Jamie Dupree

The U.S. Supreme Court delivers a win for Republicans, upholding the new GOP map for Congress in 2026 - which could deliver as many as 5 extra seats for the GOP. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

Congress is back. But that doesn’t mean momentum for a health insurance deal. The Thanksgiving recess didn't do much to break the impasse in Congress over expiring health insurance subsidies.

The clock is ticking. But it sure doesn't seem like Congress is anywhere near an agreement on how to deal with expiring insurance subsidies under the Obama health law. It may just be a warmup for the 2026 midterms. More in my column in the AJC. www.ajc.com/politics/202...

Here is the IG report on Defense Secretary Hegseth's use of Signal. "The Secretary declined to be interviewed for this evaluation." media.defense.gov/2025/Dec/04/...

Missing every House vote this week (4D,2R):

Babin R-TX
Casar D-TX
Garamendi D-CA
Greene R-GA
Nadler D-NY
Swalwell D-CA

The House is now 220 R to 213 D with the swearing-in of Rep. Matt Van Epps R-TN who won a special election in Tennessee earlier this week.

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI makes arrest in investigation into pipe bombs placed in DC on eve of Jan. 6 riot, AP source says.

There has been no rush to sign a House discharge petition to force a vote on a bill to ban stock trading by lawmakers. Only 14 members have signed. 218 needed for action.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene R-GA has missed every vote this week in the House. Her resignation is effective on Jan. 5.

Two Democrats not running for reelection in 2026 have also been out all week: Rep. Jerry Nadler D-NY and Rep. Eric Swalwell D-CA.

One of these things is not like the other. Time from House special election to swearing in (2025):

Patronis R-FL - 1 day
Fine R-FL - 1 day
Walkinshaw D-VA - 1 day
Van Epps R-TN - 2 days (scheduled for Dec. 4)
Grijalva D-AZ - 50 days

With the pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar D-TX, who had been accused of bribery and corruption, President Trump has now pardoned 12 members of Congress - 10 Republicans and 2 Democrats. (All but Cuellar had been convicted.)

Republicans will hold onto TN-7. GOP candidate Matt Van Epps is leading by 6 percent. Donald Trump won this district in 2024 by 22 points.

10 lawmakers (6D, 4R) have missed every vote so far this week in the U.S. House:

Babin R-TX
Bell D-MO
Casar D-TX
Garamendi D-CA
Greene R-GA
Haridopolos R-FL
Nadler D-NY
Swalwell D-CA
Wilson D-FL
Wilson R-SC

Speaker Johnson trying to make it seem normal that he had to fly-in for a last minute campaign trip for a special election in a Trump +22 district in Tennessee. The GOP should win this race easy today - but it sure hasn't looked like that of late.

If you are counting on tariffs to help dramatically cut the deficit - then you're going to need much higher tariffs.

Uncle Sam brought in $31 billion in import duties in October - while the overall budget deficit was $284 billion.

The national debt has increased $155 billion in the last week. It now stands at $38.336 trillion.

Sen. Joni Ernst R-IA just presided over the Senate pro forma session. She refused to stop for questions from reporters, yelling 'Happy Thanksgiving' as she raced out of the Capitol to a waiting car.

It's not every day that a U.S. Senator and his wife get sued by the IRS. The feds claim that Sen. Jim Justice R-WV and his wife owe the IRS over $5 million.

GOP Congress Vibe Check

The judge who threw out the case against James Comey and Letitia James got in a dig at Lindsay Halligan in the first line of the decision

This just in

WASHINGTON (AP) — Judge dismisses cases against James Comey and Letitia James after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed.

In one month, the National Debt went up over $300 billion. That DOGE thing must have really worked.

How much would Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene R-GA get in a pension for 5 years in Congress?

She can't draw it until age 62 (she is 51).

Her pension is 5% of her $174,000 salary (1% times 5 years served) = $8,700 per year.

Marjorie Taylor Greene to resign from Congress Decision comes after public breakup with President Trump

A special Saturday edition of my Capitol Hill newsletter is open to all. Marjorie Taylor Greene will resign. And Trump♥️Mamdani - throwing House Republicans under the bus, hours after they called Mamdani everything but a Commie bedwetting liberal. jamiedupree.substack.com/p/marjorie-t...

GREENE TO RESIGN

Before lawmakers rushed to the airport for a Thanksgiving break, the House passed a GOP resolution 'denouncing the horrors of socialism.' The House also passed that in 2023.

The House will do some really heavy lifting on Friday, voting on a non-binding resolution 'denouncing the horrors of socialism' - just as Zohran Mamdani is to meet with President Trump.

6 Senators got an early start on the Thanksgiving break, missing the only vote of the day:

Fetterman D-PA
Kelly D-AZ
Klobuchar D-MN
Mullin R-OK
Scott R-SC
Warren D-MA

Next vote expected on Dec. 1

This just in

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to end its monthslong deployment of National Guard troops to help police the nation’s capital.

Epstein vote was easy; health insurance changes are not Republicans in Washington still have no plan to deal with expiring health insurance subsidies.

Even though it took 4 months, voting to release the Epstein Files was easy. Trying to get Congress to do something on health insurance affordability - that almost seems impossible. More in my column for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
www.ajc.com/politics/202...

Sen. John Fetterman D-PA rips President Trump's call today for the execution of Democrats in Congress