Punchbowl News: “Even as party leaders and Trump refuse to meet with each other on ending the standoff, rank-and-file senators on both sides are talking, focusing on finding some agreement on FY2026 spending bills. The hope is that an agreement on spending can help unlock the shutdown.”
“Those bipartisan talks continued over the weekend, and there’s some optimism about getting to a resolution.”
“However, Trump and the GOP leaders are showing no signs of caving on extending the expiring Obamacare premium subsidies. Schumer and Jeffries continue to demand an extension as part of any deal to reopen the government. So the standoff grinds on. Open enrollment began on Saturday.”

