Claudia Grisales

The spending cut plans kept the other fiscal hawks in line, but there's still remaining concerns about the potential to cuts to Medicaid, which could impact more than 70 million Americans who depend on this health insurance. And that's something Republicans will have to iron out in the coming weeks.

Right. This kicks off a process. It's known as reconciliation. It's an obscure budget tool, but it lets Republicans overcome a Democratic filibuster in the Senate. Next steps involve actually writing the text for the budget that will become law. Last night was supposed to be the easy part, but it took them weeks to get here. So we'll see if they can seal the deal in the coming weeks.

Right. This kicks off a process. It's known as reconciliation. It's an obscure budget tool, but it lets Republicans overcome a Democratic filibuster in the Senate. Next steps involve actually writing the text for the budget that will become law. Last night was supposed to be the easy part, but it took them weeks to get here. So we'll see if they can seal the deal in the coming weeks.

Right. This kicks off a process. It's known as reconciliation. It's an obscure budget tool, but it lets Republicans overcome a Democratic filibuster in the Senate. Next steps involve actually writing the text for the budget that will become law. Last night was supposed to be the easy part, but it took them weeks to get here. So we'll see if they can seal the deal in the coming weeks.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Massey, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, and Keith Self of Texas were no's. That triggered a series of negotiations off the floor, extending the time for this first round ballot to more than an hour before Johnson was finally able to flip Self and Norman to yeses, sealing the deal.

Massey, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, and Keith Self of Texas were no's. That triggered a series of negotiations off the floor, extending the time for this first round ballot to more than an hour before Johnson was finally able to flip Self and Norman to yeses, sealing the deal.

Congress began a new term today, the first step in shifting full control in Washington to the GOP. In the Senate, newly elected Majority Leader John Thune is GOP's first new leader in the upper chamber since 2007. That year, his predecessor, Mitch McConnell, took over as Republican leader, stepping down from that role this year. Thune, the former longtime Senate Republican whip,

Congress began a new term today, the first step in shifting full control in Washington to the GOP. In the Senate, newly elected Majority Leader John Thune is GOP's first new leader in the upper chamber since 2007. That year, his predecessor, Mitch McConnell, took over as Republican leader, stepping down from that role this year. Thune, the former longtime Senate Republican whip,

is considered a moderating voice in the party and has been on the other side of debates from President-elect Donald Trump numerous times. However, Thune endorsed Trump late in the presidential race last year and has become a growing ally to the incoming president. Claudia Grisales, NPR News.

is considered a moderating voice in the party and has been on the other side of debates from President-elect Donald Trump numerous times. However, Thune endorsed Trump late in the presidential race last year and has become a growing ally to the incoming president. Claudia Grisales, NPR News.

Well, potentially more chaos. House Republicans are taking control of the lower chamber for this second Congress in a row. And as we saw, the last couple of years brought us some good clues on how today could play out. And as you mentioned, job one for the House today is to elect a new speaker. And there will virtually be no House business until that gets done.

Well, potentially more chaos. House Republicans are taking control of the lower chamber for this second Congress in a row. And as we saw, the last couple of years brought us some good clues on how today could play out. And as you mentioned, job one for the House today is to elect a new speaker. And there will virtually be no House business until that gets done.

Well, potentially more chaos. House Republicans are taking control of the lower chamber for this second Congress in a row. And as we saw, the last couple of years brought us some good clues on how today could play out. And as you mentioned, job one for the House today is to elect a new speaker. And there will virtually be no House business until that gets done.

No new members sworn in, no legislative business. And we already heard from House Republicans at the end of last year who said they were not so sure they would reelect Johnson to the speakership, even as he recently earned Trump's endorsement. And as you mentioned, it's key, but it may not be enough. But why not? I mean, this is an incoming Republican White House with Trump at the helm.

No new members sworn in, no legislative business. And we already heard from House Republicans at the end of last year who said they were not so sure they would reelect Johnson to the speakership, even as he recently earned Trump's endorsement. And as you mentioned, it's key, but it may not be enough. But why not? I mean, this is an incoming Republican White House with Trump at the helm.

No new members sworn in, no legislative business. And we already heard from House Republicans at the end of last year who said they were not so sure they would reelect Johnson to the speakership, even as he recently earned Trump's endorsement. And as you mentioned, it's key, but it may not be enough. But why not? I mean, this is an incoming Republican White House with Trump at the helm.

Well, first of all, Johnson is coming into this new House with even tighter margins than we saw in the last couple of years when former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, for example, ran for his position. He could only lose two years ago a handful of Republicans to get that gavel in the 2023 election.