“The months-long divide in ideology and tactics splintering Senate Republicans was laid bare on the Senate floor Thursday in an incredibly rare, heated exchange between three senators,” the Washington Post reports, adding, “At one point, Corker accused Cruz and [Sen. Mike] Lee [of Utah] of turning Senate proceedings ‘into a show.’ Cruz countered by questioning Corker’s loyalty to the Republican Party by siding with Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.)”
More: “As the senators tussled, Reid and his deputy, Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), sat across the chamber watching, at times whispering to each other and suppressing laughter.”
The Wall Street Journal: “No Clear Path to Avoid Shutdown as House GOP Stands Firm.” Lede: “Congress's rocky path to avoiding a government shutdown became even rougher Thursday, as Speaker John Boehner said the House wouldn't accept the spending plan likely to emerge from the Senate.”
The Hill: “House Republicans lack votes to move plan to raise debt ceiling.”
The Hill: “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday he hasn’t had a single conversation with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) about avoiding a government shutdown and doesn’t plan to.
‘Send us a clean [continuing resolution], a clean debt ceiling [bill]. That’s the path forward. There’s no need for conversations. We’ve spoken loudly and clearly, and we have the support of the president of the United States,’ Reid told reporters.”
Roll Call: “A behind-the-scenes debate over the timing of the final Senate votes on the continuing resolution was brought to light on the Senate floor Thursday by Sen. Bob Corker.”
The Hill: “Feuding in the Republican Conference moved to the Senate floor on Thursday as Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) accused two colleagues of risking a government shutdown as a publicity stunt.”
Andy Roth of Club for Growth: “Senator Corker effectively became a Democrat just now on the Senate floor.”
CNN: “Republican divisions force delay in Boehner's debt strategy.”