I honestly think, and I've said this and I've had this conversation with Democrats in the Senate,

that the solution of this isn't going to come through their leadership, it's going to come through their rank and file.

I think it's going to be a number of Democrats who are willing to figure out a way to be comfortable with what the path forward is on some of these issues,

to be able to vote to open the government. I think that was part of my exclusive conversation with Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

We're going to have much more of that sit down straight ahead.

But the question is, how long does he think this shutdown might last?

Also ahead, we'll go through the surprising admission from President Trump that he

authorized CIA action in Venezuela. The question is, will the president get the U.S. military involved?

Meanwhile, the administration is considering doubling its bailout for Argentina, where the question

is, how does that move fit with the administration's America First agenda? It's way too early for this.

Thank you. administration's America First agenda. It's way too early for this. Good morning and welcome to way too early, the show that worked a few extra hours yesterday.

That exclusive interview was worth it. You're going to see it throughout the

morning. I'm Ali Vitale on this Thursday, October 16th. We'll start with the news. We've now reached

day 16 of the government shutdown, and Republicans and Democrats appear no closer to an agreement to

reopen it. The Senate failed to advance a House-passed GOP bill to fund the government for the ninth

time yesterday,

attracting no additional support from Democrats who are digging in their heels on an extension

of health care tax credits in exchange for their votes. Lawmakers will vote for a 10th time today,

but that is expected to fail once again. Also happening today, Republican Senate Majority Leader

John Thune has scheduled a vote on advancing an $852 billion defense appropriations bill.

It passed with strong Democratic support back in July, but the landscape might have changed.

Thune is shaking things up on Capitol Hill with that vote, essentially daring Democrats to block the bill that would restore military paychecks as Republicans ramp up their rhetoric on how

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