Senator Rand Paul Excluded from White House Republican Luncheon Amid Government Shutdown

Senator Rand Paul revealed he was not invited to a Republican luncheon at the White House hosted by President Donald Trump, who criticized Paul's consistent opposition to legislative proposals, describing it as bad political strategy. Paul responded that he was instead attending a "Liberty Caucus" lunch with Rep. Thomas Massie, another Republican often at odds with Trump. The gathering aimed to showcase Republican unity amid the ongoing government shutdown, with Trump expressing frustration over Paul's absence and his automatic 'no' votes. This exclusion reflects broader tensions within the Republican ranks, where dissenting voices like Paul's have faced social and political pushback from the Trump administration. Meanwhile, the Senate continues to reject short-term spending bills, prolonging the shutdown, and the administration faces challenges including opposition to other nominations, such as Paul Ingrassia's for the Office of Special Counsel. The shutdown's impact extends to federal programs like WIC, which may face funding issues without additional emergency funds from the administration.