Spending Showdown, Partial Government Shutdown Looms

It's a familiar Washington nightmare. Yet again, partial government shutdown looming. LAPTOP TOTE BAGS

This time it's different. Or maybe it's just the same. Two years after the last funding fight, Democrats are in control of the House. But they still have to negotiate with a recalcitrant Republican minority that seems to enjoy making government function as difficult as possible. And this time there are added complications. The funding that runs out tonight is only a part of the government, and there are two more packages of bills that will need to be funded by March that include much more contentious negotiations over things like guns and abortion. And the ongoing impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is gobbling up Senate time. LAPTOP SLEEVE HANDLE SHOULDER STRAP

All of this means that the fight over the relatively noncontroversial bills that are expiring tonight could drag out, potentially forcing another continuing resolution. Just a few weeks ago, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer confidently declared that they had banished short-term funding fixes to the scrapheap of history. But they may have to eat their words. And this time, it's Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy who is trapped between an intransigent left flank and a desperate need to appear competent to his own base. It's a dynamic that's led to accusations from both sides. McCarthy accused Democrats of holding the bills hostage because of the impeachment trial. Democrats counter that Republicans are using the bills to leverage a weakening of abortion rights. MULTIFUNCTIONAL ORGANIZER BAG

The one thing that's certain is that there's very little time left. Talks are set to resume today. But with the House not due back until Wednesday, it's hard to see how they'll find an agreement. And if they can't, it'spartial government shutdowntime. Again. BACKPACKS FOR WOMEN