JD Vance is set to meet with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill this Tuesday, ostensibly to discuss tariffs as articulated by the White House. However, the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 28th day, is poised to dominate conversations, particularly with President Donald Trump away on an international trip.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has already indicated that the discussion will inevitably touch on the status of government funding. "We expect to hear Vance’s assessment of where things stand on government funding alongside any other range of subjects," Thune told POLITICO.

The extended shutdown has seen GOP senators divided on their approach. Some favor taking action to mitigate specific hardships, while others prefer a tougher stance to compel Democrats to agree to the House-passed stopgap measure. During the upcoming lunch, GOP leaders aim to weigh the various opinions within the party before deciding whether to permit votes on targeted funding bills for essential services.

Among the proposed legislation, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has introduced a bill to ensure air traffic controllers and TSA agents are paid during the shutdown. Meanwhile, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is looking to safeguard food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which faces a critical funding shortage by the weekend.

However, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) expressed a general reluctance within the party to pursue these piecemeal bills, highlighting a preference to maintain pressure on Democrats.

Another topic of interest at the Tuesday meeting will be the future of full-year government funding bills. "We need to discuss how to move forward once the shutdown is resolved," said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), emphasizing the need for a strategy that includes respecting bipartisan spending agreements.

On the other side of the aisle, Senate Democrats are preparing for their own strategy meeting in response to the American Federation of Government Employees' call for passing a clean continuing resolution. Despite the union's push, Democratic leaders appear unready to back down, with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) emphasizing the importance of not making premature concessions that could lead to adverse actions by Trump against federal employees.

The Democrats are also confronting internal divisions, highlighted by the union's statement, which has put them on the defensive for the first time since the shutdown began. "It has a lot of impact," said Democratic Whip Sen. Dick Durbin, acknowledging the union's influential role.

Additional Watch Points:

— The potential escalation of the redistricting battle in Illinois is drawing attention. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized the necessity of this effort in a meeting in Chicago, aimed at countering GOP strategies in several states. This plan, however, is likely to face resistance from local Black leaders, setting the stage for a complex political showdown.

As the shutdown continues, all eyes remain fixed on Capitol Hill, where political strategies and alliances are being tested in unprecedented ways.