In a strategic move to strengthen the Republican stance ahead of a looming government shutdown, Speaker Mike Johnson rallied House Republicans during a Monday conference call, urging party cohesion. The call, which was disclosed by three anonymous sources, emphasized the necessity for the Senate Democrats to accept the seven-week stopgap bill previously passed by the House.

As the clock ticks towards the shutdown deadline at midnight on Tuesday, the sense of urgency within the Republican ranks intensifies. Johnson, recognizing the critical moment, plans to reconvene the House next week. This decision reflects growing concerns among some House Republicans about remaining out of Washington during such a pivotal time.

Typically, the House would not be in session this week due to the Yom Kippur holiday. However, Johnson hinted at the possibility of extending the break to increase pressure on the Senate to pass the stopgap measure. The strategy aims to avert the government shutdown by forcing a Senate decision on the House's terms.

In a further commitment to unity, Johnson announced that House and Senate GOP leaders are scheduled to hold a joint news conference on Wednesday morning, potentially after government agencies have already begun to close their doors.

Adding to the week's high-stakes political maneuvers, Johnson is also set to participate in a critical meeting at the White House with President Donald Trump and other congressional leaders. The meeting, occurring on the same day, underscores the immediacy of finding a resolution.

Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are pushing for negotiations to include an extension of enhanced health insurance subsidies in any agreement to prevent the shutdown. Conversely, Johnson and his fellow Republican leaders are staunchly opposed to entering discussions, focusing instead on enforcing the current House-passed resolution.

With the Senate scheduled to re-vote on the continuing resolution just hours before the deadline, the outcome of these negotiations will be pivotal in determining whether the government will remain open or face its first shutdown since the current administration took office. The next few days are crucial as both sides of the aisle brace for potential impacts, underscoring the high stakes involved in these legislative negotiations.