“Senate Democrats on Thursday turned an annual Pentagon funding bill into the collateral damage of a fierce shutdown battle, blocking the legislation as they pressed for an agreement that includes their domestic priorities,” Politico reports.“The defense funding bill — including a military pay raise — fell far short of the 60 votes needed to advance. All but three Democrats opposed the move by Republicans to open debate on the bill. It failed in a 50-44 vote, as many Democrats argued the Senate should instead focus on a deal to end the shutdown.”