Welcome to The Daily Politic Briefing! I'm your host, bringing you the most significant political developments shaping our nation today. As Washington grapples with looming funding deadlines and partisan battles intensify across multiple fronts, we're here to break down what matters and why. From government shutdown threats to high-stakes confirmation battles, today's political landscape remains as contentious as ever. In today's briefing, we'll examine the brewing government funding fight that has the Capitol bracing for a September showdown, analyze the escalating tensions between Senator Schumer and the Trump administration over nominations, discuss Speaker Johnson's diplomatic mission to Israel, and assess the Democrats' midterm election challenges. We'll also cover Senator Crapo's ambitious tax agenda, the ongoing debate over facial recognition technology, the lasting impact of the Kavanaugh confirmation, and Texas Democrats' dramatic redistricting protest. Let's begin with the government funding situation. The Senate passed an initial batch of funding bills on Friday, but the real battle awaits in September. With just a month-long window to avoid a shutdown, competing factions are making demands that seem nearly impossible to reconcile. House conservatives are insisting on no funding increases, while dozens of Republicans want earmarks. Meanwhile, Democrats are fighting to maintain Obamacare funding. Adding to the complexity, former budget director Russ Vought appears to be working with the Freedom Caucus to potentially derail bipartisan negotiations. As Senator Thom Tillis aptly put it: "If you like chaos, then you're seeing a lot of it." The Senate chamber has become another battleground as Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blocked a bipartisan agreement to expedite Trump's nominees. This hardball tactic has effectively derailed the confirmation process, with Schumer boasting that Trump "went home with nothing." In response, Senate Republicans are now considering rule changes to bypass Democratic obstruction. Senator Markwayne Mullin didn't mince words, calling Schumer's approach "ridiculous" and warning that "every action requires an equal reaction." Turning to international relations, Speaker Mike Johnson led a delegation to Israel this week, meeting with political and religious leaders. During a visit to the Western Wall, Johnson emphasized America's commitment to Israel, framing it as both a matter of faith and political commitment. He was joined by Representatives Nathaniel Moran, Claudia Tenney, Michael Cloud, and Michael McCaul in this diplomatic mission. For Democrats looking ahead to midterm elections, storm clouds are gathering on the horizon. Recent polling shows about 63 percent of voters hold negative views of Democrats, while key Democratic organizations are struggling to match Republican fundraising efforts. Political analyst Matt Taglia of Emerson College Polling doesn't foresee a "blue wave," describing the potential Democratic performance as "more like a blue trickle." In legislative developments, Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo has ambitious plans for tax policy. He's preparing to revisit hundreds of tax proposals from his Republican colleagues as part of a second reconciliation package this fall. Crapo noted that there were some 200 tax policies that Republicans wanted to include in their earlier package. He's also expressed interest in a bipartisan overhaul of pharmacy benefit managers and is considering a tariff rebate proposal similar to Senator Hawley's plan. The use of facial recognition technology by the TSA has sparked significant debate on Capitol Hill. Senator Jeff Merkley's bill regulating this technology was unexpectedly dropped from a markup after intensive lobbying by the travel industry. Republican privacy hawks, including Senator John Kennedy, have accused the TSA of undermining the committee's work by encouraging lobbyists to intervene. Despite the setback, Merkley remains optimi