BUDGET/DEMS/GOP/SENATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Congress and the White House are moving toward an ambitious budget deal, but the big question still remains: What will President Donald Trump do? Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican senators are pushing Trump to accept an agreement with Democrats that would avoid stiff budget cuts, steer clear of a potential default and provide a huge measure of certainty through the presidential campaign. Trump has been warm to the proposal as it’s taken shape, according to multiple senators who have spoken with him in recent days. But GOP backers of a deal fear a last-ditch push from hard-line conservatives inside the administration and Congress to reject any bipartisan compromise. So as Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin close in on a deal that would keep shutdowns and credit scares off the table, Senate Republicans aren’t taking any chances — particularly after the longest shutdown in U.S. history occurred just six months ago.”
–Burgess Everett, John Bresnahan and Gabby Orr, “Senate Republicans pray Trump will take budget deal,” Politico, July 18, 2019 5:03 am