This is cnn Breaking News. Hello, again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me on what is seriously a marathon saturday. On capitol hill and wherever you are. Im fredricka whitfield. We begin with this Breaking News from capitol hill, where were watching an 11th hour Stopgap Spending Bill potentially come to reality. The house is yet to vote on it, but there are so many moving parts today, youre seeing the minority House Minority leader, hakeem jeffries, who has been using his magic minute to speak to the chamber there, imploring that all of this was avoidable, there could have been some bipartisan effort to keep Government Spending well before this juncture, but here we all are. Lets get to cnns lauren fox on capitol hill. Brand new reporting that you have about not just whats going on in the house, but apparently whats happening in the senate, and how all of this is coming together. Whats going on . Reporter let me paint a picture for viewers at home. Basically theres been a delay in both the house and senate. They had two separate bills that were moving on two different tracks, and eventually both sides were trying to wait out the other one to see who would go first in this showdown. What you are watching right now happened on the house floor is a delay, as democrats think about whether or not theyre going to support that shortterm Spending Bill that House SpeakerKevin Mccarthy announced earlier this morning. But we just had a new development in the United States senate. Republicans, including Minority Leader mm Medina Medina medina, who helped put together their shortterm Spending Bill in that chamber, are planning to vote against a procedural vote on the senate floor because they are arguing that they are basically wanting to make sure that the house bill can pass. Their argument right now is that the only viable option available to avert a Government Shutdown is the bill that mccarthy wants to put on the floor of the House Of Representatives. Therefore, despite the fact many republicans were planning to support the senate bill, they are going to vote against the procedural step over there, and basically try to force democrats to send them the housepassed bill. So that is the dynamic at play rating now. Obviously, it is a very significant development, given the fact that Minority Leader Mitch Mcconnell has been one of the most dogged republican supporters of ukraine aid, and the house bill that is moving through that chamber right now does not include 6. 2 billion in Military Assistance for ukraine. The senate bill did include that money. So the fact that you have republicans, and specifically Minority Leader Mitch Mcconnell saying that they are going to vote against a procedural vote on the senate floor to advance legislation with ukraine aid, thats significant. But it tells you that right now republicans feel like theres one game in town, and that the only bill thats going to pass, in their eyes, is the bill that mccarthy is trying to pass out of the house right now. It does put more pressure on House Democrats who are still reviewing and trying to decide how they want to proceed right now. And that was what i was going to ask you about, the sequence of events, before the senate would approve of this Stopgap Measure, of course, its got to get through the house. Majority leader mccarthy needs 100 democrats in order to get that over the line. Were seeing the Minority Leader, hakeem jeffries, who really has been speaking largely to the fact that all of this was avoidable, they need more time in which to read through the 72 pages. At this juncture, does it appear as though House Democrats have received enough time to go through the 72 pages, if they would approve of it, and if it would be a viable measure that will make it over to the senate . Reporter well, its obviously the key question right now, is whether democrats feel ready to move forward with that step. But, obviously, it was a surprise that Minority Leader Mitch Mcconnell came out and said that Senate Republicans were going to be voting against the procedural step. Obviously, a lot of moving pieces. Things are developing very quickly. But there is clearly a Pressure Campaign right now on House Democrats to see whether or not theyre going to back this measure. What do you suppose, lauren, is taking place now with Mitch Mcconnell reaching out to democratic senators, to perhaps leverage their influence on House Democrats, or would senate Mitch Mcconnell be reaching out to House Democrats directly, to say, here is the deal, this is how i see it, lets get this over the finish line so that later we can work on something. I, too, am disappointed that ukraine aid is not in here, but i want to keep the government working. Reporter i think the signal that mcconnell just sent by basically being flanked by most of his conference as he made that announcement, that is the signal. He doesnt need to pick up the phone and make any additional phone calls. Hes already made his position very clear. But i just want to point out, once again, that it is very significant, given mcconnells past History Of Ukraine funding, given the fact that he has been one of the strongest republican supporters. Its such a big development, given that reality. Right. And now what might this mean for House Speaker mccarthy . He needs this to pass. He needs the support, and at the same time, he is trying to appeal to those republicans who have said, we dont want ukrainian money