Exclusive: Democrats face their own test on Trump’s Iran war A war powers vote is shining a light on how differently the opposition talks about the conflict.

How should Dems talk about the Iran war? Sen. Heinrich: "The more clearly you can say this seems like a really stupid f*cking idea. I think the more people will appreciate what you’re getting at.”

www.semafor.com/article/03/0...

@nicholaswu12.bsky.social

Texas Republicans sidestep Gonzales allegations He allegedly had an affair with a former staffer who later died after setting herself on fire.

Texas Rs are largely sidestepping the Gonzales allegations
Van Duyne said his electoral fate was "up to his constituents"
Cornyn: “I’ve got my own race to run. I’ll let the speaker deal with that.”

@burgessev.bsky.social www.semafor.com/article/02/2...

Trump piles orders on Congress, but wants nothing on tariffs The State of the Union featured no shortage of to-dos for Republican lawmakers who could soon lose unified control of the Hill.

@nicholaswu12.bsky.social

www.semafor.com/article/02/2...

Today is my first day with @semafor.com, where I'll be covering the House! Please add me to all your lists nwu@semafor.com

🚨🚨🚨 Very grateful for nearly five years at POLITICO with an incredible team. Thank you to everyone I've worked with (and those who have edited me and caught my typos along the way)

Looking forward to getting started with Semafor next month!

Bipartisan group of lawmakers introduces bill to prevent military action against NATO members The legislation would prevent the Trump administration from taking action to invade a NATO country or territory, such as Greenland.

News - a bipartisan group of House lawmakers is introducing a bill to prevent military action against NATO members or territories (like Greenland)

www.politico.com/live-updates...

Steny Hoyer set to announce retirement from Congress The former second-ranking House Democrat has held his seat since 1981.

NEWS - Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer is set to announce his retirement from the House as soon as Thursday, per two people familiar granted anonymity

w/ @andrewjfhoward.bsky.social + a @jmart assist: www.politico.com/news/2026/01...

How Jan. 6 was remembered — and rewritten — on its 5th anniversary At a march and a hearing, on a plaque and a website, the story of the Capitol riot was contested Tuesday.

New - How Jan. 6 was remembered — and rewritten — on its 5th anniversary

w/ @kyledcheney.bsky.social @Hailey Fuchs

www.politico.com/news/2026/01...

This Indiana Democrat wants a redistricting ceasefire After a political near-death experience, Rep. Frank Mrvan said it's time for both parties to lay down arms.

icymi - This Indiana Democrat wants a redistricting ceasefire

Talked w/ Dem Rep. Frank Mrvan on why he doesn't believe "all-blue and all-red states benefit anyone"

www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

Bipartisan group discusses using discharged House bill for compromise health plan Senators joined the Problem Solvers Caucus meeting to strategize about reinstating Obamacare subsidies in January.

www.politico.com/live-updates...

new - Problem Solvers + senators privately strategized about how to pass an extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies early next year — possibly by using a newly discharged House bill as a vehicle for a Senate-backed bipartisan compromise.

w/ Meredith Lee Hill + Benjamin Guggenheim

GOP Reps. Fitzpatrick and Lawler join Democrats' Obamacare discharge petition Fitzpatrick said "it is House leadership themselves that have forced this outcome."

! Dem discharge petition hits 218

www.politico.com/live-updates...

Democrats say they are subjects of FBI probe after filming anti-Trump video Congressional Democrats who have law enforcement and military backgrounds were criticized by the Trump administration for their message to the troops.

NEW: The FBI reached out yesterday to the sergeant-at-arms in connection with the six Democrats who filmed the video re: illegal orders.

The unusual inquiry was quickly redirected to the House’s legal office.

w/ @nicholaswu12.bsky.social

www.politico.com/news/2025/11...

Jeffrey Epstein, in newly released email, says Trump ‘knew about the girls’ The convicted sex offender’s correspondence was released along with other documents by House Oversight Dems.

www.politico.com/news/2025/11...

