Eye on Congress

House Republicans’ late night, closed-door effort to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics gave Democrats a winning messaging tool, says CQ Roll Call’s Money and Politics reporter Kate Ackley. The public relations debacle also could result in keeping the spotlight on President-elect Donald Trump’s perceived conflicts of interest, adds Editor Catalina Camia. Also, did you know that the ‘drain the swamp’ phrase popularized by Trump was first used by a leading Democrat? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in, the Senate will move forward with a hearing on Trump’s nomination of Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions to head the Justice Department, which has already inspired fierce opposition and support, say CQ Roll Call’s Legal Affairs writer Todd Ruger and Senior Political reporter Alex Roarty. Sessions’ hearing could also set the tone for Trump’s upcoming Supreme Court nomination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CQ Roll Call's National Security reporter Ryan Lucas explains how Republicans and Democrats reach sometimes conflicting conclusions about whether the Kremlin tried to throw the election to Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey discusses his fear that a bipartisan $6.3 billion health package that would also overhaul the mental health system could be undercut by GOP efforts to repeal the health care law. He tells CQ Roll Call’s Health reporter Andrew Siddons and Managing Editor Adriel Bettelheim that Medicaid cuts are of particular concern. Congress passed the bipartisan “21st Century Cures” bill, which would, among other things, provide extra money for brain research at the National Institutes of Health, help fight the opioid epidemic, fund Vice President Joe Biden’s ‘Moonshot’ cancer project and better integrate mental health care into standard medical practice.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She withstood a leadership challenge, but that doesn’t mean Nancy Pelosi can coast as the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, says CQ Roll Call’s Jason Dick.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress has until Dec. 9 to pass a stopgap spending bill to keep the government running until President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. But Trump has asked that the temporary spending bill be extended to March 31, a delay that would keep government funding at current levels. That would, among other things, constrain the Pentagon, explain CQ Roll Call's Budget and Economics Editor Jane Norman and Managing Editor Adriel Bettelheim. Listen to find out more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republican lawmakers could use a decades-old procedural maneuver, known as reconciliation, to bypass Democratic opposition and accelerate Donald Trump’s legislative initiatives. That could include cutting taxes, repealing parts of President Barrack Obama’s health care law, privatizing Medicare or turning Medicaid into a block grant to the states.  All they would need is a simple majority vote in the Senate. CQ Magazine deputy editor Shawn Zeller, CQ Roll Call’s Senate leadership reporter Bridget Bowman and Managing Editor Adriel Bettelheim explain how it could take shape.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With control of the White House and Congress, Republicans can easily repeal big parts of President Obama’s health care law, but finding alternatives could prove to be a political minefield, say CQ Roll Call health reporter Erin Mershon and Managing Editor Adriel Bettelheim. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Donald Trump will have to rely on some key congressional players to ease his transition into the White House, say CQ Roll Call’s Chief Content Officer David Ellis and Managing Editor Adriel Bettelheim. Also, what went wrong for Democrats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roll Call columnists Patricia Murphy and Matt Lewis reflect on the nasty presidential campaign, how it changed some of the norms of politics and the role Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York could play as Democratic leader if Hillary Clinton wins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The outcome of tight Senate races in Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin will determine which party controls the Senate, says CQ Roll Call senior political reporter Alex Roarty. Also, if Democrats pick up four seats and Hillary Clinton wins, it would make New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer the Senate majority leader, who could reach out to Republicans on issues such as immigration and an overhaul of the tax code, reports Senate leadership reporter Bridget Bowman.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CQ Roll Call's Erin Mershon goes beyond the headlines and breaks down in detail why insurance is going to cost more next year under the 2010 health care law -- and whether Congress or the next administration can step in to fix it.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S.-backed military campaign in Iraq to drive the Islamic State from the city of Mosul is expected to succeed, but it could open the door to a host of problems the next U.S. administration will have to tackle, says Paul Salem of the Middle East Institute. In a conversation with CQ Roll Call’s National Security reporter Ryan Lucas and Managing Editor Adriel Bettelheim, Salem explains the complications hindering stability in Iraq, including the conflict in Syria, where U.S. diplomatic efforts face challenges from an assortment of players, including Russia and Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If Democrats sweep on Election Day, the group of newly elected U.S. senators will be  disproportionately female, better educated and not as white as the current Senate, says Roll Call senior editor David Hawkings. Find out who are the likely newcomers that will add a touch of diversity to the chamber that has been dominated by white, middle age or older men.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans are polling to see if their House and Senate candidates have been tainted by Donald Trump’s crude comments about women captured on video, says CQ Roll Call’s Elections editor Nathan Gonzales. Political Reporter Simone Pathe is watching the most vulnerable House Republicans and Missouri’s Sen. Roy Blunt, whose surprisingly competitive race is trending in the wrong direction for the GOP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get an insider’s take on the cliffhanger battles in the six states that will determine control of the Senate with Roll Call’s Nathan Gonzales and representatives from two of the largest Republican and Democratic Super PACs. Ian Prior from Senate Leadership Fund and Shripal Shah from Senate Majority PAC take us behind-the-scenes in the Super PAC world and discuss their ad strategy. #Nevada, #Missouri, #NorthCarolina, #NewHampshire, #Pennsylvania, #Indiana     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court begins its new term with several hot-button issues to consider, says CQ Roll Call's Legal Affairs writer Todd Ruger. A justice to watch is Stephen Breyer, who could play a pivotal role on the short-handed court in deciding transgender bathroom rights, redistricting and how it affects voting and immigration law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A deal to fund the government until December 9 all came down to House Republicans giving in to Democratic demands to help Flint, Michigan, address its contaminated water crisis. CQ Roll Call’s Managing Editor Adriel Bettelheim and Budget and Economy editor Jane Norman break down the late night deals and what happens after the government once again runs out of money on December  9. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Allen, Roll Call columnist and co-author of the New York Times best-seller HRC:State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton, sets up Monday night's first presidential debate, discussing what Hillary Clinton needs to do to keep Donald Trump off balance, and what Trump must do to appear presidential. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With fewer than two weeks left to fund the government past the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year, deal-making in Congress is in overdrive, says CQ Roll Call’s Budget reporter Jennifer Shutt. Lawmakers will have to overcome a slew of sticking points to provide money to combat the Zika virus. They'll also have to decide whether to prevent the Oct. 1 transfer of internet functions from a U.S. group to a global body. Adding to the mix, says CQ Roll Call’s Lindsey McPherson, is an effort by conservatives to impeach the IRS chief.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices