Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) said that he “will actively explore a bid to regain the congressional seat he lost in last week’s Democratic wave election, although he stopped short of committing to a 2028 rematch with Cape May Mayor Zach Mullock in New Jersey’s 2nd district,” New Jersey Globe reports.
Said Van Drew: “I’m very interested. It’s going to be fun for me.”
“Justice Department leaders plan to force out additional U.S. attorneys while preparing those who remain for wartime footing after their party’s midterms losses,” Bloomberg Law reports.
“Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) said they would not back Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as leader of the incoming Democratic majority in the Senate, underscoring tensions in the caucus over who should lead the party after its stunning midterm victories,” The Hill reports.
“President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans started a rush Tuesday to confirm as many judicial nominees as possible before they lose their majority in January, including the announcement of three new nominees,” the Washington Sun reports.
“The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance four judicial nominees to the Senate floor, teed up more committee votes on six other pending bench picks and held a confirmation hearing for another four.”
Senate Republicans reelected John Thune as GOP leader for the 120th Congress, Punchbowl News reports.
After a failed push from conservatives to delay the leadership elections — and despite last week’s massive midterm losses — Thune ran unopposed.
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) was elected to serve as NRSC chair for the 2028 cycle. The rest of the leadership team remains the same.
“One week after voters punished Republicans over rising prices in the midterm elections, President Donald Trump’s White House signaled it would stay the course on tariffs, even as his former top economic advisor warned that Americans are footing the bill,” CNBC reports.
“Senate Republicans voted 31-15 to proceed to their leadership election, effectively rejecting an attempt by conservatives to delay their leadership election,” Politico reports.
“President Trump was told aboard Air Force One in May en route to China that the United States had obtained sensitive intelligence showing that Nvidia’s chief executive was in a relationship with a woman believed to be a Chinese spy, people with knowledge of the matter said,” the New York Times reports.
“The message was delivered by Marco Rubio, his secretary of state and national security adviser, shortly before the Nvidia leader, Jensen Huang, joined the presidential trip to Beijing at Mr. Trump’s invitation…”
“The existence of the previously unreported update given to Mr. Trump contradicts the president’s assertion on Monday that he had not known at the time of the trip about Mr. Huang’s relationship with the woman.”
“Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) is calling up Democratic colleagues to express interest in serving in party leadership next Congress,” Semafor reports.
“He wants to help improve Democrats’ messaging operation and is not looking at challenging top leader Chuck Schumer or Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) who is expected to be the next whip. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) currently the No. 3 leader, won her gubernatorial race, opening up a leadership spot.”
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that the Trump administration’s economic pressure campaign against Iran was effective enough that ‘there’s really no need for major combat operations any longer,'” the New York Times reports.
“Mr. Rubio’s declaration was the most explicit signal yet that President Trump does not intend to escalate his conflict with Iran after last week’s U.S. midterm elections.”
“Alina Habba Mildon, one of President Trump’s former lawyers, was fired last week by the family company that gave her a $50 million contract weeks before Mr. Trump granted a pardon to the family’s patriarch,” the New York Times reports.
“In a letter dated Nov. 4, the company, Concord Partners, terminated Mrs. Mildon citing a ‘failure to perform duties.'”
“House Republicans chose to keep Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota as party whip in the next Congress, rejecting a challenge from an ambitious younger member after last week’s sweeping midterm losses,” Politico reports.
“Emmer beat Texas Rep. August Pfluger 103-76 in the secret-ballot vote, according to two people present for the tally.”
“Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is laying the groundwork to set up a conservative think tank that would allow him to develop his own political infrastructure and stay in the public conversation after he leaves office and considers his future plans, which could include another run for president,” NBC News reports.
“For several months, DeSantis, who is facing term limits, and his chief of staff, Jason Weida, have worked behind the scenes on conceiving an organization that would give DeSantis the ability to attract potential future donors, maintain staff and have a national voice in the future of the Republican Party.”
“Mark Robinson, North Carolina’s former lieutenant governor, and his wife are seeking federal bankruptcy protection, according to court records filed this month,” WRAL reports.
Isaac Stanley-Becker: “Eight years ago, Democrats harnessed popular anger at Donald Trump to take control of the House. Promising to curb the administration’s excesses, they issued a pile of subpoenas and held Cabinet members in contempt. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan famously vowed to ‘impeach the motherfucker.’ They tried that, twice. In the end, many congressional Democrats concluded, the exercise only hardened partisan allegiances and handed Trump a foil to run against in 2020 and again in 2024.”
“Democrats think this time will be different. It’s not just that their margin in last week’s midterms was bigger, but that economic discontent lets them tie their investigations to their promise to address the cost of living. Pursuing the Trump family for self-dealing, they intend to argue, serves a higher aim—rectifying a political system rigged toward the rich.
Said Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA): “One thing that’s important for people to recognize is that accountability and taking on corruption will make the lives of American families more affordable. It will stop the Trumps from stealing from you and giving to themselves.”
“President Donald Trump is closing in on a new press secretary, and administration insiders are advocating for a person who will break the mold,” Fox News reports.
Said a source close to the president: “His instincts are to pick a man. Which many people have told him that’s a good idea.”
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) is the next House minority leader, Punchbowl News reports.
Jordan beat House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) 106 to 73 in a hard-fought battle after Republicans were decimated on Election Day.
“Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said he plans to vote against adopting articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ahead of the Tuesday afternoon vote in the House,” NewsNation reports.
“The Nebraska Republican, who did not seek reelection in 2026, said he has his own problems with Hegseth that are not named in the impeachment articles.”
Said Bacon: “I don’t really align with the impeachment itself. If we talk about firing 80 generals and not spending appropriated money, I’d feel a little differently about it.”
Taegan Goddard
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.
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