With government funding negotiations at a standstill, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller explore what may break the deadlock and how long this standoff could last. Then, Brendan and Annalyse welcome Phil Mattingly, CNN's Chief Domestic Correspondent, to the show for a discussion about OMB director Russ Vought’s influence, how the Trump administration is handling the shutdown, and if Congress will reassert its spending authority.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Phil Mattingly, CNN

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

Politico: ‘I don't know why this is so complicated’: Shutdown could drag on for days

Reuters: Another deadline in US shutdown: Will troops get paychecks on October 15?

Politico: House will stay out of session next week as Senate works to solve shutdown

CNN: Trump’s shutdown architect: Russ Vought’s plan to deconstruct the government was years in the making

With funding set to lapse in just hours, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss if a deal can be reached to avoid a government shutdown – and if not, how leaders will get out of one. Then they are joined by Seven Letter partner Mike Ricci, a top adviser to two GOP speakers, for a trip down memory lane as they revisit the 2013 government shutdown. What was the strategy going into and during the fight? When did things start going off the rails? And what lessons does that experience offer Democrats?

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Mike Ricci

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

AP: Congressional leaders leave White House meeting without deal to avoid government shutdown

NYT: How Congressional Leaders Are Positioning Themselves in the Shutdown Fight

Politico: Johnson urges GOP unity as shutdown deadline nears

WaPo: White House begins plan for mass firings if there’s a government shutdown

WaPo: Government shutdowns high on drama, but low on long-term political impact

AP: A look at previous government shutdowns and how they ended

Republicans and Democrats are gearing up for a shutdown and neither side appears ready to blink. Hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by HuffPost senior reporter Igor Bobic to break down the stalemate. They discuss the strange timeline, compare this debate to past shutdown fights, and question Senator Schumer’s endgame. Plus, will the GOP come to regret changing Senate rules? And will Congress conduct oversight of the FCC in the wake of the Jimmy Kimmel situation?

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Igor Bobic, HuffPost

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles Discussed:

Punchbowl: Both sides dig in as shutdown looms

Politico: Tables turn for Democrats as they use shutdown for leverage

Reuters: Democratic leaders in US Congress demand meeting with Trump as government shutdown looms

Politico: Thune mocks Schumer’s shutdown stance: He ‘knows where my office is’

NBC News: Senate Republicans poke holes in the filibuster despite vowing to protect it

HuffPost: GOP Senators Criticize FCC's Threats Against ABC And Jimmy Kimmel

After many close calls, is this the time Congress actually shuts down the government? With just two weeks left until funding runs out, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss the state-of-play. Can Speaker Johnson wrangle enough votes again? Will soaring tensions in the Senate scuttle any deal? They also talk about the murder of Charlie Kirk and its impact on the security needs for Members of Congress. Then, Joel Payne – the Chief Communications Officer at MoveOn – joins the show to offer the Democrat perspective on the shutdown fight and share his advice for the path forward for the party.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Gust: Joel Payne, MoveOn

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

Punchbowl: Congress is barreling toward a shutdown

The Hill: House GOP eyes stopgap into November to avert shutdown

POLITICO: Trump to GOP: Vote yes on the ‘clean’ CR

AP: Schumer warns of a shutdown if Republicans don’t accept Democrats’ health care demands

CNN: White House requests $58 million in security funding from Congress following Kirk assassination

NBC News: Senate Republicans trigger 'nuclear option,' changing rules to speed up Trump nominees

POLITICO: MoveOn demands Schumer and Jeffries ‘hold the line’ on health care in shutdown fight

After an extended summer break, Congress is back in session with one major item on the to-do list: fund the government. Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller debate the odds of a shutdown and the challenging dynamics facing Senate Minority Leader Schumer. They also discuss the latest with the Epstein case and the impending changes to confirming nominees in the Senate. Then, MSNBC’s Ali Vitali – host of “Way Too Early” and Senior Capitol Hill Correspondent – joins the show to offer her insights on Epstein, a potential shutdown, along with other items capturing the attention of Capitol Hill.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Ali Vitali, MSNBC

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

POLITICO: Congress splinters into unlikely factions over looming government shutdown

Punchbowl: 22 days until the shutdown deadline. Republicans need a plan

Breitbart: Exclusive—Senate Majority Leader John Thune: A Nominations Rules Change Is Coming

The Hill: GOP sets out to fulfill Trump’s wishes on crime bill

POLITICO: House Oversight receives Epstein estate files, including 'birthday book'

Six months into the Trump administration and with Congress headed out for a long summer recess, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin to take stock of where we are and where we might be headed. They cover President Trump’s interest – or lack thereof – in Congressional policy debates, the outlook for appropriations and what will be the defining issue of the midterm elections.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Jonathan Martin, POLITICO

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

New York Times: It Was Supposed to Be ‘Crypto Week’ in Congress. Then It Unraveled.

POLITICO: Russ Vought: Appropriations process ‘has to be less bipartisan’

NBC News: Bipartisan government funding is at risk of dying in Trump's Washington

POLITICO: Democrats seek shutdown strategy as White House plots to strip their power

CNN: Johnson shuts door on House vote before September on releasing Epstein files

POLITICO: How the GOP Regulars Won Over Donald Trump

With reconciliation in the rear-view mirror, the countdown is on to the next government funding deadline. But first Congress must deal with a rescissions package that is making the appropriations process even more contentious than usual. To break it all down, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by POLITICO’s Katherine Tully-McManus, a congressional reporter focused on budget and appropriations. Can the Freedom Caucus reassert themselves? What is Minority Leader Schumer’s plan? And how long can Congress continue passing CRs?

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Katherine Tully-McManus, POLITICO

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

NBC News: Trump's push to claw back funding ignites a fight that threatens a government shutdown

Punchbowl: Senate Approps hits pause amid escalating drama

Axios: Schumer draws line in government funding fight

POLITICO: A tough week for Susan Collins

POLITICO: Cole: Hill GOP likely to pursue funding topline above White House request

Axios: House "crypto week" could change how Americans use, save money

The One Big Beautiful Bill is now law, with the Freedom Caucus again at the center of the drama. Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by Matt Fuller, Congressional Bureau Chief at NOTUS and long-time chronicler of the Freedom Caucus, to discuss the group’s history, recent actions and future moves. Plus, reconciliation “Winners and Losers” and a look ahead to appropriations, rescissions, and a potential Reconciliation 2.0.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Matt Fuller, NOTUS

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles Discussed:

Reuters: In July 4 ceremony, Trump signs tax and spending bill into law

Politico: Inside the Freedom Caucus’ final surrender

New York Times: Jeffries Breaks Record in Hourslong Speech Opposing Trump’s Policy Bill

NOTUS: Celsius, All-Nighters and Stalling Votes: Mike Johnson’s Strategy to Get Members to ‘Yes’

Punchbowl: With OBBB in the rearview, here’s what’s next

NOTUS: Senate Turns Its Attention to DOGE Cuts — With the Clock Ticking