Punchbowl News: “During a closed-door caucus meeting on Thursday, Democrats came to the consensus that they should continue to hold out for a better deal in the wake of Tuesday’s election victories. And they’re skeptical of advancing any funding bill until a deal is finalized.”

“Democrats also want to take advantage of President Trump’s anger at Senate Republicans, including his stated belief that the GOP is losing the shutdown fight.”

“Democrats are gambling that they can force Trump — who is publicly and privately complaining that the shutdown is hurting the GOP — to pressure Republicans into a deal over reversing mass federal layoffs, as well as on the expiring Obamacare premium credits.”

Punchbowl News: “A high-stakes caucus meeting, set to begin shortly, is expected to reveal whether enough Democratic senators are willing to advance a bipartisan deal to reopen the government and vote on an Obamacare subsidies bill.”

“That meeting will determine whether Senate Majority Leader John Thune decides to keep the chamber in session through the weekend. Thune said he’d need to see a path to begin voting within the next couple of days in order to keep senators here; otherwise, he could send everyone home for the weekend and return Monday.”