Co-chairs of The Problem Solvers Caucus Republican Rep. Tom Reed and Democrat Rep. Josh Gottheimer speak out on moving past gridlock in Washington. On the roster: Lame duck, indeed - H.W. Bush-era AG eyed as possible Sessions successor - GOP officials had early warning of voter fraud in N.C. - SupCo's double-jeopardy case holds Mueller probe implications - Will study for bacon LAME DUCK, INDEED In the universe of Washington dud stories, "government shutdown looming" is right up there with "fireworks expected at hearing" and "leadership challenge brewing." The witness shrugs off lame speechifying disguised as tough questioning, the insurgency peters out over the question "who else" and in all but five cases since 1990 the government makes it past the fiscal cliff by plopping out some temporary spending measure. And yet… Congress today passed a two-week extension of current spending while the lame-duck House and Senate bicker over how to proceed. At issue are seven stalled annual appropriations bills that fund nine cabinet agencies.