in there, but we do want to keep military, Border Patrol funding . Reporter there could be two things that are true. Kevin mccarthy could potentially avoid a shutdown, but he could potentially face the end of his speakership because of calls that you have seen from people like matt gatetz, who have been arguing, if you reach across the aisle and try to put something on the floor that would get more democrats than republicans, or potentially maybe even be a bill that a lot of conservatives would be opposed to, that that would potentially trigger a vote to oust the speaker. So it is possible that in doing the thing to keep the government open, you could potentially lose the speakers gavel. Weve asked mccarthy multiple times today, are you afraid of that, are you weighing that. And he says, repeatedly, i feel like this is the adult thing to do, that this is the move i need to make. And, obviously, that is what he is factoring in right now. And i think Speaker Mccarthy is, actually, right behind us. Go for it, lauren. Reporter Speaker Mccarthy, have you talked to democrats if what are they going to do . Obviously he doesnt want to get ahead of his hopefulness, i imagine. Hes said a lot thus far this morning. Go ahead, lauren. Reporter i asked specifically if he was confident that democrats will vote for this, and he said, well see. Obviously theres a lot of things happening quickly here on capitol hill. Its been quite a wild day. When we woke up this morning, we werent sure there was going to be any plan put on the floor. Obviously, that is the effort that mccarthy is making, to get something on the floor of the house. I didnt hear it, you did. Youre right there. And just underscore the point you made earlier about the fearfulness of losing the job. You had posed the question to him a couple of times, and he said, if i have to risk my job to stand up for the american people, i will do that. So, again, you said, you know, well see if the house hasnt voted for this yet. But if, indeed, they get the support for this Stopgap Measure and the senate then is behind it, you just underscored it doesnt necessarily mean that secures House Speaker mccarthy of his gig. Lauren fox, well check back with you. Were going to let her continue to chase people, because she does that very well. Lets bring in senior white house correspondent, at the house. Is the White House Open and are they receptive about hearing about this potential concession that the senate, by the urging of Minority Leader mcconnell, to support the Stopgap Measure if, indeed, the votes are there in the house, mccarthy says hell be on board with this . How would the white house feel about this . Reporter certainly that would come as a surprise, because up until this point the Biden Administration had placed its hopes and its blessing, essentially, in a bipartisan bill that had been brokered between the two leaders of each party in the senate, with the hope that Speaker Mccarthy would be forced to put that bill on the floor. The administration has been taking a handsoff approach and had its top officials and representatives on behalf of the president , a Senior Adviser to the president and the budget director, essentially between them, because they are so fast moving. Ultimately, it is up to what can pass both chambers. Theyve made their desires known for ukraine and disaster funding, and made their desire known to keep the government open. President biden earlier this week challenged Speaker Mccarthy to do that. He told a group of donors in San Francisco he believes hes choosing between his speakership and the interests of the american people, essentially a challenge to the speaker to find some sort of compromise that can pass both chambers. But in the meantime, the white house, in the words of one official, is hoping for the best, but planning for the worst. There is regular cadence of communication between the Executive Branch and all of the government agencies, who if the government shuts down, will be stripped from staffs of Tens Of Thousands of people in some cases, to just dozens of exempted or essential employees, who would be required to continue working, and trying to figure out how some of those Essential Functions can continue. We expect in the coming days the president would convene a Cabinet Meeting to talk about continuity of government, and weve learned that many of these agencies are planning for a shutdown that could, if it ends up happening, that could last weeks and not days. So certainly they are preparing for both outcomes, hoping for the best, but planning for the worst, and keeping all options open. As weve seen this play out before, it could come down to the 11th hour, fred. And so, kayla, would the white house see this as potentially mcconnell and Mccarthy Caving To What Jeffries described as maga republicans, or would they see this as important compromise in order to keep the government working . Reporter well, the white house has always shown its favor toward compromise above all else. The president has talked about the need for both parties to work together, just this week he gave a speech in arizona touting the career of former senator john mccain for the way that he reached across the aisle and put country and not party first. So certainly the white house has been talking about how important compromise is in situations like this. So ultimately it would just come down to the details and it would come down to the votes and whether it