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Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer had two choices as the clock ticked down to the government funding deadline: drop his threat to block the Republican bill or force a disruptive March 15 shutdown. 

The New York lawmaker ultimately opted for the path of least resistance Thursday after a day of contentious meetings among minority Democrats, who had hoped to use their limited leverage on a spending package to include some restraints on Elon Musk’s DOGE’s cost-cutting crusade.

Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with:

• Bloomberg Government Congress Reporter Jack Fitzpatrick as the Senate readies a vote on a stopgap spending deal to avoid a government shutdown.
• Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis of New York about the work in the upper chamber and negotiations with the Senate on a new tax bill.
• Bloomberg Politics Contributors Rick Davis and Jeanne Sheehan Zaino as Senator Chuck Schumer says he will now vote in favorite of the Republican-backed continuing resolution.
• Former US Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison about the push for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
• Democratic Strategist Kevin Walling and Republican Strategist Alex Stroman about the state of both political parties and finding common ground across the aisle.

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