“Long before Republicans and Democrats reached the stalemate that has shut down the government, President Trump made it clear that he was willing to ignore Congress’s constitutional power to allocate federal spending,” the New York Times reports.

“So as the shutdown enters its third week with no resolution in sight, it has become increasingly evident to lawmakers in both parties that one serious obstacle to striking a spending deal to reopen the government is the possibility — maybe even certainty — that Mr. Trump will simply turn around and ignore it, as he has repeatedly ignored Congress’s will on spending this year.”

“The White House’s political operation is telling congressional Republicans to hold firm on the government shutdown, citing internal and external polling that show Democrats’ numbers are eroding,” Axios reports.

“Since the shutdown started Oct. 1, Democrats have boasted that public opinion is on their side. But the trend line appears to be shifting, according to internal White House polling data.”

Said one White House aide: “Democrats are taking on water. And we have a higher pain tolerance.”

A new AP-NORC poll shows fairly similar proportions of Americans placing significant onus for the shutdown on Donald Trump at 58%, congressional Republicans at 58% and congressional Democrats at 54%.