WMAL Interview - SUSAN FERRECHIO - 01.16.18

INTERVIEW - SUSAN FERRECHIO -  chief congressional correspondent for the Washington Examiner
•    This week's congressional agenda: Avoiding a shutdown and searching for DACA fix. (CNN) — Back after a long holiday weekend, lawmakers must reach an agreement on a budget plan before the Friday deadline when government funding runs out, but demands from each side of the aisle are impeding progress on negotiations.  For a spending deal, Republicans want to secure a long-term increase in Pentagon funding, while Democrats feel pressure not to agree to such a plan unless it ensures protections for recipients of the expiring Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.  GOP leaders don't anticipate finalizing any deal in time for the deadline and are instead proposing a stopgap-funding bill as the talks continue to avoid a shutdown on Friday. It's unclear if they have the votes to pass such a bill.
•    DACA BATTLE / DICKY DURBIN: Trump goes after "Dicky Durbin": President Trump slams Sen. Dick Durbin, who he says "misrepresented" his immigration comments