Update (1705ET): As expected, Democrats are in fits over House Republicans' stopgap funding bill, also known as a Continuing Resolution (CR).

According to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the bill is a "Freedom Caucus wish list" and a "hard-right screed" that has no chance in the Senate.

According to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), the GOP short-term funding bill is a "right wing wishlist that they want to jam down the throats of the American people," which is "unreasonable, unacceptable and laughable."

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Rep. Kevin 'secret concessions' McCarthy (R-CA) is facing perhaps the biggest challenge of his eight months as House Speaker; avoiding yet another government shutdown with a fractured caucus (ouch!).

Southern California drivers are feeling the squeeze of high gas prices yet again.

On Monday morning, the price of a regular gallon of gas averaged about $5.92 in the Los Angeles area, according to AAA.

That’s a 5-cent increase from the day before and nearly 40 cents more than a week ago.

For comparison, the national average is $3.88 per gallon.

Prices are high now, but they may be headed for a gradual decline as fall approaches, according to AAA.

What’s keeping them elevated for now is high oil costs, as prices “have jumped several dollars to hover around $90 per barrel,” AAA said.

 “Oil costs are putting upward pressure on pump prices, but the rise is tempered by much lower demand,” AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said in a statement. “The slide in people fueling up is typical, with schools back in session, the days getting shorter, and the weather less pleasant. But the usual decline in pump prices is being stymied for now by these high oil costs.”