Eye on Congress:The Big Story

As the baseball and life philosopher Yogi Berra said: It’s like déjà vu all over again! Why? Because it’s January and we’re preparing for an impeachment trial. But who would preside over a second impeachment trial for Donald Trump — if he's not president anymore? It's not necessarily the chief justice of the United States. These are the kind of questions we turn to CQ Roll Call Senior Writer Todd Ruger for. Oh, and that other guy who’s part of the transition: Joe Biden? He has a brand new $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan. Jennifer Shutt has the details on that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

These days, every day feels historic. But Jan. 13, 2021 is a big one: The House impeached President Donald Trump for a second time. That's the only time a president has been impeached twice. During a pandemic. That's new, too. With thousands of National Guardsmen stationed inside the Capitol, protecting lawmakers against a repeat of the violent attack on Jan. 6. And Capitol Police face the music, with an inspector general report looking into what happened during that Jan. 6 riot. Lindsey McPherson, Jim Saksa and Chris Marquette break it down for us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are learning more about what law enforcement knew before the insurrection at the Capitol last week and it’s not a pretty picture. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the FBI wrote a stark report warning of violence but no one seemed to pay attention. And the Capitol Police, the lead law enforcement agency in charge of protecting lawmakers on the Hill, is in disarray, CQ Roll Call’s Chris Marquette reports in this special episode of Political Theater. Then, what’s in a word or two? CQ Roll Call’s Todd Ruger reports on how GOP lawmakers’ refusal to say who perpetrated the attack help fuels the false narrative that left-wing groups were responsible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With less than 10 days before Joe Biden gets sworn in as president, Congress is reeling from the assault on the Capitol and what it will mean to govern. House Democrats introduced impeachment again on Monday, this time charging President Trump with "inciting violence against the government of the United States.” While Republicans blocked another measure that would have called on Vice President Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment. Katherine Tully-McManus, who was at the Capitol during the siege, speaks to Shawn Zeller and Niels Lesniewski on what may be in store for this Congress, and CQ Roll Call's Ellyn Ferguson takes a look at some new findings about Tom Vilsack, the nominee to head the Agriculture Department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If anyone thought 2021 would come in like a lamb this week's events prove otherwise. Insurrection, treason, 25th amendment are all terms being tossed around in reaction to President Trump's rally cry to incite his followers to descend on the Capitol. What's next for Trump? The Dems and the GOP? Not to mention that President elect Joe Biden is less than 2 weeks away from being sworn in and is beginning to announce concrete plans for when he takes his office. Jim Saksa hosts and speaks to CQ Roll Call's politics editor Herb Jackson and Chief Correspondent Niels Lesniewski on the events of the week and what comes next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The shock of the violent overrunning of the U.S. Capitol this week featured a lot of people knuckling down, thinking on their feet and doing their jobs amid a dangerous and unpredictable situation. Katherine Tully-McManus recalls the strange and stirring moments in the Capitol as she evacuated with U.S. Senators, staffers and fellow journalists. Niels Lesniewski, meanwhile, details his thinking as he covered the implications of Congress having to possibly meet off-site, and what may come next in the aftermath of President Donald Trump's incitement of a mob. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wednesday's joint session of Congress will be a long, potentially tortuous affair to count the Electoral College votes that certify Joe Biden's win in the 2020 presidential election. Republicans plan on objecting to the proceedings and forcing what could become a days-long affair that usually takes under an hour. They don't have the votes to overturn the certified results from states. But it's going to take a long time to get through. Katherine Tully-McManus and Niels Lesniewski explain what to expect and why this is happening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 117th Congress is under way, and it is already weird. A time usually filled with ceremony, celebration and at least a faint trace of optimism is clouded over by the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, the spectacle of members of Congress attempting to overturn the results of certified elections and the uncertainty of who will even be in charge of the Senate, depending on the results of two dramatic runoffs in Georgia. Jim Saksa and Stephanie Akin discuss the spectacle that has already defined the beginning of the new year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While many of us might want to put 2020 in the rear view mirror, CQ Roll Call's three award winning photographers documented the year that was from impeachment (remember that?), the pandemic, Black Lives Matter and so much more. Jason Dick sits down with Bill Clark, Tom Williams and Caroline Brehman. They pick out their favorite photo and explain why and what went into getting the image. