Two weeks into the government shutdown, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer are talking at each other through the media — but not to each other.

Why it matters: Both see President Trump as the key to eventually unlocking real negotiations on health care. • "I don't think Schumer's negotiating on any of this," Thune (R-S.D.) said in a sit-down interview Thursday with Axios. "He's in a box. He's got all these groups coming in this weekend and a base that's unhappy and wants to see him fight Trump." • Thune explained he didn't speak directly to Schumer to offer to vote by a certain day on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies — nor did he pitch his counterpart on passing a package of bipartisan funding bills. • Schumer has held firm and repe

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