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Trump budget chief predicts deal soon

Mick Mulvaney. Photo: Mark Wilson / Getty Images

Mick Mulvaney, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, told reporters on Friday evening that there's "a really good chance" the government funding is fixed before Monday. Mulvaney said on CNN he thinks "there's a deal in the next 24 hours."

Why it matters: The Senate has less than six hours to vote on a package that will fund the government before it shuts down, which could cost the U.S. economy over $6 billion a week. The vote has been scheduled for 10 pm Eastern. President Trump met with Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer earlier today to try and hammer out a deal.

Update: Newly-elected Democrat Sen. Doug Jones is a "yes" on the House's bill, joining Sens. Heidi Heitkamp, Joe Donnelly, and Joe Manchin. Nine Democrats would have to join Republicans to pass the bill.

  • Sen. Lindsey Graham announced he is pushing for a 3-week continuing resolution through February 8: "After lengthy consultations with senators from both parties, I believe no one wants the government to shut down...February 8th provides us the time only if we have the will. I believe the will exists."

A breakdown of the most-likely Democratic backers from National Journal:

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Jonathan Swan
8 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Gina Haspel threatened to resign over plan to install Kash Patel as CIA deputy

CIA Director Gina Haspel. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

CIA Director Gina Haspel threatened to resign in early December after President Trump cooked up a hasty plan to install loyalist Kash Patel, a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), as her deputy, according to three senior administration officials with direct knowledge of the matter.

Why it matters: The revelation stunned national security officials and almost blew up the leadership of the world's most powerful spy agency. Only a series of coincidences — and last minute interventions from Vice President Mike Pence and White House counsel Pat Cipollone — stopped it.

Go deeper (3 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 9 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Health: Coronavirus deaths reach 4,000 per day as hospitals remain in crisis mode — CDC warns highly transmissible coronavirus variant could become dominant in U.S. in March.
  2. Politics: Biden says, "We will manage the hell out of" vaccine distribution — Biden taps ex-FDA chief to lead Operation Warp Speed amid rollout of COVID plan — Widow of GOP congressman-elect who died of COVID-19 will run to fill his seat.
  3. Vaccine: Battling Black mistrust of the vaccines — "Pharmacy deserts" could become vaccine deserts — Instacart to give $25 to shoppers who get vaccine.
  4. Economy: Unemployment filings explode again — Fed chair: No interest rate hike coming any time soon —  Inflation rose more than expected in December.
  5. World: WHO team arrives in China to investigate pandemic origins.
Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Lachlan Markay
9 hours ago - Politics & Policy

John Weaver, Lincoln Project co-founder, acknowledges “inappropriate” messages

John Weaver aboard John McCain's campaign plane in February 2000. Photo: Robert Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

John Weaver, a veteran Republican operative who co-founded the Lincoln Project, declared in a statement to Axios on Friday that he sent “inappropriate,” sexually charged messages to multiple men.

  • “To the men I made uncomfortable through my messages that I viewed as consensual mutual conversations at the time: I am truly sorry. They were inappropriate and it was because of my failings that this discomfort was brought on you,” Weaver said.
  • “The truth is that I'm gay,” he added. “And that I have a wife and two kids who I love. My inability to reconcile those two truths has led to this agonizing place.”
Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow