Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is expected to name Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) as the next DSCC chair, we have learned.

• We scooped in September that Gillibrand was interested in the gig.

Why it matters: If picked, Gillibrand will be tasked in 2026 with snagging four Senate pickups to take down the GOP trifecta.

• Publicly, Schumer isn't ready to commit to Gillibrand, but sources tell us the job is heading her way.

🌎 Democrats will have pickup opportunities in Maine and North Carolina.

• But after that, Gillibrand will have to go on offense in redder states like Texas.
• It's a more friendly map than 2024, where Democrats were playing defense and lost in Trump's states like Montana and Ohio.
• "I have not made a decision about DSCC yet. I have worked with Sen. Gillibrand for a long time and I know she would be a strong choice," Schumer told us in a statement today.

Between the lines: Schumer's search for his next DSCC chair included quietly reaching out to senators who are up for reelection in 2026, asking them who they think is best to run the group.

• No other public candidates emerged.
• Gillibrand leaned on her fundraising bona fides, including a campaign to help House Democrats win toss-up seats in New York. Democrats flipped three of those seats this month.

The bottom line: The DSCC spot is a nod of confidence from Schumer, who also once held the position and even as leader closely follows his members' campaigns.

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— Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols

Incoming GOP leader John Thune personally presented a plan for an aggressive defense against President Biden's judicial nominees during a regular leadership meeting last night, sources familiar told us.

Why it matters: This is Thune's first showdown with Schumer and is sure to please some conservatives whose support he needed to become leader.

• President-elect Trump is egging on the fight, demanding Republicans prevent Schumer from confirming more judges.
• The Senate floor stayed open past midnight as Republicans forced procedural votes to drag out the confirmation process.
• Republicans are mad at Schumer for prioritizing judges over other must-pass legislation like the Farm Bill, defense authorization and appropriations.

🚪 Behind closed doors, Republican vs. Republican frustrations bubbled over today after missed votes that helped Schumer move forward on the nominations.

• Vice President-elect Vance (R-Ohio), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) were specifically called out, sources in the room told us.
• Vance defended himself in a since-deleted post on X by saying even if he had shown up to vote last night, it wouldn't have changed the outcome.

🔥 Zoom out: Look for Schumer to consider repaying the favor next year when it's time to confirm Trump's nominees.

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— Stef Kight, Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) is indicating to allies that Rep. Andy Barr (Ky.) is his pick to serve as chair of the House Financial Services Committee, sources familiar with the matter tell us.

Why it matters: Scalise's support gives Barr a clear advantage to win one of the most coveted committee gavels in the next Congress.

• The chair will help set the financial services agenda for Trump's second presidency and handle legislation on everything from cryptocurrency to banking and the pot industry.
• Current Chair Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) is leaving Congress at the end of the year.
• Reps. French Hill (R-Ark.), Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) and Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) are also interested in the position.

The bottom line: The GOP's Steering Committee is expected to finalize its makeup tomorrow, with plans to meet after the Thanksgiving break to determine committee chairs.

• Speaker Mike Johnson has the most votes on the steering committee, and Republican aides and lawmakers think he's essentially neutral.

Read their elevator pitches

— Juliegrace Brufke and Hans Nichols

Just one of the five Republicans shown above would need to break from their party — and Johnson's public pleas — to release the House Ethics Committee report on Rep. Matt Gaetz.

• Even if none of them do, Congress expects the report on Trump's choice for attorney general to leak either way.

In non-Ethics Committee news, Johnson is being pressured to restrict Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.), a transgender woman, from using women's bathrooms at the Capitol.

• In a closed-door meeting, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said she would get into a "physical altercation" if McBride tried to use the women's restroom, according to two House Republicans present for her remarks.

— Andrew Solender and Juliegrace Brufke