Major League Baseball has seen numerous changes in recent years that lots of fans, and even players, have had to get used to.From pitch timers to larger bases, from limiting mound visits to PitchCom and potentially automated balls and strikes, the game is a different product than it was even in pre-pandemic days.Perhaps the biggest change, though, is that the average length of a game has been shortened by more than a half-hour.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMThat stat reached its peak when the average nine-inning game lasted three hours, 10 minutes. MLB implemented a pitch timer in 2023, and that number was shortened to 2:39. The year after, another three minutes were saved, but two of those have been given back this year.Former St. Louis Cardinals' Adam Wainwright pitched in the mid-2000s and retired after the first year of the pitch clock implementation, and as his career reached its back nine, he began to notice just how long games were taking."It became a little bit too much, probably," Wainwright admitted in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.Wainwright does not miss the long games, stating, "The length of the game now is perfect." But there is one thing he misses about the old days."I miss the days where it's the bottom of the ninth, it's the playoffs, there's so much drama, a pitcher can step off and be able to think about what he's going to throw next and build the drama even more. And then you're kind of sitting there watching and you're like, Whats going to happen? I miss that," Wainwright said.CARDINALS LEGEND ADAM WAINWRIGHT HONORING TEAM'S LATE PITCHER DARRYL KILE WHILE RAISING HEART HEALTH AWARENESS"From another standpoint, I miss the fact that a pitcher third time through the order, has time to go, You know what? All right, the first time, I got him out with fastballs in, the next time I got him out with changeups down and in, now away should be wide open. But I see him stepping towards the plate. Maybe hes expecting something. Maybe Ill jam him. I miss that ability, because when you're on the mound, and you get the ball back, and you look at the catcher, you got eight seconds by that time. So its like, no, no, no, oh I gotta go. Im a thinking mans pitcher, I love the thinking side of it. I miss that part of it."Wainwright also saw the total overhaul of analytics being implemented into the game, yet even a savvy veteran like himself took in plenty of the information."And in a lot of ways, that was good. There is so much information out there that a pitcher needs. Theres a happy medium there where analytics and old-school meet that's probably the perfect sweet spot. I have appreciated the slow-mo camera that shows you exactly why the spin was better on this certain pitch. I appreciate that and the ability to go back and say OK, I've got to make sure my hand is at this angle through the throwing motion. Or he doesnt hit it, why doesnt he hit it? The numbers say this is why he doesnt hit it. OK, maybe I should do more of that. So those things are really cool."But, like everyone else, there are some times when analytics is too much, including a time when Wainwright said he lucked out after getting Freddie Freeman out."I got him out on a terrible backup cutter that I was trying to jam up under his hands. I threw it up and away, and he popped it up to second base. And so, analytics came back and said, Look, if you back that cutter up and away again, analytical side is saying that's a pretty good pitch for you. And that's just not something that a pitcher is going to try to replicate. If I threw it to him again, hed hit it 450 feet," Wainwright said."Theres things that informationally, you take it all in, and then you've got to say, OK, I understand you, but that is a computer, it doesn't understand the human side of things. I don't want to try to throw that pitch ever again. That was totally luck, and if I throw it again, it would be a disaster. So you filter all these things, and then you put it through the filter, and then you go, OK, I really like that, I really like that. I don't want that, that doesn't matter to me. I'm not trying to do that. And so you make your decision based on that."As for the rule changes, they seem to have brought in fans, as average attendance is slated to top 29,000 per game for the third straight year, the first such stretch since before 2017. It also should be noted that two teams, the Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays, are playing in minor league ballparks this year, limiting attendance for 162 games.Each of the last two seasons was the first time since 2011 and 2012 that attendance increased in back-to-back seasons.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

