Home · Politics · Nov 9 archive
Congress Returns to Washington With Limited Agenda Amid Democratic Control
· Confirmed
In Short: Congress returned to Washington on Tuesday with a limited agenda, as Democrats secured control of the Senate, reshaping the political landscape and likely hampering President Donald Trump's ability to push his agenda.
Congress returns to Washington as Democrats prepare to take control in January. WCNC
Congress returned to Washington on Tuesday with a limited agenda, as Democrats secured control of the Senate, reshaping the political landscape and likely hampering President Donald Trump's ability to push his agenda. The House and Senate don't have many pressing items on their fall agenda before the November 3 midterm elections, especially with the government already funded through December 11.
The Democrats' victory in the Senate means they now have powerful tools to challenge the Trump administration's health agenda and other policies. The new political balance could lead to gridlock, with Trump promising to use his veto power to block Democrats' initiatives.
The meeting's agenda listed only one item, the arch, which is part of a federal lawsuit filed by D.C. And Virginia on October 31. The lawsuit argues the project lacks required congressional authorization and could affect traffic, public safety, and the surrounding historic area.
Trump's final two years in office will be profoundly reshaped by Democratic control of the Senate, likely hampering his ability to push a conservative shift to the Supreme Court. The president's closest adviser, Stephen Miller, will replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, reinforcing his 'America First' agenda.
Democrats are also weighing impeachment efforts, including an attempt to impeach Pete Hegseth, the embattled defense secretary, whose leadership of the war with Iran has drawn bipartisan criticism. The impeachment effort is part of the Democrats' strategy to assert control over the agenda.
The political landscape is further complicated by the upcoming midterm elections, with Trump and his agenda playing an outsize role in races across the country. In Iowa, for example, a state representative tied his opponent to Trump and a Republican agenda that proved unpopular with voters.
As Congress returns, the political dynamics are shifting, with Democrats eager to push matters into calendar year 2027 if they succeed in winning back the majority in Congress, or at least the House. The results of the midterms will dictate how aggressively the post-election lame-duck agenda will tack.
What this adds
The Democrats' control of the Senate reshapes Washington, likely hampering Trump's agenda and potentially leading to gridlock. The meeting's agenda listed only one item, the arch, part of a federal lawsuit filed by D.C. and Virginia on October 31.
Background
Congress returned to Washington on Tuesday with a limited agenda, as Democrats secured control of the Senate, reshaping the political landscape and likely hampering President Donald Trump's ability to push his agenda.
What's confirmed
- The reality is that the House and Senate don’t have a lot on the fall agenda they absolutely must do before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, especially with President Donald Trump having already signed into law a continuing resolution funding the government through Dec. 11.
- The results of the midterms will dictate how aggressively the postelection lame-duck agenda will tack, with Democrats likely eager to push matters into calendar year 2027 if they succeed in winning back the majority in Congress, or at least the House.
What's still developing
- Fallen chunks of the grand foyer’s ceiling was used as proof to defend Trump’s agenda.
- A White House official told AFP the speech would highlight "this administration's achievements to make the country safer and wealthier" while contrasting "the Republicans' commonsense America First agenda" with "the Democrats' radical, America Last agenda."
- Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said on Monday that Havana and Washington are not negotiating, and that there is no agenda for future talks.
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ensuring that an agency at the forefront of President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda will remain without a Senate-confirmed leader for at least a while longer.
- The last two presidential elections, with 2024 counting more than 2020.
- Donald Trump chose Washington's Reflecting Pool -- an iconic landmark where botched repairs came to symbolize the 80-year-old's chaotic presidency -- for a final speech Monday to rally Republicans against a predicted tide of Democratic victories in midterm elections.
Sources
- Political Wirelink
- Warpbeatlink
- Wjlalink
- PBSlink
- Atlantablackstarlink
- STATlink
- AFPlink
- The Guardianlink
- Al Jazeeralink
- Stamfordadvocatelink
- Wdiolink
- Quincyinstlink
- Rollcalllink
- NBC Newslink
- WCNC — video link
- FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul — video link
- KCENNews — video link
- WCNC — video link
- 11Alive — video link
- ABC30 Action News — video link