<h1>Democratic leaders demand White House talks to avert federal shutdown, seek health subsidy protections and Medicaid reversals</h1> Democratic congressional leaders demand a meeting with the President to negotiate averting a potential federal shutdown at the Sept. 30 funding deadline, claiming executive insistence has blocked talks; Republicans controlling Congress offered a short-term funding measure passed by the House but stalled in the Senate, where a 60-vote threshold is required. Democrats seek to protect and extend enhanced health insurance subsidies and reverse recent Medicaid cuts, demands Republicans call nonstarter while saying some subsidy issues can be delayed. The impasse leaves government operations and key programs at risk absent a bipartisan agreement.