'Big Four' head to White House

🏞️ Plus: What will close in a shutdown?

12:30 REPORT 12:30 REPORT Monday, September 29 | By Cate Martel Today in DC: ☁️ 78°  View Online  |  Sign up It's Monday. Happy National Coffee Day to all who celebrate! ☕ Keep reading for a list of the places you can get a free coffee today to celebrate. In today's issue: 'Big Four' head to White House What will close in a shutdown? Netanyahu's delicate Trump visit Trump wants birthright citizenship review Super Bowl halftime show announced ⏱️ SHUTDOWN WATCH T-minus 36 hours:  Greg Nash, The Hill Government shutdown week is officially upon us. The federal government will run out of money at the end of the day Tuesday — and congressional leaders appear far apart on a plan to avert a funding lapse. President Trump is meeting at 3 p.m. with the top congressional leaders, known as the "Big Four": Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). The dynamic between Trump and Schumer will be especially important to watch, as Senate Democrats can decide whether to back the GOP's current "clean" funding push or force a shutdown. This is Trump's first meeting with the "Big Four" since returning to office in January. It's also his first sit-down with Jeffries, whose caucus has fiercely opposed his administration's agenda. How this meeting came about: Schumer called Senate Republican Leader John Thune (S.D.) on Friday and asked for him to request a meeting with Trump. Republicans and Democrats are lightyears apart: Republicans want a basic funding extension through Nov. 21 with no bells or whistles. Democrats want some additional measures to be included — extending ObamaCare subsidies, a restriction so Trump can't undo current spending and rolling back Medicaid cuts. What's the biggest sticking point?: The health care subsidies. Republican and Democratic leaders appeared on various Sunday shows, digging in on the issue. 💬 Follow today's live blog ➤ THE LATEST — WHAT THE PLAYERS ARE SAYING: Jeffries: CNN's Manu Raju asked Jeffries whether he would support a clean funding extension as long as he gets assurances on ObamaCare tax credits. The House Democratic leader essentially said no. "Our position in the spending bill that has been introduced by House and Senate Democrats, is a permanent extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits," Jeffries said. "Enough with the games that Republicans have been playing." Schumer: The Senate Democratic leader called for "real" negotiations Sunday. White House: "There is nothing to negotiate when you have a clean CR [continuing resolution]," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday morning. She also reiterated the White House's plans for government layoffs if there's a shutdown. ➤ LOGISTICS OF A SHUTDOWN: A shutdown would affect every agency, but many government functions and payments deemed essential would continue. 🟩 Social Security: Social Security benefits and veterans' disability would still be paid. 🟩 Health care: Medicare and Medicaid benefits would continue. Though, there could be a delay in customer service. 🟨 Food assistance: Food assistance programs would continue initially but could be at risk if a shutdown is lengthy. 🟥 National parks: These would likely close. A 2024 National Park Service contingency plan states "most sites will be closed" during a shutdown. We haven't seen guidance for this potential shutdown, though. 🟥 Museums: Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo would be closed. 🟨 Federal workers: Federal workers who are deemed essential will continue to work. They're guaranteed back pay when the government reopens. Everyone else will be furloughed, though the Trump administration is considering permanently firing some furloughed workers. 🟩 Mail: The U.S. Postal Service will not be interrupted. 🟥 Economic data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics would close during a shutdown, stopping key economic data from being produced. That could prevent Friday's highly anticipated September jobs report. Read more from The Hill's Emily Brooks ➤ SOME DEMS THINK A SHUTDOWN IS NECESSARY TO SEND A MESSAGE: The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports that Senate Democrats are frustrated and see a government shutdown as a good way to push back against the Trump administration and "buck up their own demoralized voters." Read Bolton's reporting: 'Democrats dig in for shutdown to buck up demoralized voters' 🎤 IN THE WHITE HOUSE Bibi at the White House: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is back at the White House today, meeting with President Trump. Timing: There are several new proposals that could end the war in Gaza. The New York Times published a helpful explainer on the plans. Related read, via The Washington Post: 'Tony Blair has never quit the Middle East. Now, he could run Gaza.' Israel is at a particularly sensitive moment: "Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies. At home, Netanyahu's governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. And the White House is showing signs of impatience." (AP) Happening at 1:15 p.m.: Trump and Netanyahu are scheduled to hold a joint press conference. 💻 Watch it live Trump wants a 14th Amendment review: The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to weigh in on the constitutionality of birthright citizenship. The move comes after the conservative-majority court earlier this year ruled on the legality of judges to issuing universal injunctions, without weighing in on the constitutionality of birthright citizenship itself. Read Zach Schonfeld's explainer in The Hill Renewed threat to tariff foreign films: Trump announced today he is imposing a 100 percent tariff on movies made outside the U.S., renewing a threat he previously made in May. The president posted on Truth Social: "Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing 'candy from a baby.'" 🔎 Read Trump's full post ^ Yes, but: It's unclear how a foreign movie tariff would work. How would the administration calculate the value of a film? And how would this apply to movies only partially filmed overseas? The president also said he would place "substantial tariffs" on imported furniture, but didn't provide details. 📰 OTHER NEWS Trump's next target — Christopher Wray: In a phone interview with NBC News on Sunday, President Trump said he would "certainly imagine" his Justice Department should investigate former FBI Director Christopher Wray. "I think it's very inappropriate what he, what he did. And I think a lot of his service was very inappropriate. But we haven't gone beyond that," Trump said. Timing: This comes several days after a federal prosecutor chosen by Trump brought a case against former FBI Direct James Comey. Trump has long clashed with both Comey, whom he fired in 2017, and Wray, who resigned as FBI chief ahead of Trump's push to remove him. Other highlights from Trump's phone interview QUICK HITS: — Tropical Storm Imelda is expected to veer offshore by Tuesday. But both Imelda and Hurricane Humberto are expected to cause coastal flooding and rip currents along the East Coast, according to The Weather Channel. — Four people died at a church shooting in Michigan. Authorities say the suspect was a 40-year-old Marine who served in Iraq. — Roughly 58 million pounds of corn dogs and sausages-on-a-stick are being recalled in the U.S. because wood pieces may be in the batter. MORE READS: The Wall Street Journal: FEMA Is Paralyzed. Disaster-Torn Communities Are Paying the Price. The Atlantic: Trump's Politicized Prosecutions May Hit a Roadblock COMING UP The House is out. The Senate is in. President Trump is at the White House. (All times EST) 1:15 p.m. Trump holds a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 💻 Livestream 3 p.m. Trump meets with congressional leaders. 3 p.m. The Senate meets. 5:30 p.m. Trump participates in a Gold Star families reception. 5:30 p.m. The Senate holds a cloture vote. Two more votes are possible later this evening. 🐝 INTERNET BUZZ ☕ Celebrate: Today is National Coffee Day! NBC's "Today" show pulled together a list of 49 coffee deals so you can properly celebrate.   🍟 Monopoly is back!: McDonald's is bringing back Monopoly! Game pieces will appear on some food items, but the game will be more digital this time.   🏈 Bad Bunny got the gig: Latin superstar Bad Bunny will perform the next Super Bowl halftime show.   🎤 Bruce's surprise performance: Bruce Springsteen gave a surprise performance in New York at the premiere of his biopic. 👋 AND FINALLY… Just to make sure I'm leaving you with a smile, watch this dog enjoy a late-summer ear of corn.  Stay Engaged  I love hearing from you — send your feedback, tips and favorite cookie recipes 🍪 to cmartel@thehill.com. Check out more newsletters here. See you next time! Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe |  View Online  | Sign Up for Other Newsletters 400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 © 1998 - 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.