Where the Shutdown Stands

Punchbowl News: “There are some informal bipartisan talks centering around Democrats’ chief demand: an extension of the Obamacare enhanced premium tax credits. We took you inside that big bipartisan Senate floor huddle in Wednesday’s Midday edition.”

“But they’re just that — talks. Party leaders aren’t directly involved. There’s no Senate ‘gang’ to break the deadlock. And the fundamentals of the showdown haven’t changed.”

“Democrats say they can’t trust Republicans and the White House to clinch a bipartisan deal on Obamacare subsidies without a forcing mechanism. Republicans maintain that negotiations can’t take place until the government is reopened. Even then, getting Hill Republicans on board with an Obamacare deal would be a major challenge, with conservatives opposing any extension. Which brings us back to square one — Democrats’ desire for a guarantee that Thune simply can’t give them.”