Punchbowl News: “It’s clear that Schumer has dramatically improved his standing within his caucus, especially after the March funding debacle. No Senate Democrats are publicly criticizing him. Plus, Democrats have elevated health care as a central issue for the 2026 midterms, an issue they feel exceedingly comfortable focusing on.”

“At the same time, some Democratic senators are anxious over the fact that there appears to be no clear escape hatch from this three-week-long shutdown. But in many ways, that’s not the point. Schumer deliberately hasn’t spelled out an endgame for Democrats, even in private. Instead, he’s letting the daily shutdown impacts plus public sentiment drive him, said sources close to the New York Democrat.”

“Sen. Jeff Merkley yielded the Senate floor after more than 22 hours Wednesday, capping off an overnight protest against the Trump administration,” Politico reports.

“The speech surpassed his previous record of holding the Senate floor for more than 15 hours during the first Trump administration. It also surpassed the marathon speech delivered by fellow Oregonian Wayne Morse in 1953 and is now the third longest in the chamber’s history.”

“Senate Majority Leader John Thune met with a group of GOP senators on Wednesday as Republicans quietly discuss possible paths forward on health care once the government reopens,” Politico reports.

“The group met to talk about ideas including what to do about soon-to-expire Affordable Care Act subsidies — the centerpiece of Democrats’ demands amid the three-week shutdown.”