NPR

Week Ahead: The Stakes Are About To Get Really High For Republicans

Shutdown and debt ceiling deadlines are fast approaching four days before the Alabama Senate election, and Republicans are trying to pass a tax plan by Christmas.
President Trump meets with congressional leaders in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 6. The deadline to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling is coming up on Dec. 8.

It's back to work this week for President Trump and Republicans after Thanksgiving — and they have a lot to do.

Remember when Trump made that deal with "Chuck and Nancy" to avoid a shutdown and raise the debt ceiling? Well, the deadline to do fund the government is again fast approaching. Trump and congressional leaders have less than two weeks — until next Friday, Dec. 8 — to get it done. And this week begins a big push.

The four congressional leaders — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi — head to the White House Tuesday to talk about that deadline and end-of-year legislation. President Trump also heads to Capitol Hill Tuesday to address the GOP policy lunch to talk taxes. Republicans are trying to get taxes done by Christmas.

That means there's a lot to do in a very short time, and the stakes couldn't be higher for Republicans. Just four days

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