Welcome to the NewsHour. Congress is back in Washington tonight and the clock is already ticking.

Lawmakers have less than one month to avoid a government shutdown.

On the table, a fierce fight over billions in spending cuts some 30,000 pages worth of Jeffrey Epstein-related files that Republicans just posted tonight online.

And the Senate moving to fast track President

Trump's nominees. Our congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardin joins us now. So Lisa, it's always great

to see you. Let's start with the possible government shutdown at the end of the month. We are weeks away.

How likely is it? It is possible. Let's take people through exactly how this is going to work,

what we know. First of all, the deadline isember 30th to fund most of government now any deal needs 60 senate votes so of course

that means likely at least seven democrats would have to get on board now that's led to this

situation where of course democrats know they have leverage here They don't have leverage in a lot of cases.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries today told reporters, including myself, that he's looking

for a bipartisan solution. But what that really means is he wants some concessions.

That spending bill has to be both bipartisan, a product of negotiation, and it's got to serve the interests of the

American people in terms of their health, safety, national security, and economic well-being.

Health, safety, national security, economic, that covers everything. So here's a lot on the table

for him. And this is the man really to watch Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.

It's his votes that Republicans will need to get a funding bill through, or it could be his

decision to try to go all the way to a government shutdown.

It is very much on the table a risky decision for Democrats either way.

The pressure is on them to stand up to President Trump,

try and get some policy changes, but some Democrats say a shutdown might benefit Trump.

And why are they feeling the pressure this week, Lisa?

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