After conservative activist Charlie Kirk was murdered in Utah last week, leftist and contrarian figures across the country reacted with open celebration, prompting widespread public condemnation.Fox News Digital spoke this week to several experts who analyzed whether the trend remains a fringe occurrence or if celebrations of political opponents deaths and injuries are becoming mainstream.Paul Sracic is a former politics professor at Youngstown State University and is currently an adjunct fellow at the domestic policy-focused Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. He said the answer depends on ones definition of "fringe."CHARLIE KIRK'S MURDER THE LATEST IN INCREASING POLITICAL VIOLENCE NATIONWIDE, FROM PA GOVERNOR TO SCOTUSSracic said recent surveys showed as many as one-fifth of self-identified liberals agreed that political violence is sometimes justified."Presumably, most of these very liberal and liberal voters support Democrats. This should horrify Democratic leaders, but its arguably the inevitable outcome of Democrats either adopting or at most failing to push back against notions that words themselves can be a form of violence and therefore can make people feel "unsafe" if they are exposed to a political argument with which they disagree," Sracic said.Democratic leaders, however they might personally think, also know that these more-energized voters must be attracted to the polls in the midterms, no matter the political environment, in order for the party to have a shot at winning back part of the federal government, he said.Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., who is also running for Sen. Mitch McConnells to-be-open Senate seat, offered another perspective focusing on the increasing trend of political violence from the left against the right.He cited Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., nearly being assassinated at a Virginia ballfield, two attempts on President Donald Trumps life, and Kirks murder."Make no mistakewhether you stand with President Trump, support Israel, or believe in free-market capitalism, you are being targeted," Barr said."I will work with the Trump administration and provide every resource necessary to prevent these acts of domestic terrorism before they happen."Democratic strategist and former congressional staff advisor Julian Epstein argued that multiple factors are driving the reaction to Kirks killing.RESEARCHERS WARN OF RISING 'ASSASSINATION CULTURE' AFTER MURDERS OF CHARLIE KIRK, BRIAN THOMPSON"The celebration of Kirk's death on the far left, both on and offline, is far too common, and not sufficiently denounced," he said. "The minimization of assassination by Democrat elites in arguing the both side-ism -- and in the case of an ABC reporter, the moral relativism -- is also too common."Epstein warned that the indiscriminate use of historically charged terms like "fascism" is radicalizing political bases, and argued the left is failing to uphold Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s Civil Rights-era call to reject violence as a path to political change."That failure occurred not only with the Kirk assassination, but also during the L.A. riots and the scourge of antisemitic violence on college campuses and elsewhere in the past few years," he said.Link Lauren, former advisor to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and host of the podcast "Spot On," said the trend is no longer fringe but increasingly mainstream:"They call us Nazis, fascists, and threats to democracy. In the wake of George Floyd, the left burned down cities and businesses," Lauren said."Since Charlies assassination, conservatives have gathered in churches and peaceful prayer. [That] tells you all you need to know."At the Manhattan Institute, legal policy fellow Tal Fortgang added that political violence is "capacious.""There is an increasingly mainstream view among progressives, gaining ground within the Democratic Party as its democratic socialist influence grows, that terrorism is justified if it evens out power disparities," he said. "So you see prominent Democrats downplaying the atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023, on the grounds that Israel was the more powerful party in that fight."Fortgang said New York Assemb. Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America have risen in prominence since the Hamas terror attacks."And, as Mamdani's star has risen, so has the premise that violence is justified if it's someone "powerless" attacking someone powerful."Fortgang also pointed to comments from Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts after the murder of a health care executive a case in which the prime suspect has been treated like a celebrity outside his ongoing court hearings.Warren originally said that violence is "never the answer," with the caveat that "people can only be pushed so far if you push people hard enough, they lose faith in the ability of their government to make change." She later clarified her remarks, stating: "Violence is never the answer. Period. I should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder."Fortgang said suspect Luigi Mangione "struck a blow against capitalism," and posited that Kirks suspected murderer Tyler Robinson may have been motivated by a desire to avenge transphobia."Hamas fights settler-colonialism when they burn families alive. Systemic thinking is dehumanizing, but it became basically orthodoxy on the American left," he said."Even if it is not solely responsible for the uptick in political violence, or its widespread celebration, it helps sustain it. That's what the Democratic Party needs to confront."

