The Week Ahead

The Georgia Senate runoff is in the books and prospective 2024 presidential candidates are mulling their next steps over the holidays, so the political focus has shifted back to Capitol Hill and the dwindling days for congressional action.

Federal spending expires on Friday, and while most expect another continuing resolution running through at least December 23, Republican leaders remain divided, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell seeking a short-term fix and House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy holding off for a longer-term agreement after the party takes control of the House in early January. The two parties are just $26 billion apart on a topline number for an omnibus deal, but the remaining divisions are ideological, not financial.