By Erik Wasson, Bloomberg News

President Donald Trump and top congressional leaders have strong political incentives to stoke the ongoing stalemate during a White House meeting Monday even as they drive the U.S. to its first government shutdown in nearly seven years.

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Democrats are keen to use the shutdown battle to frame the next election around rising costs, particularly for health care. Republicans are equally eager to blame the Democrats and show them to be poor stewards of the government and the U.S. economy ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Progressive Democrats are putting party leaders under enormous pressure to show they are willing to fight the Trump administration. Those leaders are confident they can unite their caucus behind the health care issue and prevent a de

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