The House of Representatives adopted a resolution to honor the "life and legacy" of late conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Friday, just over a week after he was shot and killed during a college campus speaking event in Utah.The measure got bipartisan support in a 310-58 vote, with both Democrats and Republicans having quickly risen to condemn political violence in the wake of Kirk's assassination.The vote divided Democrats, however, with 95 lawmakers voting to adopt the resolution, 58 voting against it and 22 not voting at all.Thirty-eight Democrats also voted "present" on the resolution. The top three House Democrats Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. all voted in favor of the measure.ABC REPORTER CALLS CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN'S TEXT MESSAGES WITH TRANSGENDER PARTNER VERY TOUCHINGHouse Democratic leadership did not expressly tell their caucus how to vote on the resolution but communicated that they would support it, according to two sources familiar with discussions.The measure to honor Kirk, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., lauded the Turning Point USA founder as "one of the most prominent voices in America, engaging in respectful, civil discourse across college campuses, media platforms and national forums, always seeking to elevate truth, foster understanding and strengthen the Republic."It also said Kirk's "commitment to civil discussion and debate stood as a model for young Americans across the political spectrum, and he worked tirelessly to promote unity without compromising on conviction."SCRUTINY INTENSIFIES OVER SECURITY LAPSES SURROUNDING THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTINGIt called his killing "a sobering reminder of the growing threat posed by political extremism and hatred in our society" and "calls upon all Americansregardless of race, party affiliation, or creedto reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans."The resolution also invoked Kirk's Christian faith, affirming that the House "honors the life, leadership, and legacy of Charlie Kirk, whose steadfast dedication to the Constitution, civil discourse, and biblical truth inspired a generation to cherish and defend the blessings of liberty."Despite lawmakers on both sides quickly coming out to condemn Kirk's killing and political violence as a whole, subsequent days have seen partisan divisions skyrocket over the case.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPRep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., was among the Democrats targeted by the right for her response to Kirk's death, both in an interview on progressive outlet Zeteo News and in reposting a social media video that criticized Kirk's allies' responses to his killing.Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., led a failed bid to censure Omar over her reaction, which was tabled when four Republicans, three of whom cited First Amendment protections, voted to block the measure.

Three Russian jets violated Estonias airspace on Friday, according to the country's foreign minister.The MiG-31 jets flew together, two NATO sources independently told Fox News Digital. The jets flew back and forth for over 12 minutes before Italian F-35s "pushed them out," according to the sources.A NATO defense source initially said the jets were carrying high-speed, air-launched ballistic missiles called Kinzhals, but later clarified they were only capable of doing so. It is unclear if the jets were armed with Kinzhals. White House officials could not immediately be reached about the incursion.NATO WARNS RUSSIA AFTER POLAND SHOOTS DOWN 'HUGE NUMBER' OF DRONES THAT VIOLATED ITS AIRSPACE"Russia has already violated Estonias airspace four times this year, which in itself is unacceptable. But todays incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen," said Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. "Russias increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure."Estonia is considering requesting Article 4 consultations.Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty allows any NATO member to request consultations with other allies when it feels itsterritorial integrity, political independence or security is under threat. It does not automatically trigger a military response, as Article 5 does, but it is often used as a serious diplomatic and security warning signal.The incident comes just days after Poland accused Russia of violating its airspace with more than a dozen drones during a major bombardment of Ukraine. Warsaw reported that at least 19 drones crossed into Polish territory from Belarus and Ukraine, forcing temporary airport closures and scrambling NATO air defenses.Poland shot down several of the drones and labeled the breach an "act of aggression." Prime Minister Donald Tusk described it as an "unprecedented" violation, warning that the drones posed a direct threat.Poland invoked Article 4 consultations with NATO in response.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

