Republicans Brace for Tough Test as Control of Congress Wanes

WHO:

NBC News - Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections; Republicans remained in charge during the lame-duck session.

NBC News - House Republicans were set to choose their leadership team by secret ballot; Speaker Mike Johnson’s departure set up a minority-leader contest between Reps. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan.

NBC News - Rep. Thomas Massie said he would reintroduce articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Fox News - Republicans face a long to-do list before Democrats take control; the headline describes the GOP’s grip on Congress as nearing its end.

WHAT:

NBC News - Congress returned after Democrats’ midterm sweep, with Republicans still in control for a lame-duck session and a substantial list of pending tasks.

NBC News - Lawmakers must avert a government shutdown by Dec. 11; a full-year appropriations bill was considered uncertain, with funding for the Iran war emerging as a point of conflict.

NBC News - Massie’s proposed impeachment articles concern Hegseth’s handling of the eight-month war with Iran.

Drudge Report - The headline asks, “Will Congress Finally Rein in the Presidency?”

Fox News - Its headlines describe a “daunting post-election test” for Republicans and a “long to-do list” before a Democratic takeover.

WHERE:

NBC News - The congressional developments concern the U.S. Congress and the upcoming change in control of both chambers.

WHEN:

NBC News - The government funding deadline is Dec. 11.

NBC News - The House Republican leadership election was scheduled for the day after the newsletter’s publication.

NBC News - The lame-duck session was to take place before Democrats assumed control of Congress.

(UPDATED November 9, 2026 14:59 UTC)

Democrats won both chambers, but Republicans retain control during Congress’s lame-duck session. Lawmakers face a December 11 funding deadline, with Iran war spending contentious. House Republicans will choose leaders as Massie plans impeachment articles against Hegseth.