Welcome to the online version of From the policy deskevening bulletin, bringing you the latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail from the NBC News Politics team.
In today’s edition, senior national political correspondent Sahil Kapur examines whether Democrats may still wield some power in Donald Trump’s Washington. Plus, we have new reports on how Senate Republicans plan to handle Matt Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general and Trump’s pick for the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
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How Democrats can still change power in Trump’s Washington
By Sahil Kapoor
Republicans have taken full control of Washington, but Democrats will retain two key levers of power to shape legislative outcomes in Donald Trump’s second term.
First, the Republicans a narrow House majoritythis leaves little room for defections to pass major laws to the party in charge. That margin shrinks even more as Trump picks members of the House of Representatives for administration jobs. The past two years have shown how chaotic and dysfunctional this GOP-controlled House can be, even when the stakes are low.
The stakes are high now, as Republicans will own the consequences — or face the blame for the paralysis. Democrats say they intend to remain united.
“The last two years are a good example. They also had a small number. We think we’ve done a good job of stopping a lot of really bad stuff. So I think we should use the same strategy,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif. “I think our management is going to do a great job of making sure we’re a good check.”
A second lever for Democrats is legislative power in the Senate. Many Republican senators, including their newly elected leader, Senator John Thune, RS.D. promises to preserve 60 vote barrier for most legislation, even if it blocks Trump’s agenda.
While Senate rules allow the party in charge to bypass the filibuster for changes to taxes and spending, other issues will require 60 votes, including key tasks such as funding the government next year, extending the debt ceiling and reauthorizing the farm bill. Republicans will have 52 or 53 seats next year.
“If they try to pass really extreme things, they’re going to have a hell of a fight on their hands,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. “And here in the Senate, obviously, we have a number of tools to practice.”
On most legislation, Van Hollen said, Republicans will have to “come to the table” and negotiate with Democrats.
Or as Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said: “There won’t be a supermajority in either chamber, and this spending will be a bipartisan product.”
One area where Democrats will have little power is administration and judicial nominees, which require a simple majority to confirm.
Will the GOP be able to overcome party divides on legislative issues and deliver? Rep. Richard Hudson, R.N.C., chairman of the House Republican campaign, said Trump could help keep members on the same page.
“The difference here is the unified government, Donald Trump sets the agenda,” he said. “I think it’s easier to change that agenda even with a small majority.”
But other Republicans warn it won’t be smooth sailing.
“Home has always been a chaotic place and will always be a chaotic place. Anyone who thinks it’s going to be smooth sailing has never spent a day walking these halls. But as members, it’s going to be up to us to find a way to really go out and deliver,” Rep. Tony Gonzalez, R-Texas, said in an interview. “And I certainly think that the members who helped bring this majority have more to gain, more to lose than anybody else. .”
GOP senators want details of Matt Gaetz ethics probe before voting for attorney general
By Ryan Nobles, Julie Tsirkin, Frank Thorp V and Kate Santaliz
Republican senators are bracing for intense scrutiny of the details of the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into former Florida congressman Matt Gates, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Justice Department.
An ethics panel has been investigating Gaetz since 2021. the latest focus on sexual exploitation, illegal use of drugs, acceptance of illegal gifts, obstruction and other claims. But the results of that investigation cannot be made public because Gaetz resigned from the House on Thursday afternoon. The Ethics Committee has only the authority of the members of the Chamber.
Trump’s selection of Gaetz came as a surprise to almost everyone, including his own members own party and Officials of the Ministry of Justice – in part due to Ethics research, his past legal problems and his reputation as a thug in Congress.
A source familiar with the process told NBC News that Gaetz consulted with Trump about who would be best to lead the Justice Department. Gaetz said he did not want the role, but Trump asked him to start on Wednesday morning, hours before the decision was made public.
Many Republican senators, including members of the GOP-led Judiciary Committee, which will oversee Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general, said they would like to see details of Gaetz’s House Ethics investigation.
“I think it would be helpful,” said Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.
Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, said he would “absolutely” want to see the results of the House Ethics Committee’s investigation, saying, “I don’t know the technicalities or whether we’ll see it, but I think it would be very relevant.”
The House Ethics Committee will meet on Friday, three sources familiar with the meeting told NBC News. One of those sources said the release of the Gaetz report would be among the items on the agenda. Punchbowl News it was reported earlier Wednesday that the ethics panel planned to release a “very damaging” report on Gaetz on Friday, citing multiple sources familiar with the investigation.
Trump picked RFK Jr., an anti-vaccine activist, as Health and Human Services secretary
Berkeley Lovelace Jr. and by Dasha Burns
Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy, an anti-vaccine activist and former independent presidential candidate. Department of Health and Human Services.
During the presidential campaign, Kennedy developed a national profile for his criticism of Covid vaccines and childhood vaccinations. He claimed it vaccines are linked to autismdespite decades of research disproving such a claim.
Even before Kennedy’s election, some employees at the Food and Drug Administration they wondered if he would leave if he were to hold the position of top health official in the Trump administration.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who is currently the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said in a statement after Trump’s announcement. “RFK Jr. championed issues like healthy foods and the need for more transparency in our public health infrastructure.”
He continued, “I look forward to learning more about his other policy positions and how they will support a conservative, pro-American agenda.”
Follow the president-elect’s picks as he continues to fill out his administration this handy tracker.
Here are some other updates on Trump’s transition:
- Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence was Tulsi Gabbard He is accused of strengthening Russian propaganda and would come to the job having never worked in the intelligence world or served on a congressional intelligence committee.
- This was said by Pete Hegseth, whom Trump chose for the post of defense minister she believes that women should not serve in combat and he wants to see the military purged of “woke” officers who support diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
- Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s new Department of Government Efficiency looking for a job “Small government revolutionaries with super high IQs.”
- While some of Trump’s Cabinet picks have surprised members of his own party, these picks are Trump’s He promises to shake Washington.
🗞️ Other top stories of the day
- 💲 Cash Confrontation: More than a week after Election Day, the Harris campaign is not only out of cash, it’s still asking for more money, causing confusion in the Democratic Party. More →
- 🧑💼’ Brother Whisperers: After Trump’s success in the polls with young people, The New York Times reports, some Democrats argue that they need to rethink their media strategies to reach Gen Z. More →
- ☑️ Final race challenge: Democrats have changed Oregon’s 5th District, NBC News projects, now it’s going to be Janelle Bynum. the first black person to represent the state In Congress. Eight House races and one Senate race have yet to be called. More →
- 🎰 All bets are off: The FBI raided the apartment of Shane Koplan, CEO of the election betting site Polymarket. More →
- 📱 X marks the point: A day after the election, X experienced the largest user exodus since Elon Musk bought the platform in 2022. More →
That’s all for the Policy Desk for now. If you have feedback – like it or not – email us politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com
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