Government shutdown updates: Senate vote marks step towards ending federal shutdown

Senate Republicans appeared rather optimistic that they could convince a handful of Democrats to abandon their demands to fund the government by the end of this week. But Senate Democrats have not said as much publicly, though some are signaling there are indications of a "thaw."

Behind the scenes, a small bipartisan group of rank-and-file senators is in conversation to find a way out of this shutdown. It would almost certainly require Democrats to drop the reason they are putting up this fight: extending expiring Obamacare subsidies so healthcare costs don't rise for millions.

Republican Sen. Mike Rounds told ABC News once the election is over, Democrats may have more of an appetite, saying "so they will have turned out their base, and I think that makes it a little bit easier for them now to come back in and actually get something done."

Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin even said he believes Democrats could get there by Thursday or Friday.

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal told ABC News there "seems to be some indication of a thaw," but it may take longer. When asked whether he would be willing to drop his healthcare demands, Blumenthal said if Democrats back away now, what will it all be for?

"I speak only for myself, which is, what have we done to endure all of this inconvenience and some pain if we don't accomplish something for the American people. And I sense and sympathize with the hurt that people are feeling, but the greater hurt is to go without health insurance, and that has to be the goal, rather than just capitulating and walking away, leaving the American people stranded and alone without help," he said.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott and Lauren Peller

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked what else President Donald Trump plans to do help bring the shutdown to an end besides posting on his social media platform Truth Social.

"Look, I think you'll see. I think you'll see the president continue to engage, very strongly and consistently with his friends on Capitol Hill. I don't have any meetings to read out for you at this time, but I think you should stay tuned and keep your eyes on Truth Social on this matter. The president's making his position on it quite clear," Leavitt said.

Trump has issued multiple calls on Republicans to eliminate the filibuster to end the stalemate.

"And again, he is right. Republicans need to play tough. We know that this is what the Democrats will do if they are ever given the keys to power again," she said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that the administration is complying with a court order to pay SNAP benefits, after President Donald Trump suggested on social media that no benefits will be given until Democrats vote to reopen the government.

"The administration is fully complying with the court order," she said. "I just spoke to the president about it. The recipients of these SNAP benefits need to understand it's going to take some time to receive this money, because the Democrats have forced the administration into a very untenable position. We are digging into a contingency fund that is supposed to be for emergencies, catastrophes for war, and the president does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future. And that's what he was referring to in his Truth Social post."

"So the Department of Agriculture, as for the latest SNAP payment and the judge's order, put out guidance to states today on how to get that money to the recipients of SNAP. But it's going to take some time," she continued.

The Senate failed for the 14th time to advance a bill that would've reopened the government until Nov. 21.

The bill failed to advance by a vote of 54-44. It would have needed 60 votes to advance.

As has been the case in previous votes, Sen. Rand Paul was the lone Republican to vote against the bill. Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and John Fetterman, and Independent Angus King voted for it. No senators changed their position from previous votes.

The failed vote all but guarantees that this shutdown will become the longest in U.S. history, as there are currently no other votes on reopening the government set for today and the shutdown record will be set tomorrow.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin