Gallup: “Forty-three percent of Americans think the current Supreme Court is too conservative. Though that proportion is not meaningfully different from 2022-2024 readings, it is the highest Gallup has measured by one percentage point.”
“The remainder of Americans are more inclined to say the court is ‘about right’ (36%) rather than ‘too liberal’ (17%).”
“Federal employees who would be affected by a government shutdown got a memo Tuesday informing them of possible furloughs, along with a partisan accusation that Democrats in Congress were to blame,” NBC News reports.
“Republicans might be united on the public stage as they face off with Democrats ahead of a government shutdown. But a much more divisive internal fight waits in the wings,” Politico reports.
“The year-end expiration of health insurance subsidies first created under the Affordable Care Act is already splitting the GOP, seeming to vindicate Democrats’ decision to predicate their shutdown messaging on extending the tax credits.”
“Republican leaders have been trying to punt the issue as they work to force Democratic senators to swallow a seven-week stopgap measure ahead of the midnight deadline, insisting they will not broach the subject while agencies are closed.”
“But top Democrats said they heard a different message Monday in their Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump, leaving the sitdown convinced he’s willing to negotiate on the expiring tax credits in the weeks ahead.”
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“Someone who says ‘I’m against abortion’, but is in favor of the death penalty, is not really pro-life. Someone who says ‘I’m against abortion, but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants who are in the United States’, I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”
— Pope Leo, quoted by the Catholic News Service.
“The last time Senate Democrats found themselves taking the blame for a government shutdown, they quickly caved and raced to reopen federal agencies in 2018, as their more moderate members demanded a fast resolution after only three days,” the New York Times reports.
“This shutdown could be different.”
“The Democrats from red states who decried the shutdown strategy as a foolish miscalculation and pressed for an immediate reversal in the showdown with President Trump seven years ago are long gone.”
Punchbowl News: “We’ll reiterate that such shutdowns are harmful, counter-productive and a major detriment to the country. The party looking to force a policy change via a shutdown rarely gets what it wants…”
“One of the most important factors to look at during a shutdown isn’t just how you get into one, but how you plan to get out. And that’s where we want to focus this morning — what to expect next, and what might shift the incentives or momentum in this process.”
“Schumer has been able to maintain his hardline posture largely because he’s gotten continued backing from moderates in his caucus, as well as retiring Democrats. That unity has bolstered Schumer’s position.”
“But with two new Democratic defections, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is betting that pressure will continue to build on those moderates to cave the longer the shutdown drags on.”
Politico: “There’s no sign right now anything will change by this weekend.”
“A lot of good can come down from shutdowns. We can get rid of a lot of things that we didn’t want. They’d be Democrat things.”
— President Trump, quoted by Politico.
Punchbowl News: “Roughly 750,000 federal employees will be placed on furlough. “Essential employees,” including active-duty military members, will be required to work despite not getting paid. Trump and OMB Director Russ Vought have threatened mass layoffs of federal workers during a shutdown or program cutbacks.”
“The Senate may vote Wednesday on competing Democratic and GOP proposals to reopen the government, but neither plan is expected to pass. Both sides are deeply entrenched right now, and this shutdown could potentially drag on for days or weeks.”
“President Donald Trump took a victory lap after his latest shakedown of a big tech company, sharing a meme showing an embarrassed YouTube exec handing over a giant-size check for $24.5 million to the president,” Variety reports.
“The Pentagon on Tuesday night informed members of the press that it is delaying enforcement of its restrictive new rules,” Status reports.
“The Trump administration will keep most national parks open to the public if the government shuts down Wednesday,“ Politico reports.
“With congressional leaders still gridlocked on a deal to fund the government ahead of a midnight deadline, most of the National Park Service’s roughly 16,000 full-time employees are expected to be placed on furlough starting Wednesday. But the Trump administration would tap recreation fees to pay for skeleton crews of staff at many sites, said the two people who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the plan.”
Trump-appointed U.S. attorney Sigal Chattah has been disqualified after a federal judge ruled her appointment invalid.
Tom Nichols: “American officers have never had to contend with a president like Trump. Plenty of presidents behaved badly and suffered mental and emotional setbacks: John F. Kennedy cavorted with secretaries in the White House pool, Lyndon Johnson unleashed foul-mouthed tirades on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Richard Nixon fell into depression and paranoia, Ronald Reagan and Joe Biden wrestled with the indignities of age.”
“But the officer corps knew that presidents were basically normal men surrounded by other normal men and women, and that the American constitutional system would insulate the military from any mad orders that might emerge from the Oval Office.”
“Likewise, in Trump’s first term, the president was surrounded by people who ensured that some of his nuttiest—and most dangerous—ideas were derailed before they could reach the military. Today, senior U.S. officers have to wonder who will shield them from the impulses of the person they just saw onstage.”
Senate Democrats refused to advance the House-passed funding bill, effectively ensuring the federal government will shut down at midnight.
The vote was 55 to 45 and needed 60 votes to pass.
Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Angus King (I-ME) joined all Republicans except Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) in voting in favor.
President Trump said his administration has reached a tentative deal with Harvard University, the Ivy League school that’s been embroiled in a bitter feud with the White House, Politico reports.
Said Trump: “We reached a deal with Harvard today.”
The president initially said all that was left was for Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “paper it out,” but later said McMahon “is finishing up the final details” and he thinks the administration has “a good chance of getting that closed.”
The deal could include Harvard paying $500 million, operating trade schools, teaching artificial intelligence and other unspecified actions.
The White House has sent paperwork to the Senate to withdraw the nomination of E.J. Antoni as head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CNN reports.
A new Fox News survey in New Jersey finds Mikie Sherrill (D) ahead of Jack Ciattarelli (R) in the governor’s race, 50% to 42% among likely voters.
“Senate Democrats encouraged each other to dig in and stand up to President Trump on government funding during a private caucus meeting Tuesday,” Axios reports.
“A government shutdown is just hours away without a compromise from lawmakers — and Democratic resolve is only strengthening.”
“The meeting of Senate Democrats on Tuesday was described by multiple sources as a motivational one, with lawmakers encouraging each other to hold their ground against the administration.”
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.
Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.
Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.
Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.
Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.
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