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House Democrats entered a Thursday afternoon caucus meeting frustrated at the prospect of swallowing a potential debt-limit deal that will likely contain a number of conservative policy wins and little upside for their party.

The Democratic Caucus is in an especially awkward spot here. They’re largely shut out of high-level talks but will still be expected to provide a crucial portion of votes to clear a deal through the House.

INVESTIGATION NATION

Outside Dem group tries to invalidate IRS whistleblower

The IRS whistleblower who claims the probe of Hunter Biden was purposely slow-walked at President Joe Biden’s direction will testify behind closed doors before the House Ways and Means Committee today. But as GOP groups play up the allegations, the White House and Hill Democrats have largely been silent on the issue to avoid appearing like they’re interfering with an ongoing investigation.

Facts First USA — a left-wing group helmed by David Brock — is attempting to fill the vacuum. The group is portraying the IRS whistleblower as a partisan who’s represented by a hard-right Republican advocacy group.

THE SENATE

Biden’s Joint Chiefs pick will run into Tuberville blockade

Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) ongoing holds of military promotions for general and flag officers will soon extend to Gen. C.Q. Brown, President Joe Biden’s pick to be the next chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Tuberville’s months-long blockade of military promotions over his objections to the Pentagon’s abortion policy has rankled senators in both parties, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

THE DEAL

Deal or no deal? It’s crunch time on the debt limit

Top House Republican negotiators left the Capitol Thursday evening without a deal in hand, complaining that it was proving difficult to clinch a deal with the White House on new work requirements for social-welfare programs.

Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), one of Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s top negotiators, told reporters Thursday night in the Capitol that negotiations were going “slow.” Here’s the video from CNN’s Haley Talbot.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

Dems paint GOP as anti-veterans

House Democrats are continuing to hammer home the message that Republicans are cutting veterans’ benefits as debt-limit negotiations continue. As we reported in AM, this attack line is omnipresent on the airwaves in districts represented by vulnerable Republicans.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries brought roughly a dozen members of his caucus with military experience to his weekly press conference Thursday.

☀️ Punchbowl News AM: NEWS: Inside House Dem leadership’s call with the W.H.

News: Shortly before a closed Democratic Caucus meeting on Thursday afternoon, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar hopped on the phone with top White House officials.

The trio’s message to Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, White House Counselor Steve Ricchetti, White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and Legislative Affairs Director Louisa Terrell was direct. It wasn’t acrimonious, but the message was very precise.

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