Bipartisan Deal Collapse and Government Shutdown Risk

A negotiated bipartisan deal to fund the government collapsed dramatically, putting a shutdown at risk. The deal was intended to provide funding until mid-March and included disaster aid, but many conservatives opposed it due to additional provisions that they viewed as favorable to Democrats. Notably, Speaker Mike Johnson's effort to secure the deal was undermined when Elon Musk, a key influencer, publicly opposed it, rallying resistance from House Republicans. This shift led to a chaotic political environment, demonstrating how external figures can dramatically impact legislative outcomes even before Trump's inauguration.