American track star Noah Lyles won his fourth title in the 200 meters at the World Championships in Tokyo on Friday.Lyles four victories match Usain Bolts four 200 titles at the World Championships.Lyles, 28, did not start off fast. Olympic teammate Kenny Bednarek took the initial lead. Lyles surged to pull ahead of Bednarek heading into the straightaway and held him off down the stretch.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMLyles finished in 19.52 seconds, just a .06-second margin over Bednarek. The two teammates got into some extracurricular activity after a race in the U.S. Championships last month in Eugene, Oregon.As Lyles was ahead of Bednarek, he turned toward his teammate and glared at him as he crossed the finish line. Bednarek took exception and gave Lyles a shove in the back. The two eventually shook hands and made up.This time around in Tokyo, there were no such fireworks at the conclusion of the race asLyles raised up four fingers and said, "That's four, baby," into the camera.NOAH LYLES STARES DOWN OLYMPIC TEAMMATE AFTER COMEBACK VICTORY, GETS SHOVED AFTERWARDBotswana sprinter Letsile Tebogo won the event at the Paris Olympics Games in 2024 while Lyles ran with COVID. Bednarek won silver, while Lyles, despite battling COVID, earned a bronze medal.Tebogo finished fourth in Tokyo on Friday, while Bryan Levell of Jamaica finished third.American runner Melissa Jefferson-Wooden made history during the World Championships.Jefferson-Wooden completed the first women's 100-200 double at Worlds since Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 2013, winning in 21.68 seconds a .46-second margin over surprise silver medalist Amy Hunt of Britain.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitals sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

President Donald Trump's $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times has been tossed, for now.Calling the president's 85-page lawsuit "decidedly improper and impermissible," a federal judge in Tampa threw it out and gave him 28 days to file a new complaint that had to be under 40 pages.U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday blasted the Trump suit for alleging only two acts of defamation, yet "Count I appears on page eighty, and Count II appears on page eighty-three." He also criticized the suit's flowery descriptions about Trump and overly political language, writing a complaint is not a "public forum for vituperation and invective" or a "megaphone for public relations or a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally."Trump's lawsuit filed this week was his latest against a major media organization. He accused the paper of being a virtual "mouthpiece" for the Democratic Party and making an illegal "campaign contribution" in 2024 to opponent Kamala Harris.The Times responded that the lawsuit was an intimidation tactic and meritless.A spokesman for Trump's legal team signaled the lawsuit will proceed."President Trump will continue to hold the Fake News accountable through this powerhouse lawsuit against the New York Times, its reporters, and Penguin Random House, in accordance with the judges direction on logistics," the spokesman said.Fox News Digital reached out to The New York Times and the White House for comment.This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates

President Donald Trumps security is under the spotlight in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirks assassination just a year after two assassination attempts against the president.While the Secret Service has initiated a host of changes to the agency to prevent another assassination attempt on the president in the past year, the president is constantly under threat. And he's poised to visit a huge stadium Sunday for Kirk's memorial service, which is fertile ground for more threats.Trump is slated to attend Kirks memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The venue has the capacity to host 63,400 people and can accommodate up to 73,000 for "mega-events," according to its website.A senior administration official confirmed to Fox News Digital Friday that federal law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, distributed a report Thursday warning that they are monitoring "several threats of unknown credibility" against Trump, Vice President JD Vance and others planning to attend Kirks memorial service.The assessment claims that the memorial may be an attractive target for violent extremists or lone wolf actors due to the significant media coverage it's expected to attract.Tim Miller, who served as a Secret Service agent during Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clintons administrations, said that Secret Service knows that the "threat picture" has likely never been higher for any other president and will be providing the highest level of protection possible during the memorial event."The Secret Service is never going to underestimate the potential threats of these events," Miller, who now heads up Lionheart International Services Group that provides security support and training, told Fox News Digital Tuesday. "They are going to provide exactly the amount of security required to ensure the highest level of safety, especially given that the event where Charlie Kirk died was an outdoor event."In addition to attending the memorial, Trump is expected to share some remarks."It's going to be big," Trump told reporters Monday. "I'm going to be at the stadium, and I guess I'll say a few words. I don't know, but I guess I will, but I knew him very well. He was an amazing guy. He was all about young people and getting them started."WHITE HOUSE PUSHES FOR $58M SECURITY INCREASE IN WAKE OF KIRK ASSASSINATIONKirk, 31, was shot in the neck during a stop on his American Comeback Tour Wednesday at Utah Valley University. While Kirk did not receive a Secret