After many close calls, is this the time Congress actually shuts down the government? With just two weeks left until funding runs out, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss the state-of-play. Can Speaker Johnson wrangle enough votes again? Will soaring tensions in the Senate scuttle any deal? They also talk about the murder of Charlie Kirk and its impact on the security needs for Members of Congress. Then, Joel Payne – the Chief Communications Officer at MoveOn – joins the show to offer the Democrat perspective on the shutdown fight and share his advice for the path forward for the party.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Gust: Joel Payne, MoveOn

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

Punchbowl: Congress is barreling toward a shutdown

The Hill: House GOP eyes stopgap into November to avert shutdown

POLITICO: Trump to GOP: Vote yes on the ‘clean’ CR

AP: Schumer warns of a shutdown if Republicans don’t accept Democrats’ health care demands

CNN: White House requests $58 million in security funding from Congress following Kirk assassination

NBC News: Senate Republicans trigger 'nuclear option,' changing rules to speed up Trump nominees

POLITICO: MoveOn demands Schumer and Jeffries ‘hold the line’ on health care in shutdown fight

After an extended summer break, Congress is back in session with one major item on the to-do list: fund the government. Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller debate the odds of a shutdown and the challenging dynamics facing Senate Minority Leader Schumer. They also discuss the latest with the Epstein case and the impending changes to confirming nominees in the Senate. Then, MSNBC’s Ali Vitali – host of “Way Too Early” and Senior Capitol Hill Correspondent – joins the show to offer her insights on Epstein, a potential shutdown, along with other items capturing the attention of Capitol Hill.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Ali Vitali, MSNBC

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

POLITICO: Congress splinters into unlikely factions over looming government shutdown

Punchbowl: 22 days until the shutdown deadline. Republicans need a plan

Breitbart: Exclusive—Senate Majority Leader John Thune: A Nominations Rules Change Is Coming

The Hill: GOP sets out to fulfill Trump’s wishes on crime bill

POLITICO: House Oversight receives Epstein estate files, including 'birthday book'

Six months into the Trump administration and with Congress headed out for a long summer recess, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin to take stock of where we are and where we might be headed. They cover President Trump’s interest – or lack thereof – in Congressional policy debates, the outlook for appropriations and what will be the defining issue of the midterm elections.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Jonathan Martin, POLITICO

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

New York Times: It Was Supposed to Be ‘Crypto Week’ in Congress. Then It Unraveled.

POLITICO: Russ Vought: Appropriations process ‘has to be less bipartisan’

NBC News: Bipartisan government funding is at risk of dying in Trump's Washington

POLITICO: Democrats seek shutdown strategy as White House plots to strip their power

CNN: Johnson shuts door on House vote before September on releasing Epstein files

POLITICO: How the GOP Regulars Won Over Donald Trump