All threeSenate majority leader contenders quickly fell in line with President-elect Trump's new demand that they be willing to use a Senate tool to allow him to quickly get his preferred, top administration officials in place.
Why it matters: Trump's demand is a sign of just how aggressively he plans to take action once he's in office. With Senate leadership elections on Wednesday, top contenders are trying to prove they're his preferred partner.
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) announced he's seeking a second term leading the House Republican campaign arm on Sunday as the party seems poised to keep control of the lower chamber.
Why it matters: The party in control of the White House has historically faced an uphill battle in retaining the House. But Hudson argues he is the right man to help House Republicans defy gravity, citing the success of their playbook this cycle.
Some are blaming President Biden for not stepping aside sooner. Others say the party needs to rework its identity to meet the working class where it's at.
Either way, a red sun will rise in 2025 — and even for those victorious Republicans, the details of Trump's far-reaching agenda remain uncertain.
Here's what you may have missed when newsmakers hit the airwaves this Sunday, November 10.
Elon Musk has joined the chorus of conservative and MAGA voices online backing Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) for Senate GOP leader — after calling Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) the "top choice of Democrats."
Why it matters: Musk has become one of the most influential voices in Trump world. If the growing online momentum converts into the president-elect weighing in, the leadership race could be dramatically upended.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is the latest Trump-friendly voice to pledge his vote for Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP Leader.
Why it matters: Scott — who has been viewed as long-shot candidate — has now racked up four public endorsements from Senate colleagues as well as a swell of support from influential MAGA voices online.
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) laid into his party in a "Fox News Sunday" interview, arguing that Democrats with concerns about President Biden were "suppressed and disenfranchised" during the 2024 primaries.
Why it matters: The onetime Biden primary opponent, who is retiring from Congress this year, appears to be positioning himself as one of Democrats' most vocal internal critics.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Sunday he does not believe Justice Sonia Sotomayor should step down from the Supreme Court before President-elect Trump takes office in January.
Why it matters: As liberal anxiety swirls following Trump's commanding victory, some are sounding the alarm it could be time for the 70-year-old Sotomayor to relinquish her seat for a replacement on the highest court.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he has spoken three times with President-elect Trump in recent days. Netanyahu is also sending Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer to Mar-a-Lago this week, a senior Israeli official told Axios.
Why it matters: The challenge of Israel's multi-front war and the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East will soon fall to Trump. Netanyahu's comment and his adviser's trip suggest they're already coordinating closely.
Why it matters: There is plenty of water under the bridge between Haley, Trump's former UN ambassador, and the president-elect after they clashed during the GOP primary. Though she ultimately endorsed Trump, she rebuked him on the campaign trail as "unhinged" and "toxic."
Nearly four years ago, the Biden administration and Congressional Democrats made a $1.9 trillion bet in the form of the American Rescue Plan. They lost, as it contributed to a surge in inflation that fueled massive voter discontent and Donald Trump's return to the White House.
Why it matters: In the next recession, politicians and policymakers may be more hesitant to unleash the type of programs that drove America's rapid recovery from the pandemic-induced crisis.
A fierce divide has emerged from the early autopsies of Democrats' election disaster: Was it policy — or culture — that doomed the party with working-class Americans?
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has secured a solid majority of Republican senators' votes to elect him GOP Conference Chair — the No. 3 leadership position, sources with direct knowledge of the Cotton team's whip count tell Axios.
Why it matters: Cotton has long served as a bridge between Senate leadership and the more conservative faction of the conference. He also holds sway in President-elect Trump's orbit.
President-elect Trump swept all seven of the swing states closely watched in the 2024 election, according to the Associated Press vote count.
The big picture: Trump's decisive victory gives him 312 electoral votes and puts him on track to be the first Republican candidatein two decades to win the popular vote.
Why it matters: The presidential race has already been called for Trump, but the outcome in battleground Arizona could provide insight as to which party has the upper hand heading into future statewide elections.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) picked up new endorsements for his GOP leadership bid on Saturday— including Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), who is a top contender for Secretary of State under President-elect Trump.
Why it matters: Scott's bid is considered a long-shot. But he has picked up momentum in MAGA-world.