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're looking at a dispute that is threatening the delicate coronavirus relief bill negotiations that are also tied to a Friday at midnight government funding deadline. The GOP wants to limit Federal Reserve lending programs that would tie the hands of a Biden administration. Also, we examine what energy and environment policy will look like as President-elect Biden's Cabinet comes into focus. CQ Roll Call's Jim Saksa hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Among the accomplishments of President Donald Trump is a crash-course in civics that showed the public that a lot of government business and transparency happens because of good will and cooperation, not statute. In the wake of Trump's busting so many norms about the presidency, there is discussion about what Congress can do to more clearly define presidential power in areas like releasing tax returns, congressional subpoenas and the pardon authority. CQ Roll Call Senior Writer Todd Ruger discusses how future presidents could be affected.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Electoral College certifying Joe Biden’s victory, and Senate Republicans acknowledging that fact, is the presidential race finally over? Not a chance! Katherine Tully-McManus discusses possible challenges to the congressional counting of electoral votes. Meanwhile, Biden picks Pete Buttigieg for Transportation Secretary and then heads to Georgia to stump for the Democrats in key Senate races coming up in less than a month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're delving into why White House officials and members of Congress may be at the head of the line to get a COVID-19 vaccine. CQ Roll Call's Niels Lesniewski has more. We'll also explore what Biden's Cabinet nominees may face if the Senate doesn't flip to blue. Shawn Zeller explains. Katherine Tully-McManus hosts this special edition of Political Theater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump loved to hate the swamp, or official Washington. President-elect Joe Biden is bringing a different approach by bringing on a group of no-drama experienced government hands to run the executive branch. Niels Lesniewski discusses. And Ben Hulac outlines some of the outgoing administration's "midnight rules" and how they could affect the incoming administration, and the public. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Joe Biden's picks to head the the Agriculture Department and HUD follow a fairly familiar pattern: a former farm-state governor for Ag and a former mayor for HUD. But the president's supporters expect his administration to aggressively address equality issues in a hyper-partisan environment, and Ag and HUD are two departments at the forefront. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The incoming Biden administration continues to come into focus. The president-elect's nomination of retired Gen. Lloyd Austin to be Defense secretary, who would be the first Black man to head the Pentagon, also means Biden passed over a woman long considered a frontrunner for the job: Michelle Flournoy. And as a recently retired officer, Austin requires a waiver from the House and Senate, CQ Roll Call Senior Staff Writer John Donnelly discusses the nomination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Political Theater's The Transition, Congress is still in a tug of war over a possible COVID-19 aid package. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman talks about where things stand. Then, we turn to CQ Roll Call health reporter Mary Ellen McIntire, who breaks down who President-elect Joe Biden wants on his team to lead the country out of the pandemic and why. Katherine Tully-McManus hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the holiday season is upon us, so too is a time honored tradition. Congress working at the last minute to shore up must-pass bills. CQ Roll Call's Jim Saksa talks with budget tracker David Lerman on the latest on appropriations and a COVID relief package. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Bendat has literally written the book on our Inauguration Day traditions and history. And one thing he is pretty confident of predicting: between Donald Trump's propensity for antics and the ongoing pandemic, the Jan. 20 inauguration of Joe Biden is going to be one we'll remember. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress is very good at putting off its most important business until the end of the year. The current spending measure funding the government expires on December 11. And with the economy starting to show signs of strain, lawmakers are offering their own proposals for a COVID relief package that they hope to pass in the coming weeks. The two big ticket items might end up in one big year end measure. But a lot could happen before we get there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices