As President Donald Trump appears determined not to concede on his campaign promise of a border wall, that insistence could take a toll on his party. In the Southwest, growing diversity and the president’s demeaning rhetoric about Latino migrants are pulling parts of the region from the once-firm grip of Republicans. And it’s notable that each of the nine House members whose districts touch the border from California to Texas opposes a wall as the solution for border security. [NYTimes]
Topping the news: In Washington, Utah Republican Sens. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee cancelled out each others’ votes on two competing bills — one backed by the president and the other by Democrats — aimed at ending the government shutdown.