Good Monday evening. In this edition: Trump says he would consider invoking Insurrection Act; and Senate again rejects funding bill as Trump signals possible off-ramp.
Plus, Gaza, France and Japan.
National Guard
President Trump said he would consider invoking the Insurrection Act if courts blocked him from deploying the National Guard to American cities to protect federal buildings and conduct law enforcement operations.
"I'd do it if it was necessary. So far, it hasn't been necessary, but we have an Insurrection Act for a reason. If I had to enact it, I'd do that," he told reporters in the Oval Office.
"If people were being killed and courts were holding us up or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure, I'd do that. I want to make sure people aren't killed. We have to make sure our cities are safe."
The Insurrection Act of 1807 authorizes the president to deploy the U.S. military or federalize National Guard troops to respond to what the president deems an insurrection.
The law is the primary exception to the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally prohibits federal military forces from participating in civilian law enforcement activities.
The administration's plan to deploy the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, was temporarily blocked twice over the weekend by a federal judge after state and city officials asked for a temporary restraining order.
Judge Immergut agreed with the plaintiffs that the protests were "not significantly violent or disruptive" and that local law enforcement was capable of responding.
"These incidents are inexcusable, but they are nowhere near the type of incidents that cannot be handled by regular law enforcement forces," she wrote. "The President's determination was simply untethered to the facts."
The White House criticized the decision and vowed to appeal to the Ninth Circuit.
Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, contended that the rulings amounted to "an insurrection against the laws and Constitution of the United States."
"We need to have district courts in this country that see themselves as being under the laws and Constitution and not being able to take for themselves powers that are reserved solely for the president," he told reporters.
President Trump also ripped the judge's ruling as he likened the situation in Portland to a "criminal insurrection."
"You look at what's happening with Portland over the years, it's a burning hell hole," he said. "And then you have a judge that lost her way that tries to pretend that there's no problem."
Illinois and Chicago leaders also filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to prevent the deployment of the National Guard to the Windy City.
"The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a president's favor," the lawsuit states.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) called the administration's deployment of the National Guard an "unconstitutional invasion of Illinois by the federal government."
"Their plan all along has been to cause chaos, and then they can use that chaos to consolidate Donald Trump’s power," he said at a press conference.
U.S. District Court Judge April Perry, who was appointed by former President Biden, declined this morning to immediately issue a temporary restraining order, as requested by the plaintiffs.
The judge said she needed more time to review the case and has scheduled arguments for Thursday.
President Trump signaled he was willing to negotiate with Democrats over health care, a move that could open the door to ending the government shutdown that has now gone on for six days.
The president said he would be open to cutting a deal with Democrats on extending the Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year — if it were "the right deal."
"We can have a much better health care than we have right now," he said. "I'd like to see a deal made for great health care."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) responded by saying there were no ongoing bipartisan talks on health care, but that his side was willing to talk.
"If President Trump and Republicans are finally ready to sit down and get something done in healthcare for American families, Democrats will be there — ready to make it happen," he said in a statement.
Republican leaders have been adamant that they won't negotiate with Democrats until they vote to reopen the government by backing the House-passed stopgap measure.
Negotiators for Israel and Hamasbegan talks in Egypt to discuss the peace proposal presented by President Trump last week. Both sides have indicated an openness to the plan, but many details remain unresolved. "We have a really good chance of making a deal — and it will be a lasting deal," President Trump told reporters, declining to provide a timeline on when he thinks a final agreement could materialize.
Sébastien Lecornuresigned as France's prime minister less than 24 hours after forming a cabinet, making his government the shortest lived in the country's history. It comes just weeks after he was appointed to the position, which made him France's fifth prime minister is less than two years. The resignation adds pressure to French President Emanuel Macron to call snap elections or even resign himself — two options he has so far ruled out.
Sanae Takaichi is poised to become Japan's first female prime minister after being elected Saturday as the new leader of the country's ruling party. The conservative lawmaker, who was mentored by the late Prime Minster Shinzo Abe, is expected to be formally named head of government later this month. "Japan has just elected its first female Prime Minister, a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength. This is tremendous news for the incredible people of Japan," President Trump wrote on social media.
C-SPANannounced former Vice President Mike Pence and former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will be the first guests on "Ceasefire," the network's new show premiering Friday at 7pm ET.
For your radar…
Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies Tuesday at an oversight hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN at 9am ET.
The Supreme Court hears arguments Tuesday in a challenge to Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ people. Listen LIVE on C-SPAN3 at 10am ET.