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US Politics Daily@uspoliticsdailyThe Justice Department now faces new scrutiny from a Democratic-led Congress.
For nearly two years, Republicans controlled Congress and rarely checked the department as it pursued the president's foes, fired career staff and defended policies judges repeatedly questioned.
US Politics Daily@uspoliticsdailySeveral Southern California members of Congress shared their views on the midterms and the new Democratic majority in Congress.
Rep. Mike Levin of Carlsbad sees room for bipartisan deals on energy costs and a ban on lawmakers trading stocks. Rep. Luz Rivas of Los Angeles wants immigration reform that offers a route to citizenship for immigrants.
Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte of Hesperia hopes the new majority works with the administration on AI regulation. Rep. Ted Lieu of Torrance wants to undo recent Medicaid reductions and bring back Affordable Care Act tax credits.
US Politics Daily@uspoliticsdailyMaryland lawmakers have secured $969 million in earmarks over the past five years, since Congress lifted its ban on them. Earmarks are money legislators seek for projects in their home areas.
The largest share came in the most recent year, at $328 million. In inflation-adjusted terms, Maryland secured $709 million from 2022 to 2024, compared with $3.6 billion from 2008 to 2010.
No earmark money went out for fiscal 2025, because Congress passed a stopgap that kept spending near the prior year's levels.
US Politics Daily@uspoliticsdailyDemocrats have taken control of both chambers of Congress, and their first goals include ending the Iran war and stopping Trump's tariffs. Leaders from both parties tied voter anger over those policies to higher gas, diesel, and grocery prices.
Democrats lack the numbers to override a veto, so they may lean on the power of the purse instead. A Dec. 11 funding deadline could soon test how far they will go, and some on the party's left are already asking whether leaders would accept a funding lapse to end the war.
US Politics Daily@uspoliticsdailySecretary of War Pete Hegseth faces possible impeachment by Congress and is fighting back. At a Pentagon news conference Tuesday, he said the effort will fail and blamed critics on the left for wanting him gone out of ego and resentment.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who is leaving Congress, filed eight articles of impeachment, one accusing Hegseth of breaking the 1973 War Powers Resolution by waging the Iran war without congressional approval.
Hegseth noted that his predecessor Lloyd Austin was never impeached, despite the Afghanistan withdrawal and the Chinese spy balloon incident.
US Politics Daily@uspoliticsdailyDemocrats winning control of Congress in January will give lawmakers more sway over science funding, FEMA and the National Weather Service. The biggest early fight is likely to be over research money.
Lawmakers are likely to scrutinize FEMA far more closely, with hearings and pressure for answers. The president still makes the final call on FEMA recovery funds after a disaster, and Trump has denied requests from Democratic-led states.
The National Weather Service, which lost hundreds of staff in 2025, is now more likely to receive fresh funding.
US Politics Daily@uspoliticsdailyPresident Trump has signed a proclamation making the Oval Office and Cabinet Room a national monument, aimed at keeping future presidents from making major changes to them. He plans to send the designation to Congress for approval.
Later presidents could still update the decor and make routine security changes, as long as the rooms' historic character is not significantly harmed. Major modifications would need congressional sign-off.
The move came two days after Republicans took heavy losses in the midterms, and Trump's recent remarks have centered largely on White House renovations.
US Politics Daily@uspoliticsdailyDemocrats won a majority in both the House and Senate in the midterms, but Trump can still veto their bills. Overriding a veto takes two-thirds of Congress, which Democrats can't reach without Republican votes.
Tariffs are a big part of the story. Trump has changed tariff policy more than 50 times since January 2025, and 54% of US imports now carry a tariff, up from 44% a decade ago.
Democrats are expected to respond with hearings, investigations and forced votes, but major shifts in trade policy are unlikely while the veto stands.
