several government agencies are running on temporary funding that expires friday at midnight. between now and then, the house, senate, and white house must come to an agreement on seven incomplete spending bills to avert a government shutdown. one issue that remains unresolved as president trump's proposal for $5 billion in border wall funding. which democratic leaders have openly opposed. you can watch the process unfold this week with the house live on c-span and the senate live on c-span two. a government shutdown will happen friday at midnight if a spending deal cannot come together. theupdate this morning on latest on those negotiations. we turn to jeff mason, white house correspondent for reuters. good morning. how optimistic as a white house and is congress that the shutdown can be avoided on friday night? jeff: there is still a big question mark over that so far. they have five days.

in the new york times came out with a really interesting story this morning saying even if they were to come up with a deal, between now and friday, there is a risk that not enough republicans would be here to pass it. enough republicans would be here to pass it because lots of republicans in the house are giving up their spaces and offices for the incoming freshmen who are coming in and not showing up in washington. that is one angle to it. there's also the fact that stephen miller, one of the top and immigration advisers in particular said on sunday that they are willing to have a government shutdown if approval for the president's boardwalk is not granted. the democrats are not on board with giving $5 billion for the still hasl, so that not changed. it is hard to imagine how it will in the next five days unless they just come up with a temporary agreement to keep the

government open over the holidays and kick the can down the road as it were to have this debate later. host: what is the president's schedule this week? canthere any tea leaves we read into his schedule to find out when some sort of negotiation or breakthrough could happen? guest: there is not a whole lot on the public schedule that we have been told about. he has various meetings the first part of the week, meeting with people in the cabinet today. he is meeting with outgoing secretary of interior ryan zinke e. he will meet with -- ryan zinke you. he will meet with the vice president. he is leaving for florida for the holiday for the end of the week. we don't know if that is something he will delay or go ahead with depending on what happens with the government shutdown. that is one deadline you would think the white house would keep in mind that the president was

hoping to get out of town like another -- others in washington and get back to their homes for christmas. host: any chance we see a repeat of live negotiations on television between the president, nancy pelosi, and chuck schumer? guest: that is always a possibility. he likes to have cameras in the room when he meets with lawmakers. leave thepy to cameras on while he met with nancy pelosi and chuck schumer. that kind of reality aspect to the presidency has been one that has shown itself in cabinet meetings and other meetings like that. i wouldn't rule it out. host: expectations for passing and signing the first step act that criminal justice reform act we have heard so much about? is that happening? guest: it is a much stronger possibility now than it was a week ago because mitch mcconnell

has decided to allow it to come to the floor. it is a fascinating case study and the potential for bipartisanship it has. it has support from republicans and democrats and strong support from the white house and specifically the president. his son-in-law, jared kushner, has been working on it for some time. question whether it would work. he said toward the end of the week that it would. we will watch to see if that happens. it would be a potential signal of the ability to both parties on legislationr going in to 2019. viewersr question for is about the universal health care system.

i wonder what you think about the appetite at the white house for another fight in the 116th congress in wake of the news on friday that the district judge ruling against the affordable care act. president trump welcomed the ruling that you just referenced during a short q&a with reporters on saturday. he said will work on health care and get health care and get democrats. who knows if they will go back to the drawing table in the new congress and try to fix some of the problems with obamacare. late --blicans the before the latest willing fail in attempts to completely repeal obamacare and democrats fought

announcer: speed -- as if there is washington journal, live every day with news and policy issues that impact you. morning, reporter jennifer's shed discusses the latest on the government funding negotiations out of a friday's government shutdown deadline. the moving picture institutes robert moss will talk about the growth of the power of the presidency. and how that has led to president donald trump. and judicial of its talks about

her piece looking at what digital selections will have on society. also, during the holiday week, watch washington journal for authors week. starting sunday, december 23. eachring live segments morning with authors, including crystal fleming, one williams, alan dershowitz, alissa quart, mona chairman, sarah can seo, and another. at u.s. policyok with james jeffrey who serves at the state department special representatives for year -- for syria engagement. prior to that position, he was u.s. ambassador to iraq and turkey during the obama and bush administrations. from the atlantic council, this is under an hour.