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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. A government shutdown is less than six hours away,

as top Democrats and Republicans in Congress say they're no closer to reaching an agreement to fund the federal government after midnight.

A vote tonight on a short-term patch is expected to fail, as NPR's Sam Gringlass explains.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune needs a handful of Democrats to help pass a funding bill

that will keep the government operating at current levels for the next few weeks.

This is totally avoidable.

It is a decision they're going to have to make.

And if the government shuts down, it is on the Senate Democrats.

But minority leader Chuck Schumer says the

funding measure must include an extension of subsidies for health insurance premiums expiring this year.

As Republicans continue to lie, distract, duck, hide, Democrats remain ready to get to work and keep

the government funded.

Without an agreement, the government will shut down at midnight.

Sam Greenglass, NPR News.

People would blame Republicans more for a shutdown, according to new polling from NPR, PBS News and Marist.

NPR's Domenico Montanaro has more.

Neither party would get the majority of the blame, but Republicans who control both

chambers of Congress would get more of it than Democrats by a 38 to 27 percent margin.

Another 31 percent say they would blame both parties equally.

...