Making sense of chaos

By Jonathan Bernstein, WashPost, Updated: August 15, 2013

There’s a lot out there to keep track of on what we’re hearing about the GOP government shutdown/debt limit threats right now. So here’s a roundup. Remember: a government shutdown would come without funding bills (in the form of a continuing resolution, or “CR”) passing by the end of September. Later in the fall, the debt limit will be reached and Congress will have to act to prevent a government default or other catastrophe.

So where are we right now?

* Some conservatives are really pushing the threat to shut down the government unless the Affordable Care Act is “defunded.”

* However, Republican congressional leaders have fought back effectively, and many of the rank-and-file are buying the idea that Republicans could lose their majority over it. For example, here’s another House Republican making the case that Obamacare opponents should avoid a government shutdown, and here’s Tea Party Senator Ron Johnson making the same case.

(More here.)