{"id":545616,"date":"2023-01-30T20:54:15","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T17:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/five-ways-january-transformed-the-political-landscape\/"},"modified":"2023-01-30T20:54:15","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T17:54:15","slug":"five-ways-january-transformed-the-political-landscape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/five-ways-january-transformed-the-political-landscape\/","title":{"rendered":"#Five ways January transformed the political landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a360d4eed151\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a360d4eed151\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/five-ways-january-transformed-the-political-landscape\/#Five_ways_January_transformed_the_political_landscape\" >Five ways January transformed the political landscape<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/five-ways-january-transformed-the-political-landscape\/#A_divided_GOP_elects_Speaker_McCarthy\" >A divided GOP elects Speaker McCarthy\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/five-ways-january-transformed-the-political-landscape\/#Committee_assignment_fights_underscore_slim_GOP_advantage\" >Committee assignment fights underscore slim GOP advantage\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/five-ways-january-transformed-the-political-landscape\/#Classified_documents_damage_presidential_contenders\" >Classified documents damage presidential contenders\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/five-ways-january-transformed-the-political-landscape\/#Happy_Dems_wake_up_with_2024_Senate_anxieties\" >Happy Dems wake up with 2024 Senate anxieties\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/five-ways-january-transformed-the-political-landscape\/#George_Santos_is_the_story_that_keeps_on_giving\" >George Santos is the story that keeps on giving\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Five_ways_January_transformed_the_political_landscape\"><\/span>Five ways January transformed the political landscape<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<p>A new year and a new power structure at the Capitol with a House GOP majority eager to exert its influence is quickly transforming the political landscape.<\/p>\n<p>The year\u00a0\u2014 barely a month old \u2014\u00a0has already been marked by at least one political h<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ening not seen in more than a century: an electrifying House election that took 15 votes to make Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) the new Speaker.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr1_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>The early signs of a 2024 presidential battle, a classified documents controversy that has pulled in President Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence, and the swirling controversy around first-term Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) are among the other stories that have kept Democrats and Republicans alike on edge.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a look at what\u2019s happened so far, and how it will color the next year and beyond in politics.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_divided_GOP_elects_Speaker_McCarthy\"><\/span>A divided GOP elects Speaker McCarthy\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"Speaker-elect Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)\" class=\"wp-image-3818176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg?resize=160,90 160w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg?resize=1280,720 1280w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg?resize=645,363 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg?resize=256,144 256w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg?resize=512,288 512w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg?resize=640,360 640w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg?resize=876,492 876w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg?resize=960,540 960w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_010723gn14_w.jpg?resize=50,28 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><\/figure>\n<p>Everyone in politics knew the Speakership election would be a showstopper, given the thin House GOP majority that meant McCarthy could only lose four votes to win his election.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But few projected there would be a\u00a0week of votes and drama\u00a0on the House floor, culminating in a failed vote late Friday night that saw McCarthy\u00a0rise\u00a0from his seat to\u00a0confront Rep. Matt Gaetz (Fla.), the pro-Trump Republican refusing to switch his vote to \u201cyes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Initially it seemed McCarthy might be sunk, but then Gaetz and five other anti-McCarthy members were convinced to vote \u201cpresent\u201d in a 15th and final vote, securing the Speakership for McCarthy. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The show on the House floor was more than the week\u2019s best reality show on television. \u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr2_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>It was a precursor to understanding how fragile any GOP majority will be going forward \u2014 at least if Democrats are unified in opposition. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Politics and policy in Washington, D.C., will be transformed by a House majority that wants to cut spending, win concessions for any debt ceiling hike and change the way the House works \u2014 including through a time-consuming open amendment process. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It will also be transformed by the difficulties the House GOP is likely to experience in unifying on difficult issues. Long nights and uncertainty on the House floor are back. \u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr3_ab\"><\/aside>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Committee_assignment_fights_underscore_slim_GOP_advantage\"><\/span>Committee assignment fights underscore slim GOP advantage\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.)\" class=\"wp-image-3836062\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg?resize=160,90 160w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg?resize=1280,720 1280w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg?resize=645,363 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg?resize=256,144 256w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg?resize=512,288 512w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg?resize=640,360 640w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg?resize=876,492 876w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg?resize=960,540 960w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/swalwelleric_schiffadam_omarilhan_012523gn3_w.jpg?resize=50,28 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><\/figure>\n<p>The next tight vote for the House GOP may be on removing Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>McCarthy had vowed to remove Omar from the panel for her remarks criticizing the Israeli government and U.S. support for Israel \u2014 which her staunchest critics say had edged into antisemitism. