A bit of personal news! Starting soon, I'll be back on the hill covering the Senate full-time. Cannot wait to get going.. Much thanks to @bobcusack & @iswanTheHill for the opportunity, & a big s/o to @jordainc & the size 14s I've got to fill.

Cornyn, the lone outstanding vote, was traveling back to Washington and has landed at Dulles, per source.

Senate Dem caucus meeting is still going on They’ve told Senate pages posted outside the doors to keep talking so reporters can’t hear what’s going on inside So one page is just reading what sounds like homework aloud

Senate GOP conference meeting expected at 12:30pm tomorrow. Possible votes after, but again, very TBD.

No votes in Senate today. TBD for tomorrow.

NEWS: Dem negotiators indicate they don’t expect a shutdown deal in near term. When asked if we’re close to end of the shutdown, Peters not optimistic, tells reporters: “No, I don’t think so.” Calls Johnson’s refusal to guarantee ACA subsidy vote a “significant problem.”

By a vote of 57-43, the #Senate confirmed Caleb Orr, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Economics and Business Affairs). Republican Senator Paul voted against. Democrat and Independent Senators Coons, Fetterman, Hassam, King, Shaheen voted in favor.

More from Thune: “The stuff they want to talk about — we've said before we will do that, and the president’s made it very clear he’s willing to sit down, have the conversation about how to fix Obamacare, but first, we got to open up the government.”

NEW: Trump says he’s willing to sit down w Schumer/Jeffries to talk health care … after shutdown ends. Trump told Thune this on phone this a.m. in response to their letter. Per Thune: “His message is: ‘I’m ready to sit down and talk to folks once they vote to open the gov’t’“

Thune says he is “optimistic” there could be a deal to end the shutdown this week, notes that Election Day tomorrow is part of that calculus. “Seems like that matters. I don’t know why it should.”

Personal news: Today is my first day as a Business and Defense Reporter @thehill, covering all things lobbying and U.S. military Please reach out with any tips or story ideas at ftimotija@thehill.com

There’s a tug-of-war going on between Senate Rs & Schumer for those final 5 votes from Dems deemed gettable, w Rs putting an informal press on them at rank-and-file level. No gangs (yet). “It’s really more of a pick-up game now,” as one Senate R put it. https://t.co/xLfjY6uKdA

full statement re no go for Senate bid 12 mins into retirement video -->

Pearl: "Many of you know that I thought & prayed at maybe running for U.S. Senate, maybe to be the next great senator from the state of Alabama. But that would have required leaving Auburn, & instead the univ. has given me an opportunity of staying here & being Auburn's senator."

Pearl is not going to run for Tuberville's seat, per a source familiar

Thune lays out what the choice for Dems is w “clean” CR vote: "Looks to me like it's this or a shutdown.”

Hire Kristina

Thune says he expects the rules change re noms to go into effect next week. He also says he has no plans to meet with Schumer this week re govt funding (as of yet).

SCOOP from @AlexGangitano and me: Trump to host tech CEOs tomorrow for the first event in the newly renovated Rose Garden. Expected attendees include Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai, Bill Gates, Sam Altman and Sergey Brin, among several others. https://t.co/SzbffM2j68

Thune says it’s “anybody’s guess” when Senate breaks for recess. “We’ll see if Dems want to play ball or not.” Says Senate still awaiting the “green light” from Trump to move on Russia Sanctions.

Some GOP Senators vented their frustration to ⁦@alweaver22⁩ about staying in session while the House left a day early for August recess “They work, best case, four days a week, and they take off all of August. How’s that not French?” actual LOL