Trump cancels meeting with Democrats as shutdown approaches

Government Funding & Potential Shutdown - A potential government shutdown looms as government funding is set to expire on September 30th [1][2] - President Trump cancelled a planned meeting with top congressional Democratic leaders due to disagreements over funding proposals [1] - Democrats are pushing to preserve the ACA incentives and Medicaid, turning the debate into a healthcare discussion [4][5] - Democrats feel grassroots pressure to resist, viewing current government actions as harmful [11] - The party in power typically gets blamed for a shutdown, creating unusual dynamics this time [7] Political Strategies & Dynamics - Democrats aim to leverage the shutdown situation to highlight healthcare affordability issues [5][6] - Democrats can pressure Republicans, who control the House, Senate, and White House, to maintain government operations [8] - Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faces pressure and scrutiny in New York, impacting his negotiation stance [9][10] - Democrats may be willing to "go down fighting" for healthcare, considering it a key issue for the midterms [14] Challenges & Uncertainties - There is no clear strategy for resolving a government shutdown once it begins [12] - Democrats have limited leverage in Congress due to not controlling the House and Senate [13]