First Thing: Chuck Schumer to back Republican funding bill to avoid shutdown

The minority leader argued a government shutdown would hand Donald Trump and Elon Musk a carte blanche'. Plus, JD Vance booed at Washington concert

Good morning.

The Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, has announced he will vote for a Republican funding bill to avert a government shutdown, saying he believed a stoppage would carry consequences for America that are much, much worse".

What does Schumer think the consequences would be? He said a shutdown would hand Donald Trump and Elon Musk a carte blanche to destroy vital government services at a significantly faster rate than they can right now". It could lead to the furloughing of staff without guarantee they'll be rehired, he said.

Why did Trump take over the Kennedy Center? In Trump's words: We didn't like what they were showing and various other things. We're going to make sure that it's good and it's not going to be woke."