Service security detail for the large event like Trump does at every outing, his death, along with the assassination attempts on Trump in 2024, amplify pressure on the agency to hone its skills."After yesterday, I am sure every Secret Service agent recognizes that every day that they go to work could be the day," Miller said Thursday.Meanwhile, the assassination has prompted the White House to pursue more security funding to protect the president. The White House has put in a request for an additional $58 million in security funding for the executive and judicial branches from Congress, a spokesperson for the White Houses Office of Management and Budget confirmed Monday to Fox News Digital.The added funds would be tacked onto a continuing resolution, the spokesperson said. Lawmakers must pass a stopgap spending measure to keep the government open, or else a government shutdown could occur when funds expire on Sept. 30.No additional details were provided, and the office did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.Efforts also are underway on Capitol Hill to enhance security for lawmakers, and the Senate approved a new rule change Thursday that would permit lawmakers to foot the bill for personal security measures using official office funds.GRADUALLY AND THEN SUDDENLY: REAGAN SPEECHWRITER TALKS POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN AFTERMATH OF KIRKS DEATHMeanwhile, the White House has implemented venue changes that would provide Trump greater security, directly after Kirks death.A White House official confirmed to Fox News Digital that Trumps speech at the Pentagon to commemorate the 9/11 terrorist attacks was moved inside due to an "abundance of caution."Meanwhile, the Secret Service has been operating at the most heightened levels following the two assassination attempts against Trump last year."The Secret Service now has to play at a level of enhanced security that they've never dreamed of before," Miller told Fox News Digital Thursday. "I think (Secret Service Director Sean Curran) is doing a good job in leading that effort." "But here's the bad news for the Secret Service: They don't have time," Miller said. "This threat is now. Can you imagine they already shot our president once. Can you imagine if they're able to kill him?"SECRET SERVICE UNDER PRESSURE: WHAT KIRKS ASSASSINATION MEANS FOR TRUMPS SECURITYThe White House did not provide comment to Fox News Digital on whether bolstered security would be in place during Kirks funeral.The Secret Service did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital about security at the memorial service. The agency previously extended its sympathies to the Kirk family, but did not comment on any specific alterations to Trumps security detail in response to Kirk's death."The safety and security of our protectees is the U.S. Secret Services top priority," a Secret Service spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "President Trump receives the highest levels of U.S. Secret Service protection and the agency adjusts our protective posture as needed to mitigate evolving threats. Out of concern for operational security, we cannot discuss the means and methods used for our protective operations."

President Donald Trump on Friday said he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea next month following a "very productive" phone call.The meeting will take place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The face-to-face meeting will be the first between the two leaders during Trumps second term in the White House.Trump said he also agreed to travel to China in early 2026 and that Xi agreed to come to the United States "at an appropriate time."The president said Friday that he spoke with Xi about a range of issues, including trade, the war in Ukraine, and a deal to approve the sale of TikTok.HEGSETH DELIVERS STERN WARNING TO CHINA IN FIRST CALL AFTER XI'S MILITARY PARADE"I also agreed with President Xi that we would meet at the APEC Summit in South Korea, that I would go to China in the early part of next year, and that President Xi would likewise come to the United States at an appropriate time," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "The call was a very good one, we will be speaking again by phone, and we appreciate the TikTok approval. Both [sides] look forward to meeting at APEC!"Separately, Chinese state media said the two leaders held "pragmatic, positive, and constructive phone talks."On the Chinese side, Xi told Trump that he should avoid imposing "unilateral trade restrictions" on China, according to a statement from the countrys Foreign Ministry.TRUMP TOUTS KIM JONG UN RELATIONSHIP AMID SOUTH KOREA SUMMITChina has been a major target for Trumps tariffs, resulting in back-and-forth trade restrictions over the flow of fentanyl into the United States.Xi also expressed hope that the Trump administration would provide an "open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment" for Chinese companies in the U.S.Regarding TikTok, the ministry said: "The Chinese government respects the wishes of the company in question and would be happy to see productive commercial negotiations in keeping with market rules lead to a solution that complies with Chinas laws and regulations and takes into account the interests of both sides."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFridays call was the second between Trump and Xi since Trump returned to the White House.

