From Slate Magazine · Jim Newell · · 1m 40s
Congress Lame-Duck Chaos
Republicans scramble to fill judicial vacancies as Democrats prepare for Senate leadership battle.
In brief
Republicans scramble to fill judicial vacancies as Democrats prepare for Senate leadership battle. Republicans plan to confirm 20+ federal judges before Democrats take over, while Chuck Schumer faces challenge from Chris Van Hollen for Senate majority leadership. Originally reported by Slate Magazine.
Republicans' Lame-Duck Agenda
Republicans plan to fill 20+ federal judicial vacancies before Democrats take over.
“It’s gone overlooked among postelection analysis, but Republicans have a sizable lame-duck agenda planned between now and the end of the year.”
Judicial Committee Snags
Home-state senators and White House jockey over final judicial appointments.
“Most Senate floor time will be devoted to this”
Reconciliation Bill Debate
Republicans weigh last party-line reconciliation bill with $350 billion Pentagon funding demand.
“Donald Trump is still demanding that congressional Republicans give the Pentagon an extra $350 billion on top of its annual funding”
Senate Majority Leader Race
Chris Van Hollen challenges Chuck Schumer for Senate majority leadership.
“After decades serving as a perfectly adequate workhorse, especially on budget and appropriations matters, he got a taste of national fame early in Trump’s second term”
Red-State Senate Democrats
Democrats win Mississippi Senate seat with Scott Colom defeating Cindy Hyde-Smith.
“It’s the most jaw-dropping pickup Democrats had in a year filled with red-state Senate flips in Texas, Iowa, Kansas, South Carolina, Ohio, and (probably) Alaska”
State Demographic Shifts
Georgia, Texas, South Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, and Kansas show potential for Democratic shifts.
“Texas, if Democrats can maintain the trust with Latino swing voters”
Senate Leadership Timing
Senate Democrats can't elect new leaders until December 1.
“House and Senate Republicans have already worked through their battles and elected leaders for the next Congress”
House Republican Leadership
Jim Jordan becomes House Republican leader after GOP tsunami.
“All House Republican candidates who had to spend even one joule of energy trying to appeal to swing voters lost their elections in the tsunami”
Impeachment Delay
11 House Democrats miss impeachment vote due to traffic.
“They got stuck in traffic returning from an off-campus event held by Elect Democratic Women, a PAC co-founded by Clark”
Commerce Secretary Target
Republicans target Howard Lutnick for Commerce Secretary resignation.
“Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has fought regularly with Lutnick throughout the administration, threw Lutnick directly under the bus on Friday”
Polling Misunderstanding
Mike Johnson admits polls were inaccurate.
“The polls were indeed inaccurate, underestimating Democrats significantly”
Senate Leadership Stakes
Most senators support Schumer over Van Hollen challenge.
“Right now there are a lot more of the latter”
Presidential Primary Chaos
Democratic primary becomes focus after leadership vacuum.
“But in the absence of a president or presidential candidates, that energy has been directed at congressional leaders”
Red-State Senate Dynamics
Mississippi's Democratic shift possible with new white voters.
“If Colom can find a way to keep just enough white voters in his coalition, particularly newer white entrants to the state who come to work in defense hubs”
Lame-Duck Consequences
Republicans face debt limit crisis if reconciliation bill fails.
“Otherwise, the debt limit will come up in the next Congress, Democrats will try to leverage it to force concessions from the Trump administration”
What's Next
Senate leadership election decides Democratic strategy for next Congress.
“Unless they’re saying directly that they will support Van Hollen, count them as a vote for Schumer”
What matters most
Republicans plan to confirm 20+ federal judges before Democrats take over, while Chuck Schumer faces challenge from Chris Van Hollen for Senate majority leadership.
