Congress returns with push to impeach Hegseth and Dec. 11 funding deadline
Democrats take control in January, and House Republicans vote Tuesday on a new leader after Speaker Johnson said he will not seek the job.
returns Monday, Nov. 9, for a lame-duck session after Democrats won and in the elections. Republican majorities end when the new Congress is seated on Jan. 3, 2027. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who lost a primary, is expected to push a resolution to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and ABC News says a showdown could come midweek.
Republicans including Vice President JD Vance have attributed the losses to the Iran war. Trump has defended Hegseth, and ABC reports he intends to keep him. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says he is a "hard yes" on impeachment.
Federal funding expires after Dec. 11, and ABC says lawmakers are far from a deal. The defense policy bill, surveillance law renewal and permitting reform are also pending. Mike Johnson will not seek a leadership post, so Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan compete to lead House Republicans in a vote Tuesday.
House Democrats have set their leadership elections for Nov. 18, according to ABC News. Massie's petition to force a vote on a second Epstein files bill has 216 of the 218 signatures it needs, according to ABC News.
- Dec. 11government funding deadlineWashington Examiner
- at least 109incoming House freshmen, by ABC's countABC News
- 216signatures on Massie's Epstein petition, per ABC NewsABC News
- 254 seatswon by Democrats in the House, based on AP results per the Epoch TimesThe Epoch Times
- 20 legislative daysleft before Democrats take power, per the Washington ExaminerWashington Examiner
Three sides of the story
23 news outlets reported this
Tap a color or swipe sideways to switch sides.
Liberal11 outlets
A crowded agenda and the Hegseth impeachment fight
ABC News leads with a crowded to-do list in its headline, "Congress returns for crowded lame-duck session as Hegseth impeachment looms." It notes at least 109 incoming House freshmen and says Johnson is hearing complaints from his own conference over his plan to move one bill under a rule. On Hegseth, ABC reports Massie is expected to reintroduce a privileged resolution with eight articles of impeachment, that Trump said he intends to keep Hegseth, and quotes Hegseth's video calling the effort "sham articles of impeachment."
It also tracks Massie's Epstein petition at 216 signatures and Todd Blanche's July testimony that he takes "full responsibility" for mistakes. The New York Times describes a "Reordered Washington With a Hazy Agenda," with an impeachment vote, a spending deal and major bills in play after the midterms' "electoral earthquake." NPR says Republicans plan to finish outstanding issues before Democrats take control in January.
Center4 outlets
A changed Washington and the Hegseth impeachment vote
The Seattle Times, running an AP report, opens on a "changed Washington" where Democrats "trounced" Republicans while, in its account, Trump keeps up his political threats. It sets jubilant Democrats at orientation against soberly speaking Republicans, quoting Rep.-elect Daniel Biss, "They've had enough of Donald Trump," and Republican Rep.-elect Chris Stigall on "Six-dollar diesel."
The Hegseth impeachment vote tops its agenda, with Trump saying "He's guilty of two things, basically winning two wars" and Jeffries a "hard yes." It adds Stephen Miller taking over as chief of staff Monday, the Scalise-Jordan contest, at least two Democratic senators-elect declining to publicly back Schumer's bid for majority leader, and a defense bill caught up in progressive demands to cut funding for the Iran war and for military aid to Israel. The Hill's weekly preview says House Republicans face a fight over who will lead them.
The Journal's headline lists Hegseth's fate, judicial confirmations, military spending and leadership elections. The Hill's Sunday-shows preview says Democrats lay out their agenda while leadership sparks infighting.
- The Seattle Times: Congress returns to a changed Washington after GOP’s election wipeout
- The Hill: This week on the Hill: Congress returns to leadership fights, shutdown deadline after GOP losses
- The Wall Street Journal: What’s on tap as Congress returns to Washington? Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s fate, judicial confirmations, military spending and leadership elections.
- The Hill: Sunday shows preview: Democrats lay out legislative agenda; Congress leadership sparks infighting
Conservative8 outlets
Republicans facing losses, limited time and leadership races
Fox News puts the mood of Republicans first. Its headline carries Sen. Bernie Moreno's "closet" image of the lame duck, and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis says "It's going to feel like a funeral." Fox reports the Dec. 11 shutdown risk and Rep. Marlin Stutzman saying unity after the leadership votes "should be immediate."