would, in fact, be something that could keep the lights on for the federal government. Thank you so much. Well check back with you. Im joined by democratic virginia senator mark warner. Senator, good to see you. You just heard this Breaking News from our lauren fox about the senate gops plans to vote no on a procedural step for the senates shortterm funding bill, but instead back this Stopgap Measure from the house if it, indeed, passes the house, and then they would go for that. Do you like this idea . Fredricka, we all know americans scratch their head at what happens in congress. Today im scratching my head. If theres ever a day where down is upandup and down, its today. Lets look at whats going on. As recently as this week, 75 of the House Of Representatives, 330 members, voted to keep our commitment to ukraine. In the senate, over 80 senators have said we want to stand by our commitment to ukraine, both in items of honoring our alliances, making sure they continue to push back putin, recognizing if putin wins, xi wins as well. And suddenly this passion of a install minority in the house against ukraine is so high, so irrational, that youve got the leadership of the house basically more than doubling disaster systems, increasing dramatically democratic priorities and domestic spending, all to stick it to ukraine, to the point where they are limiting the ability for the Defense Department to transfer already existing funds to ukraine during this shortterm break, if that comes to pass. I cant explain it to your viewers. I cant explain why we have 75 plus of the congress of the United States wanting to stand by ukraine, yet it appears that at least the house may be headed toward something where they strip out the aid to ukraine, and even strip out any kind of stopgap to help them. I dont get it. So when you have some republicans, and i believe senator rand paul was among them, who says his concern is for keeping u. S. Government going, less so about the ukrainian government, that is behind lets acknowledge this. If that was the concern and, listen, senator paul has been consistent about he does not want support for ukraine. I disagree with him. But thats his position. But if you really wanted to keep the government open with the approach that 77 senators supported it, we could have procedurally moved this quicker. Sticking a wrench in the gears has been used. Thats part of the senate rules, and, frankly, maybe they ought to be looked at again. Weve seen where one senator holds up hundreds of military promotions. But its a little rich. Again, senator paul has been consistent. That is not the case with a lot of my friends on the republican side. While everybody does want u. S. Government to work, i wonder, if this is the vote that happens, if this Stopgap Measure is the one that succeeds for now, what is the message that you believe is being sent when it pertains to the u. S. Government commitment and pledge, ukrainian president zelenskyy was just on capitol hill, he was just at the pentagon. He got all this affirmation from so many different corners of washington that were behind you, the aid is coming, only for now potentially it not to come, at least in the form of this package. What are your concerns about the messaging, the promise . I have huge concerns there. Fredricka, there may be ways and i dont know, im not an expert on Transfer Authority that people can bridge, but, again, youve asked the right question. When weve got elections in europe, one of them today in slovakia, a prorussian candidate versus a proeuropean candidate. If we now look like were walking away from that commitment, the person who has rallied nato, the country that has expanded nato, the country thats brought in japan, south korea, australia, countries around the world to stand up against russian aggression, at the very moment, while its not been a breakthrough, ukrainians have had a small breakthrough in the south. Why in the heck we would jeopardize that right now, when the overwhelming majority of democrats and republicans, as i indicated, more than 75 in both bodies, are on record of supporting aid to ukraine. Mcconnell among them. Yes. Senator mcconnell has been one of the strongest supporters, one of the most strongest supporters, and i have Great Respect for his work. I just dont understand how we get through this issue in terms of how we are viewed in terms of our willingness to stand by our commitments. Will you have an opportunity to ask him directly . Lots of us are having ongoing conversations. Weve seen this already go dramatically different than what i think we all woke up this morning with. We still dont know for sure what the house is going to do. But as i said, ill close with where i started, if there was ever a day where up and down, and down is up, and were down the rabbit hole in the alice and wonderland analogy, its today. So if i could just gauge your thoughts and your emotions, are you mostly disappointed, or are you both disappointed and hopeful that it might mean u. S. Government is staying open, but it comes without a promise without a promise kept . Theres no state in the country that would be harder hit than virginia by a shutdown, with the number of federal workers, contractors, defense installations. Weve got to keep the government open. But i believe we should be able to walk and chew gum. Particularly and this is the point that, if im not explaining it very well, its because i dont get it. When the overwhel