Is it possible the long-lost middle ground in American politics is poised to make a comeback? A group of between 18 and 25 moderate senators from both parties convened in private for hours ultimately forging the compromise that ended the government shutdown this weekend. Democrats up for re-election such as Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, and Claire McCaskill of Missouri took part, as did Trump’s Republican critics including Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, Jeff Flake of Arizona, and Bob Corker of Tennessee. The site for the marathon meeting was Maine Senator Susan Collins’ office, which became known as “Little Switzerland.”