Speaker Mike Johnson tells us "I hope (the CR) can pass... we've got forward progress." But when asked what happens if and when the bill fails, Johnson says: "I'm not having alternative conversations. That's the play."

McConnell says it would be “beyond stupid” to shut the government down ahead of the election “We’d certainly get the blame”

Vice President Harris called former President Trump this afternoon to speak with him directly to express that she is grateful he is safe, according to a White House official. “It was a cordial and brief conversation.”

McConnell says he’s “certainly open to” more funding for Secret Service as part of the CR

NEW: Senate Republicans just killed a bill that mirrors Trump’s proposal for universal IVF access. It got 51 votes on the floor. It needed 60.

All I’m saying is we have a story coming tomorrow on the trouble Mike Johnson is facing — with lots of exclusive reporting and member quotes — and if you’d like it delivered to your inbox (along with a bunch of other smart insights), you can sign up for our newsletter for free.

Important storyline: Senators open to approving defense deal with Saudi Arabia — but needs 67 votes Sen. Young: it could “conceivably commit the United States to war in the future. And that most certainly would have to come before the United States Senate for ratification”

Told the Speaker doubled down on CR w/ SAVE Act Comes as a lot of Rs want to know what the Plan B is, with the belief it will fail on the floor today

Durbin told me just now he's hoping Dems and Republicans can come to an agreement to confirm a package of judicial nominees after the election recess Hopes there will also be a lame duck session for such (he notes both of these things happened under Trump)

Wow: “For the first time in decades, public health data shows a sudden and hopeful drop in drug overdose deaths across the U.S.” Via Brian Mann npr.org/2024/09/18/nx-…

Gillibrand confirming my reporting last night, telling Kevin Frey she has offered to take on the DSCC role next year:

BREAKING: *FED LOWERS BENCHMARK RATE 50 BPS TO 4.75%-5.0% TARGET RANGE bloomberg.com/news/live-blog…

JUST IN: Federal Reserve cuts interest rates 50 bps, the first rate cut since 2020. The new interest rate target is 4.75 to 5%. —>The “dot plot” signals interest rate down to 4.25 to 4.5% by the end of the year (2 add'l cuts likely) Vote today was 11 in favor and 1 against

Teamsters members went from supporting a Biden endorsement by 8 points before the Harris swap, to now supporting Trump by 25.

The Teamsters will NOT endorse a candidate for president. It's a blow to Harris, who recently met with the union. According to the union, a review of 6 months of polling of its members found " no definitive support among members for either party’s nominee."

Trump presses for a shutdown: "If Republicans don’t get the SAVE Act, and every ounce of it, they should not agree to a Continuing Resolution in any way, shape, or form."

The Kids Online Safety Act is approved by a House committee .... but the top Dem on committee and lead Dem on the bill both voiced major issues and said they would vote against it on floor. Bill moved via voice vote, so hard to say exactly what yay-nay split was.

Zelensky coming to Washington next week —

For those wondering, Tillis is not here today/hasn't been here this week (Senators miss votes for many reasons!)

Just hit 218. Second successful discharge petition in the 118th Congress.