BORDER/CONGRESS/DEMS/GOVERNMENT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WALL: “The partial government shutdown entered its fifth day Wednesday [12-26-18] with no signs of a breakthrough and hundreds of thousands of federal workers about to feel the pinch of a protracted standoff. President Donald Trump and Democratic congressional leaders aren’t currently negotiating directly, according to GOP and Democratic aides. Staff-level discussions are continuing, but there’s no indication that key players are ready to reach an accord…Despite the bombastic language from Trump — there is no evidence terrorists are entering the United States via the southern border with Mexico — congressional leaders from both parties fear that if a deal isn’t struck soon, the stalemate could easily drag on into mid-January. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is set to become speaker when Democrats take over the chamber on Jan. 3. On the House side, leadership sources continue to argue that the onus is on the Senate to find a path forward. There were no calls or meetings between House GOP and Democratic leaders scheduled Wednesday.”
–John Bresnahan and Rachael Bade, “Federal workforce starts to feel pinch of prolonged shutdown,” Politico, December 26, 2018 3:55 pm