Spin Cycle: Will They Or Won’t They (Shut Everything Down)?

As a government shutdown looms in the very near future, the topic at the forefront of discussions across the Sunday morning political talk shows was funding the government: who is holding the most leverage, who — if anyone — is willing to budge, and what will happen if they can’t come to an agreement?

For those who don’t spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television — and their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week’s worth of network and cable news media spin — The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of what you may have missed.

After previously canceling a meeting with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — and declaring their demands for a potential deal to be “ridiculous,” Trump has reportedly agreed to a rescheduled meeting to discuss plans to avoid a shutdown. Republicans and Democrats alike addressed what such a deal might look like — and thus far, a consensus it is not.

Jeffries, for example, told ABC News host Martha Raddatz on “This Week” that he was willing to sit down with anyone who was interested in finding a path forward to funding the government.

“We’ve made clear that we’re ready, willing, and able to sit down with anyone at any time and at any place in order to make sure that we can actually fund the government,” he said.

“We’ve made clear that we’re ready, willing, and able to sit down with anyone at any time and at any place in order to make sure that we can actually fund the government,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tells @MarthaRaddatz. https://t.co/CyT5lxgzMc pic.twitter.com/tWvRtrkObC

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 28, 2025

But in the same interview, he badmouthed the people he claimed to be ready to work with, saying they’d “behaved not as a separate and co-equal branch of government and a check and balance on an out-of-control executive branch, but as a consistent rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s extreme agenda.”

Republicans have “behaved not as a separate and co-equal branch of government and a check and balance on an out-of-control executive branch, but as a consistent rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s extreme agenda,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says. https://t.co/OKY7B0xDem pic.twitter.com/FrrprqmxbC

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 28, 2025

And then he flipped back, saying once again that he wanted to work with the Republicans he’d just referred to as “rubber stamps” for an “extreme agenda.”

“We want to find a bipartisan path forward and reach a spending agreement with our Republican colleagues that actually meets the needs of the American people, but that also addresses the Republican health care crisis,” he said.

“We want to find a bipartisan path forward and reach a spending agreement with our Republican colleagues that actually meets the needs of the American people, but that also addresses the Republican health care crisis,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries says. https://t.co/OKY7B0xDem pic.twitter.com/IOdlC4TrET

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 28, 2025

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) made it clear that he believed Republicans — who hold a slim majority — had the advantage and did not plan to make unnecessary concessions.

“I’m glad that President Trump is showing leadership in meeting with all leaders … But ultimately, those Democrats have to make a decision,” he told Raddatz, adding that he still believed there was time for them to reach a deal.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise says “there’s still time” to fund the government and avoid a shutdown.

“I’m glad that President Trump is showing leadership in meeting with all leaders … But ultimately, those Democrats have to make a decision.” https://t.co/VVmgI0y1x3 pic.twitter.com/0hmyU6JT1Y

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 28, 2025

On CBS, “Face the Nation” opened with a statement from President Trump — who said that unless Democrats are willing to move on several key issues, the government is likely to shut down.

“I just don’t know how we are going to solve this issue,” he said.

NEW THIS MORNING: President Trump tells @costareports the government is likely to shut down this week unless top Democrats address his concerns on immigration and health care, and says both parties are now at a stalemate.

“I just don’t know how we are going to solve this issue,”… pic.twitter.com/VdLXd7Qxl0

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) September 28, 2025

On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) made it clear that Republicans did not plan to give an inch — and that Democrats were just going to have to come around.

“The choice remains the same: Democrats can either vote for a clean, short-term, nonpartisan CR that prioritizes the American people, or they can choose a completely avoidable shutdown that prioritizes politics above all else,” he said.

The choice remains the same: Democrats can either vote for a clean, short-term, nonpartisan CR that prioritizes the American people, or they can choose a completely avoidable shutdown that prioritizes politics above all else. pic.twitter.com/ESOndRHAO9

— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) September 28, 2025

Schumer, who has apparently learned his lesson after he worked with Republicans to avert the last potential government shutdown, also appeared on the NBC Sunday morning show and insisted that Republicans were “feeling the heat” and would soon give in to Democrats’ demands.

Republican Senators, Representatives, and even Donald Trump are feeling the heat to do something about the horrible health care crisis they’ve created. pic.twitter.com/20SG3sKiX1

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 28, 2025

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined host Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union,” where he called on members of his party to “hold the line.”

Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen calls on his party to “hold the line” in government funding fight. pic.twitter.com/0nn9wg5v7w

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) September 28, 2025

Van Hollen, who made a name for himself when he left his own constituents twisting in the wind while he flew to El Salvador to advocate for a deported MS-13 gang member, then snarked at President Trump and suggested he’d previously refused to meet with congressional leaders because he was too busy golfing.

“It’s good to see the president finally get off the golf course and decide to talk,” he said.

Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen on Trump’s meeting with Democratic leaders ahead of shutdown deadline: “It’s good to see the president finally get off the golf course and decide to talk.” pic.twitter.com/gjjckTkaZa

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) September 28, 2025

Trump explained days earlier that he’d called off a planned meeting because the demands put forth by the Democrats at the time had been unrealistic.