The Washington Examiner stresses "limited time left in power," with 20 legislative days, and quotes Scalise's letter warning that Democrats will pursue "retribution" and "witch hunts" under oversight. The Epoch Times calls it a likely "somber session," reports Democrats at 254 seats, and walks through funding, the defense bill, permitting reform, Epstein and Hegseth, noting the Pentagon did not return a request for comment. The Center Square, in a report it shares with another outlet, sees "little bipartisan appetite" and quotes Rep. Andrew Clyde urging Republicans to "Leave nothing on the table."
- Fox News: Congress returns to brutal lame-duck stretch with shutdown deadline, leadership races: 'Closet is full of s—'
- Washington Examiner: House Republicans return to Capitol Hill with limited time left in power
- The Epoch Times: Congress Returns for First Session After Democrats’ Midterm Victory
- The Center Square: Congress faces crammed lame-duck session with little bipartisan appetite
Which side made the stronger case?
We will email you when the story continues. At most one email a day.
Federal funding runs out after Dec. 11. Fox News says that without another deal Congress risks a government shutdown. The Epoch Times says Senate procedure could let Democrats block party-line funding bills, potentially setting up a December shutdown. The Center Square says lawmakers will almost certainly pass another stopgap funding measure if Democrats cooperate.
All sources: 31 articles from 23 outlets
Liberal (13)
- ABC News: Congress returns for crowded lame-duck session as Hegseth impeachment looms
- Axios: Republicans' final weeks in power may be consumed by fights they don't want
- CBS News: Congress returns for lame-duck sprint after GOP midterm losses
- NBC News: A Capitol Hill vibe shift: From the Politics Desk
- NBC News: Congress returns with Democrats feeling ‘very empowered’ after midterm blue wave
- NPR: Congress is coming back to Washington. Here's what to expect
- PBS NewsHour: WATCH LIVE: Senate returns to Capitol Hill days after Democrats win back control
- PBS NewsHour: WATCH LIVE: House returns to Washington after blowout election for Democrats
- The Boston Globe: Congress returns to a changed Washington after GOP’s election wipeout
- The Guardian: Republicans return to Washington to sift through wreckage of midterms rout
- The Independent: Hegseth impeachment vote looms as Congress returns to a changed Washington
- The Philadelphia Inquirer: Congress returns to a reordered Washington with a hazy agenda
Center (8)
- NewsNation: Hegseth impeachment articles come with an expiration date
- The Hill: 4 storylines to watch as Congress dives into lame-duck session
- The Hill: Returning to Washington, Republicans vent anger, frustrations after midterm drubbing
- The Hill: Live updates: Congress returns with long to-do list; Miller takes over as White House chief
- The Hill: This week on the Hill: Congress returns to leadership fights, shutdown deadline after GOP losses
- The Hill: Sunday shows preview: Democrats lay out legislative agenda; Congress leadership sparks infighting
- The Seattle Times: Congress returns to a changed Washington after GOP’s election wipeout
- The Wall Street Journal: What’s on tap as Congress returns to Washington? Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s fate, judicial confirmations, military spending and leadership elections.
Conservative (10)
- Fox News: Congress returns to brutal lame-duck stretch with shutdown deadline, leadership races: 'Closet is full of s—'
- Just the News: Congress faces crammed lame-duck session with little bipartisan appetite
- The Center Square: Congress faces crammed lame-duck session with little bipartisan appetite
- The Daily Signal: A Time for Ruthlessness: Lame-Duck Session Should Finish Work of Lazy-Duck Senate
- The Daily Wire: Here’s What Republicans Could Still Get Done With Their Final Weeks Of Control
- The Epoch Times: Congress Returns for First Session After Democrats’ Midterm Victory
- The Washington Times: Congress returns to a changed Washington after GOP's election wipeout
- The Washington Times: Lawmakers confront midterm upheaval, big to-do list as Congress returns for lame-duck session
- Washington Examiner: Republicans reel from staggering losses in return to Capitol Hill: ‘I’m thankful to have survived’
- Washington Examiner: House Republicans return to Capitol Hill with limited time left in power
The evening briefing by email
One email a day, around 8:30 p.m. New York time: the seven main stories, each with its three sides, and the blind spot of the day. Unsubscribe with one tap.
A Telegram channel is coming soon.