.ON DECEMBER 6TH Republicans declined President Joe Biden's ask for $106bn of financing, most of it to assist branch Ukraine, on the manner that its own stipulations to secure America's southerly border did not progress enough. A group of politicians right now seem close to attacking a bipartisan bargain on immigration rules, believed to feature tougher plans as the cost of Republican help. Yet it appears likely to be finished off in the House of Panels. On January 14th Mike Johnson, our home speaker, claimed that meaningful border reform would certainly need to wait till a Republican was president. However on January 17th, after an appointment with Mr Biden, he hinted that he may be open to a concession nevertheless. Is one probably?