The Powers That Be: Daily Washington’s September Scaries
Sep 3, 2025
Abby Livingston, a savvy partner at Best and the Brightest, joins Leigh Ann Caldwell to dissect the charged political atmosphere in Washington. They dive into the looming government funding deadline and the potential ramifications of Iowa Senator Joni Ernst's retirement for the GOP. The duo also navigates the shifting landscape ahead of the midterms, including gerrymandering's impact on Democrats and the rise of a possible Democratic wave that could reshape the electoral map. It's a rollercoaster of political insights you won't want to miss!
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September Dread Is Unusually Intense
- Abby Livingston says the dread for this September is more intense than any other September she's covered.
- She links rising dread to escalating shutdown risk and growing exhaustion among Hill staffers.
Multiple High-Stakes Deadlines Converge
- Congress faces a compressed agenda including funding, rescissions, Fed fights, Farm Bill, and the NDAA before end of year deadlines.
- The pocket rescission adds a new escalation because funds automatically rescind if Congress doesn't act.
Eroding Trust Raises Shutdown Stakes
- Abby says a shutdown is the primary worry but other fights erode trust needed for bargain-making.
- She warns both parties are preemptively assigning blame, making compromise harder.