The head of President Donald Trump’s government efficiency effort, Elon Musk, is emerging as a messaging punching bag for Democrats as they pick up the pieces of their stinging defeat in last year’s elections and search for a winning message for 2026.

Trump, who praised Tesla electric vehicles alongside Musk outside the White House earlier this week, vowed that protesters who target the company with violence would be caught and

The confidence is especially noteworthy given that Schumer has yet to detail his plans. Many lawmakers in both parties are privately predicting that some sort of deal will be reached in which Senate Democrats get amendment votes in return for allowing the House-passed “continuing resolution” to advance and ultimately pass.

Senate Democrats say they are prepared to vote against the Republicans’ bill if lawmakers do not strike a deal by Friday night.

Hakeem Jeffries and House Democrats are ready to seize on the first big leverage point of President Donald Trump’s second term, lining up against a bill to avert a government shutdown this week.

CNN's Capitol Hill correspondent Manu Raju reports on the struggle taking place within the Senate Democratic caucus over whether to accept a House-passed continuing budget resolution or allow the government to "shut down" at the end of the week: MANU RAJU,