This time around, the political optics aren’t breaking their way. Unlike past shutdowns where Democrats managed to shift the blame, the public mood has turned against them — and it looks like they’re finally beginning to realize it.

The Hill reported that Senate Democrats are quietly exploring ways to bring the shutdown to an end — but they’re trying to do it without appearing to cave to Republican demands:

Senate Democrats are taking a close look at a Republican proposal to pay all federal employees — including essential and furloughed workers — as they’re under new pressure from the nation’s largest federal workers union to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government.

They also plan to introduce legislation to pay for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and extend funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, which provides essential nutrition assistance for lower income mothers.