Whip Tom Emmer asserted, “If you want to win this shutdown, we have to stay on offense,” as reported by Fox News’ Liz Elkind. “We did the responsible, reasonable thing… we’re going to win this battle.”
Fresh polling data released today reveals that with just 48 hours until the potential shutdown, Republicans are not entirely winning the blame game among voters. The latest Morning Consult poll, shared exclusively with Playbook, indicates that 45 percent of voters are more likely to blame Republicans in the event of a shutdown, compared to 32 percent who would hold Democrats accountable—representing a significant 13-point margin. This divide widens among independent voters, who are 17 points more likely to blame Republicans, according to the poll involving 2,202 respondents conducted last week.
Cameron Easley, head of political and economic analysis at Morning Consult, remarked, “As is nearly always the case with shutdowns, all parties will come out looking worse, at least for a brief period of time.” He further noted that there is a prevailing perception among voters that the Republican majority in Washington renders them responsible for any fallout from a shutdown.
On the flip side, Democrats are banking on the idea that voters will hold the party in power accountable. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer articulated this sentiment, stating, “They’re in charge, they have the House, they have the Senate, they have the presidency,” during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized that even assurances regarding extensions of the ACA tax credits would not be sufficient for Democrats to support the stopgap Continuing Resolution (CR). “No one can trust their word on health care. Are you kidding me?” Jeffries asserted.
House Democrats are now looking to the Senate for potential negotiation avenues, as a coalition of federal unions has voiced its support for the Democrats' position, urging leaders to stand firm even if it results in a shutdown, as reported by POLITICO’s Cheyanne Daniels.
The anticipated 3 p.m. meeting at the White House seems unlikely to foster compromise. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that Trump is prepared to pressure Democrats to accept the funding bill without modifications. “The president is giving Democrat leadership one last chance to be reasonable, to come to the White House today to try to talk about this,” Leavitt stated during an interview on Fox News.
Additionally, Senate Majority Leader John Thune published an op-ed in the Washington Post, criticizing Democrats for abandoning negotiations. He wrote, “There’s a difference between careful discussion and negotiation during the appropriations process and taking government funding hostage to jam more than $1 trillion in big-government spending into a funding bill designed to last mere weeks. Major decisions should not be made in haste.”
As the day progresses, it’s unlikely that the White House meeting will be broadcast, with officials aiming to avoid a repeat of the dramatic discussions from 2018. Meanwhile, House Democrats will convene at 6 p.m., and it remains to be seen if any Democratic senators will break away from the party line. House and Senate GOP leadership are scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday morning, and there’s a possibility that the Senate may continue working over the weekend should a shutdown occur, as noted by Jordain.
In related news, Trump and Netanyahu are set to address the press following their bilateral meeting today. Trump maintains an optimistic outlook regarding the possibility of securing agreement on his administration's 21-point peace plan. Additionally, the United Arab Emirates has urged Netanyahu to accept Trump’s peace plan and abandon any plans to annex the West Bank, according to Reuters.
During today’s discussions, Netanyahu reportedly contacted Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to apologize for a recent strike on Doha, a necessary step for Qatar to resume its mediating role in the region, as reported by Axios.
Stay tuned for further updates as this critical situation unfolds in Washington and beyond.
