Former Vice President Kamala Harris urged Democrats not to back down in the government shutdown fight, Politico reports.

Said Harris: “Republicans run the Senate. They run the House, and they run the White House…stand firm as the Republicans shut down the government… Because it won’t be the Democrats, it will be the Republicans.”

Punchbowl News: “In 2013, Republicans shut down the government to repeal Obamacare. In 2018, Republicans shut down the government to try to get money for Trump’s border wall, even though Trump was president.”

“Both efforts failed. Shutdowns rarely work as a negotiating ploy.”

“Republicans have the luxury of a simple message this time: We’re willing to negotiate, but not with the threat of a government shutdown hanging over us. It’s the same message Democrats have employed successfully in past showdowns.”

“By contrast, Democrats have a lot of demands.”

“Even though the House Republican leadership is making what we think is a bone-headed move by keeping the chamber out of session while federal agencies run out of money, the straightforwardness of the GOP’s message is useful.”

Playbook: “The GOP is supremely confident that given the Democrats are the party rejecting a clean, short-term funding bill, they will ultimately be blamed by the public.”

“Vice President JD Vance said he believes the US government is on track to shut down, seeking to pin the blame on Democrats one day before federal funding is set to lapse,” Bloomberg reports.

Said Vance: “I think we’re headed into a shutdown because the Democrats won’t do the right thing. I hope they change their mind, but we’re going to see.”

“Democrats inside and outside of Congress erupted in fury over a proposal circulated among Senate Democrats to reopen the government for seven to 10 days if a shutdown happens,” Axios reports.

“It is an early glimpse at the kind of intense public backlash the Senate Democrats risk from the rest of their party, especially their base, if they do anything short of allowing a government shutdown.”

I spoke to Julie Mason on her fantastic radio show about this week’s likely government shutdown.