Jimmy Uso may be one half of one of the greatest tag teams in WWE history, but there are still things he wants to accomplish in his career before he hangs up the boots for good.Uso, 40, spoke to Fox News Digital before he teams with his twin brother, Jey, to compete against Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed in a big match at Wrestlepalooza this weekend. The bout will be the first EMF-free match in WWE history.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMHe was asked what hed like to accomplish with WrestleMania 42 presumably about seven months away."I would love to have a singles title, just to say that Ive done it. Ive been in tag team, still in tag team," he said. "Even when my brother went to Raw, I went with Solo (Sikoa). We tagged together and I kinda just stayed with them. Ive always been in the tag-team scene with anybody, with everybody, especially lately, especially after me any brother split brands. That would definitely be a bucket list for me just to say Ive held a singles championship."Uso has only been a tag-team champion during his entire career in WWE albeit eight times.WWE STAR OBA FEMI THROWS OPPONENT THROUGH TABLE FROM RING DURING HEATWAVE MATCH, RETAINS TITLEHe also mentioned that by WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas he would be welcoming his first child with his wife, Trinity Fatu, who is known in the pro wrestling world as Naomi. She announced she was pregnant last month and had to relinquish her championship in the process.Uso told Fox News Digital he was looking forward to that as well."By WrestleMania, our baby should be here. So, thats another thing Im excited about. The world is a lot more different to me these last months," he said. "With my wife, with the big announcement and where were are today, how life really changed in the blink of an eye for us and our family."So, by April, Id love to have a singles run, if not, its all love. But my favorite part is Mania because I know our little, whatever were having, he or she will be here and Im excited. This Mania is going to be very exciting for me."Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Senate Republicans' bid to pass a short-term government funding extension was foiled by Senate Democrats as the deadline to fund the government fast approaches.While the proposal easily glided through the House with little drama, it hit a brick wall in the Senate and failed 44-48. Only one lawmaker, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., crossed the aisle to support the Republican plan. Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, also voted against the bill.Their failure to send the House GOPs continuing resolution (CR) to President Donald Trumps desk came on the heels of Democrats failed attempt to advance their own counter-proposal to the Republicans plan.HOUSE PASSES TRUMP-BACKED PLAN TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNIt also comes as lawmakers gear up to leave Washington, D.C., for a week to observe the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Theyre expected to return with just two working days left before the deadline to fund the government on Sept. 30."The House has acted," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. "The president's ready to sign the bill. We've got the appropriations committee and a lot of senators who are ready to go to work to pass bipartisan appropriations bills to fund the government by allowing these additional weeks into November. In order to do that, Democrats have to take yes for an answer."The CR would have kept the government open until Nov. 21, and it included tens of millions for increased security for lawmakers and the judicial and executive branches.Senate Democrats have dug in against the GOPs proposal, not so much because of whats in the bill, but whats not in it. They have also hung the possibility of a government shutdown on Trump, who demanded that Republicans cut Democrats out of the process.Thune charged that if Democrats were "serious" about funding the government, they wouldn't have "put out the most partisan piece of legislation you possibly could.""I mean, it's kind of mind-boggling," he said.THUNE PANS DEMOCRATS' SHUTDOWN STANCE AS 'BORDERLINE PATHOLOGICAL,' 'LIKE A DISEASE'Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has also accused Thune of not negotiating with him a point Thune has pushed back against and noted throughout the week that his office is less than 25 yards from Schumers. "We have two weeks. They should sit down and talk to us, and we maybe can get a good proposal," Schumer said. "Let's see. But when they don't talk to us, there's no hope of getting a good proposal. And that makes no sense.""And again, when Donald Trump says don't negotiate with Democrats, because he doesn't know what the Senate is like, or he doesn't know how to count, because without Democrats, they're going to end up shutting down the government," he continued.However, the demands Schumer and Democrats laid out in their counter are a bridge too far for Republicans.Included in the bill were a permanent extension to COVID-19 pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year, efforts to repeal the Medicaid cuts in Trumps "big, beautiful bill," and a clawback of canceled NPR and PBS funding.TRUMP'S FOREIGN AID CLAWBACK RATTLES SENATE AHEAD OF FUNDING FIGHTSenate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told Fox News Digital that the legislation was a "Trojan horse by the Democrats.""It's to me, it's a preview of what they're going to want to do," he said."Schumer has to play to the far-left fringe that is actually running the Democrat Party right now," Barrasso continued.Senate Democrats are adamant that the Obamacare credits, in particular, need to be dealt with now rather than near the deadline. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., told Fox News Digital that lawmakers "have to do it now.""All the [insurance rate] notices go out Oct. 1, so you have to have it now," Peters said.However, Republicans argue that including an extension to the tax credits to a short-term extension isnt germane to the bill, especially one geared toward trying to give Congress time to fund the government with spending bills. And Thune has said that the credits would be "addressed" after a shutdown was averted.But for now, the issue at hand still boils down to communication between Thune and Schumer."I mean, these are the leaders of the U.S. Senate," Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said. "I expect them to step up. And if one's not actually reaching out, the other one should at least demonstrate that they are they're trying to negotiate in good faith. If they don't, then they get what they get."