MNI POLITICAL RISK - Spotlight On Johnson As Shutdown Looms

• Senate Republicans have urged their hardline conservative House colleagues to drop ‘policy riders’ to ease passage of a FY24 budget package and avert a government shutdown on Saturday.
• President Biden will meet the four Congressional leaders at the White House today at 11:30 ET 16:30 GMT. The meeting will primarily focus on avoiding a shutdown but Biden will also ratchet up pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to drop his blockade of the USD$95 billion foreign aid bill.
• Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) has called on Republicans to outline their concerns with a bipartisan tax bill so it can be resolved during this filing season.
• President Biden will travel to the US-Mexico border on Thursday as immigration surges into first place as the most important issue for voters.
• Officials offer mixed messages about the status of ongoing negotiations to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
• President Biden will face a major test of his Middle East strategy at the Democratic presidential primary in Michigan today where a grassroots campaign is urging voters to support “uncommitted” in protest of the administration's support for Israel.
• Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says the US remains on track to produce 20% of the worlds leading-edge semiconductor chips.
• Improved business relations are next on the agenda as US-China relations continue to strengthen.
• Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is reportedly preparing to endorse former President Donald Trump.
• Poll of the Day: Immigration surges in importance for voters.

Full article: US Daily Brief