Reporter's Notebook: Trump holds bipartisan meeting with congressional leaders as Wednesday shutdown looms

Rep. Lisa McClain calls out 'radical Democrats' as shutdown looms

Senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram and Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., join 'Fox News Live' to give insight on the funding dispute that could lead to a government shutdown if not resolved and how it could affect the country.

President Donald Trump meets Monday at 2 p.m. ET with top bipartisan, bicameral congressional leaders as the clock ticks down toward a potential government shutdown at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. 

But there is little optimism for the meeting. 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., have not met with Trump since he returned to office. Democrats are insisting on subsidies to make Obamacare coverage cheaper and a reinstatement of money cut for public radio and television.

Previous meetings between Trump and top Democrats have ended badly. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., stormed out of one such session.

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CHANCES ASTRONOMICAL AS CONGRESS BARRELS TOWARD DEADLINE

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., left, hold a news conference at the Capitol in Washington on June 11, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

The prospects of a shutdown are extremely high. There have been no talks or trading of offers for weeks. The House approved a stopgap bill to simply renew all existing funding at present levels, and then they left town.

Only the Senate is in session today. The Senate likely re-votes a procedural vote which failed just to start debate on the House-approved bill tomorrow, hours before the deadline. That needs 60 yeas to break a filibuster. Otherwise, the government is on cruise control for a shutdown.

GARBAGE COLLECTION, TOURS TO BE SUSPENDED ON CAPITOL HILL IF THERE'S A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as he departs the White House on Sept. 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C.  (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

House Republicans may not be in Washington, but House Democrats will descend on the Capitol late this afternoon for a caucus meeting.

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The government last shut down in late 2018 — early 2019. It closed for a record 35 days over a dispute about money for Trump’s border wall.

The United States Capitol is seen in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 16, 2025. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.