Congress Leaves Town as Shutdown Continues

Politico: “With no headway made over funding President Trump’s border wall, Republican and Democratic leaders have begun to take seriously the president’s threat to declare a national emergency to bypass Congress and secure billions of dollars for a border barrier. No bipartisan talks are scheduled, and the president and Democratic leaders have not budged an inch from their position in three weeks.”

“Trump’s executive action, which could be announced as early as Friday, would set off a scramble of legal action by House Democrats. Republicans are divided over whether to restrain the president: Some believe it would claw away power from Congress, but others think it will be an elegant way out of the shutdown.”

Playbook: “Congress will need an action-forcing event to get the government open. There are zero negotiations going on at the moment.”