Adjectives Yes, Negotiation No
With seven days to go until the new fiscal year begins, our government’s leaders are heavy into adjectives. President Donald Trump said Democrats’ demands for renewing health care subsidies are “ridiculous,” and as long as that’s what they want, conversation won’t be productive. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Trump’s social media post canceling a meeting was “unhinged.”
Trump, the Democratic leaders, and top Republicans on the Hill all are taking stands that show they’re convinced they won’t be the ones to blame if there’s no FY26 appropriation in place on Oct. 1.
The meeting Trump scrapped was supposed to happen tomorrow. Our team will be watching for any signs of movement toward getting that back on track.
Meantime, Jack Fitzpatrick has been looking at the differences between business as usual in the final weeks of the federal fourth quarter and what’s been happening lately. He has found a mixed bag, with some programs rushing to spend money while they still can and others stuck with funding still on hold. Read More
See Also:
- Republicans to Bear Shutdown Blame, Former Top Biden Aide Says
- BGOV OnPoint: Shutdown Chances Rise as Democrats Vow to Meet
Zelenskiy at the UN
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses the United Nations General Assembly this morning, following an extraordinary day in which Trump’s pronouncements on Russia’s invasion took a pivot.
In a social media post, Trump said he believed that Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, was positioned not only to fight back but to reclaim all the territory taken by Russia — and perhaps more. “Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act,” Trump said. " We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them.” He also said that if Russian planes violate the airspace of NATO countries, they should be taken down.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics called for a “show of force” from NATO in response to Russian incursions. “I think the rules of engagement need also to be upgraded in a way that if Russia continues, the opening of fire would be an alternative,” he said in a Bloomberg TV interview.
See Also:
- Trump Denies Climate Change and Twists Facts in UN Speech
- Carney, Zelenskiy Put Stolen Ukraine Children in Focus at UN
- Trump’s Viral UN Escalator Mishap Draws Investigation, Suspicion
Tariff Workaround
The we’re-in-this-together attitude that’s missing in budget talks is alive in farm country. Skye Witley reports that dozens of lawmakers — from both parties — are jointly seeking a workaround to protect agricultural states before new tariffs hurt their constituents.
The idea: add a key component of fertilizer to the US Geological Survey’s critical minerals list, providing tax and permitting incentives.
More than 50 lawmakers have signed a letter asking for the move. It’s to be delivered today to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. Phosphate “has no substitutes in farming, and disruptions in supply have immediate and far-reaching consequences for American producers, food prices, and national security,” lawmakers, led by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), say in the letter. Read More
See Also: EU Makes Fresh Push With US to Revive Talks on Metals Tariffs
Seeking the Blessing
This could get awkward. A Republican who wants the House seat of a fellow Republican is trying to lock up victory by getting the party’s most potent endorsement.
Mica Soellner reports that the White House political team has met with Indiana state Rep. Craig Haggard, who’s preparing to challenge current Rep. Jim Baird. That’s noteworthy because Indiana is one of the states where Trump wants the legislature to change district lines to stack the deck for the GOP, and as a legislator Haggard can show that he’s urging colleagues to do what Trump wants.
It’s also a dynamic to watch because there’s an element of generational conflict: Baird is 80. Trump endorsed Baird for his previous cycles, but it’s early for endorsements in the 2026 races. Read More
See Also:
- Moulton Readies Primary Challenge Against Markey in Massachusetts (New York Times)
- Democrats Should Put Talent Over Age, Says Top Party Consultant
Before You Go
Kimmel’s Return: Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel took a conciliatory tone in his return to TV, choking up at several points and saying “it was never my intention to make light of the death” of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel was also critical of FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who last week asked local stations to push back against Disney and pull his show off the air. Read More
Coming Soon: As expected, Democrat Adelita Grijalva won the Arizona special election to fill out the rest of her late father’s expired term. When she’s sworn into office the House will have 219 Republicans and 214 Democrats, giving Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) less room to maneuver around GOP defections or absences. Read More
H-1B Fallout: A state attorney general says Trump’s new $100,000 application fee for the skilled-worker visas creates “uncertainty and unpredictability” for businesses. In an interview with Bloomberg News, California’s Rob Bonta (D) said “we will assess whether there’s a legal violation. If it’s a policy that we don’t agree with but it’s legally sound, we won’t challenge it. If it’s unlawful, we will.” Read More
See Also: Trump’s New H-1B Fee Sparks Confusion Among Employers, Attorneys
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