Rep. Greg Casar, leader of the Progressive Caucus, says Trump will own the shutdown as long as Democrats don't put up "a fake fight"

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader John Thune is rejecting Democratic demands on health care as unserious but says a government shutdown is still “avoidable” despite sharp divisions ahead of Wednesday’s funding deadline.

WASHINGTON — With a government funding deadline looming, the biggest sin in the eyes of the party’s base, according to Democratic officials and activists, would not be losing to President Donald Trump in a shutdown battle. It would be refusing to fight.

A memo from the White House budget office telling federal agencies to prepare plans for mass firings should the government shut down signaled a dramatic escalation in a funding staredown with fewer potential off-ramps as next week’s deadline nears.

President Trump is out of town and key lawmakers are not talking as the deadline for a shutdown approaches on Oct. 1.

Iowa Republicans say Democrats shouldn't play politics in shutdown talks as Democrats urge the extension of ACA subsidies in a government funding deal

House Republicans passed H.R. 5371 to prevent a government shutdown, urging Senate Democrats to negotiate and avoid fiscal disruption, with tensions high between the parties.

It comes just days after Musk had a face-to-face conversation with Trump at Charlie Kirk's memorial.

Democrats and Republicans are pointing at each other. A veteran GOP strategists suggests that its not as simple as that.