'The late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein alleged that President Donald Trump knew about the girls he was trafficking, according to new emails from Epstein’s estate released by Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Wednesday morning.'
via Hailey Fuchs

House to return to laundry list of controversies after 7-week hiatus Speaker Mike Johnson is faced with jump-starting dormant committees, tackling a looming health care deadline and resolving the long-brewing Jeffrey Epstein fight — if he can reopen the government firs...

new - The House is set to return to work Wednesday after a staggering 54 days out of session. Ending the record government shutdown will be the least of Speaker Mike Johnson’s problems.

w/ Meredith Lee Hill

www.politico.com/news/2025/11...

Jeffries backs Schumer

@nicholaswu12.bsky.social

www.politico.com/live-updates...

House members should start returning to Washington 'right now,' Johnson says

‘Schumer is no longer effective’: Dems outraged over shutdown deal Congressional democrats are furious after eight colleagues voted with Republicans.

Congressional Democrats are livid after a handful of their Senate colleagues voted Sunday to advance the House-passed stopgap and end the government shutdown.

w/ Cheyanne Daniels + @miacmccarthy.bsky.social

www.politico.com/news/2025/11...

Why Nancy Pelosi Stands Alone Rahm Emanuel on the political genius of the retiring former House speaker.

Rahm Emanuel on Nancy Pelosi: “Sam Rayburn in stilettos.”

www.politico.com/news/magazin...

Coming up shortly on @kqedforum.bsky.social !

Ayanna Presley is considering a Senate run in Massachusetts The progressive Boston Democrat is quietly consulting with allies on whether to run for the seat held by Sen. Ed Markey.

news - Rep. Ayanna Pressley is seriously considering jumping into the race for the Massachusetts Senate seat currently held by fellow Democrat Ed Markey and has been checking in with allies about a possible run, per four ppl familiar

w/ @kellygarrity.bsky.social

www.politico.com/live-updates...

Honored to be elected the AAJA-DC chapter president and excited to get to work with everyone!

Why has the shutdown gone 31 days? Look at Mark Warner. The Virginia Democrat used to be a reliable participant in bipartisan Senate talks. This time, he doesn't see the point.

New w/ @nicholaswu12.bsky.social: Mark Warner is a card-carrying member of the Senate's bipartisan gang roster. But 31 days into the shutdown, he's staying out of the talks

A dive into Warner's thinking + what it says about the Senate in Trump one vs. Trump two: www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

NEW: Democrats are facing the first major fraying of their shutdown coalition, after a federal employee union called for them to stand down.

Durbin: “It has a lot of impact. They’ve been our friends.”

www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

@nicholaswu12.bsky.social @jordainc.bsky.social

Thune warns Democrats about Russ Vought: ‘We don’t control what he’s going to do’ The Senate majority leader spoke out as some Republicans express qualms about the White House slash-and-burn campaign.

Thune warns Democrats about Russ Vought: ‘We don’t control what he’s going to do’

The @jordainc.bsky.social interview:

www.politico.com/live-updates...

‘A lot of fight’: Hakeem Jeffries is determined to make a mark on the shutdown standoff The House minority leader has made conspicuous moves to make himself a leading foil to Donald Trump.

new - Hakeem Jeffries has spent nearly three years in relative anonymity as House minority leader. Now the New York Democrat is treating the government shutdown fight as a potential breakout moment.

www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Democrats dig in on shutdown after White House layoff threat Multiple lawmakers weighed in Thursday to say they would not be cowed. GOP leaders were quieter.

New w/ @nicholaswu12.bsky.social : If the White House thought its threat to fire federal workers during a government shutdown would spark a Democratic retreat, so far, it’s not happening.

www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

The top Senate leaders aren’t talking. That’s a bad sign for a shutdown. The relationship between Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who have known each other for decades, has grown tense.

NEW: With days to go until a shutdown, Thune and Schumer aren't talking

They've theoretically both opened the door but the one-time gym buddies aren't close

Biggest test could come post-Sept 30 (getting out of a shutdown or locking in a year-end deal)

www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

This deal could avert a shutdown — if Congress decides to take it There's a bipartisan deal to be had combining government funding with an extension of health insurance subsidies. But some lawmakers are wary.

new - If they squint, lawmakers can see the outlines of a bipartisan deal that could avoid a government shutdown later this year. But bringing an agreement into focus — and enacting it into law — will be no small task.

w/ Jordain + a team assist

www.politico.com/news/2025/09...