Weigel

Jeb Hensarling, the House GOP's Conference Chairman, spent around 20 minutes in the office where Speaker of the House John Boehner is working on a deal to keep the government open. When he exited, alongside Majority Leader Eric Cantor's spokesman, he kept his cards hidden.

"The speaker says there's no agreement," said Hensarling. The GOP conference would meet at 9:45 -- but Cantor's spokesman, Brad Dayspring, said there was "nothing to sell" them yet.

This is not a sign of a collapsing deal. If a deal emerges, it will be introduced by the president, or the Speaker of the House, or both -- the leaders of the respective parties will break the news.