(Politico)
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN … DAY 5. WE ANTICIPATE that talks to end the government shutdown will pick up a smidge. The White House may chat with the congressional leadership and some offers may be swapped beginning today. But PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP is not sending any blaring signals that he’s interested in ending the standoff.
WAPO’S PHIL RUCKER (@PhilipRucker): “Trump claims that ‘many’ federal workers want the government to stay closed: ‘Many of those workers have said to me, communicated, stay out until you get the funding for the wall. These federal workers want the wall.’”
PUT ASIDE THE OBVIOUS QUESTION -- how are regular workers contacting the president? -- it does not seem as if the president is getting itchy to end this. Remember: A vote is always at least 24 hours away, since members of Congress have to get back in town after a deal is cut. The Senate is not set to come back until tomorrow, and the House has announced no votes before tomorrow. Democrats feel as if their leverage increases with each passing day as they get closer to holding the House majority.
-- AP: “Post-holiday, partial government shutdown to gain impact,” by Darlene Superville: “Wednesday brings the first full business day after several government departments and agencies closed up over the weekend due to a budgetary stalemate between President Donald Trump and Congress. And there is no end in sight. Read more
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