Republicans at Trump’s Mercy on Border Wall

Politico: “Senate GOP leaders have discussed with the president the possibility of providing Trump with $5 billion in guaranteed money for the wall but spread over two years, according to two Republicans familiar with internal discussions. Trump has not ruled out the idea, according to a Republican senator, but it’s unclear whether Democrats will go along with that minor concession.”

“There’s still no clear way out of a bipartisan jam: Republicans promised Trump that they would fight for his wall money after the election. And Democrats say they already have a deal on $1.6 billion in border security, far less than the $5 billion preferred by the president and his allies in Congress.”

Playbook: “Republicans truly believe that Democrats will support legislation that includes wall money because they don’t want to have to deal with a funding crisis next year. Many of the Democrats we speak to are skeptical of that — especially in the House — but this all has to be resolved over the next few days.”