Evening Report — Leaders urge calm as government barrels toward shutdown

by Elizabeth Crisp - 02/27/24 5:51 PM ET

Evening Report

White House, congressional leaders meet days ahead of shutdown deadline

President Biden welcomed the “big four” members of Congress to the White House Tuesday as leaders seek to forge a path to avoid a partial government shutdown at the end of the week.

Biden met with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

How did it go?: Schumer and Jeffries characterized it as “intense,” noting differences between Biden and congressional Republicans over Ukraine funding. Jeffries further called the meeting “honest” and “productive.”

For his part, Johnson said he was “very optimistic” Congress will avert a shutdown by the Friday deadline, adding “we’ll keep working on that.”

The Hill’s Niall Stanage wrote how divisions among leaders over border security and Ukraine funding overshadowed efforts to prevent a shutdown.

Welcome to Evening Report! I’m Liz Crisp, catching you up from the afternoon and what’s coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here.

CATCH UP QUICK

Fox News host Brian Kilmeade says former President Trump is doomed if he keeps listening to the advice from former chief of staff Steve Bannon and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
Sony is cutting 900 jobs from its PlayStation division, becoming the latest tech giant to lay off part of its workforce.
The celebrity coterie of the White House Correspondents Association‘s guest list for its annual “nerd prom” is taking shape, and Molly Ringwald (from all your ’80s favorites including “The Breakfast Club“), Susie Essman of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and Dulé Hill of “Psych” are on the list for the April event.

NEW THIS AFTERNOON

🔥 It’s getting hot in here… February setting record heat

Much of the mid-U.S. is getting a sneak preview of summer this week with a record heat wave in the middle of winter.

Unusually high temperatures — often 30 to 40 degrees above average — are blasting states from the southern border to Canada and up through the Great Lakes.

This all comes after the hottest December on record nationally.

Forecasters predict people should brace for a scorching summer. (The Hill)

STATE WATCH

Ex-divorce attorney takes stand in Fani Willis hearing

The former law partner and divorce lawyer for Nathan Wade, a top prosecutor in former President Trump’s Georgia election interference case, retook the stand Tuesday.

A judge had determined Wade’s former lawyer, Terrence Bradley, must offer more detail about Wade’s past romantic relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D).

Catch up on the day’s events here.

IN OTHER NEWS

Macy’s is shuttering 150 ‘underproductive’ stores

Macy’s plans to close 150 “underproductive locations” in the next three years as sales dip and the company looks to expand higher-end luxury brands.

Sales have been on a steady decline in recent years, according to the storied national department store chain. The company said in its announcement that it will be down to 350 Macy’s stores by 2026.

At the same time, the troubled retailer says it will open more boutique-style stores under the Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury brands. (The Hill)

Republican lawmakers want details about the death of Georgia college student Laken Riley

Republican lawmakers are seeking more information about what led to the death of Georgia college student Laken Riley.

A Venezuelan immigrant, who was reportedly in the country illegally and had faced multiple encounters with law enforcement before Riley’s brutal death while on a jog near the University of Georgia campus, has been taken into custody.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), long a thorn in President Biden‘s side, and Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) have sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas seeing more information on suspect. (The Hill)