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s also some political payback at play. The Democratic House majority that just lost power had previously removed Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) from their panel seats. \u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr4_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>Those two Republicans are now back on committees, while Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) were\u00a0blocked by McCarthy from serving on the House Intelligence Committee.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While McCarthy could block the two Democrats from Intelligence on his own power, removing Omar will require a House vote, and it\u2019s unclear McCarthy\u00a0can win a majority. McCarthy has already lost at least two GOP votes. Several others may be wavering.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Omar vote, assuming it happens, will be another sign of how few GOP lawmakers the GOP can afford to lose when they bring controversial measures to the floor. \u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr5_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>It will also show off a transformed House where Greene and Gosar are back in power on committees after their own past controversies \u2014 and where plenty of bitterness on both sides remains. \u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Classified_documents_damage_presidential_contenders\"><\/span>Classified documents damage presidential contenders\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png?w=900\" alt=\"Photo illustration of classified document and letter text with Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Mike Pence in a center rectangle with a black-and-white White House behind them.\" class=\"wp-image-3833520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png 1400w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png?resize=160,90 160w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png?resize=1280,720 1280w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png?resize=645,363 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png?resize=256,144 256w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png?resize=512,288 512w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png?resize=640,360 640w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png?resize=876,492 876w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png?resize=960,540 960w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/illustration_trumpdonald_bidenjoe_pencemike_012723mm-ap-gn-see-credits_classified.png?resize=50,28 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><\/figure>\n<p>Does everyone with a security clearance in Washington have some classified materials in their homes and garages?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>You could be excused from wondering, given the separate controversies that have now ensnared Biden, Pence and former President Trump.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr6_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>The story began with the FBI search of Trump\u2019s Florida Mar-a-Lago home in August. An inventory released by the FBI said its investigators had found 18 documents marked as top secret and dozens more labeled as secret. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Democrats pounced, and the classified documents controversy swirling around the former president was a major narrative throughout the fall. Attorney <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">General<\/a> Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to look into the matter after the 2022 midterms.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It was then a big surprise when the public learned on Jan. 9 that classified documents had been found at Biden\u2019s former private office in Washington, D.C., from his time as vice president. More documents were subsequently found at Biden\u2019s Wilmington, Del., home and residence. \u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr7_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>Now it was the turn of Republicans to go on the attack, as the GOP questioned why the White House had only spoken about the found documents months after the midterm election, even as it had attacked Trump for classified document violations. The <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a> also came under criticism from Republicans who saw a double standard in how the two cases were covered.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While the White House argued there were important distinctions between the Trump and Biden controversies, the findings raised questions about the damage done to Biden. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>And then more news. Pence also had classified documents at his home, and he acknowledged that \u201cmistakes were made\u201d just weeks after he\u2019d criticized the White House for the discovery of Biden\u2019s documents.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>What does it all mean for the hopes of Biden, Pence and Trump in 2024? It\u2019s hard to say for sure. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The conventional wisdom is that the Pence discovery somewhat negates Biden\u2019s document issue, which also triggered the appointment of a special counsel. If the issue is on the minds of voters in 2024, it could\u00a0present an opening\u00a0for another candidate \u2014 like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who\u00a0would\u00a0likely present himself as a Washington outsider\u00a0if he runs for the Republican presidential nomination.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, other former presidents and vice presidents are going through those documents at home.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Happy_Dems_wake_up_with_2024_Senate_anxieties\"><\/span>Happy Dems wake up with 2024 Senate anxieties\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.)\" class=\"wp-image-3832025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg?resize=160,90 160w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg?resize=1280,720 1280w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg?resize=645,363 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg?resize=256,144 256w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg?resize=512,288 512w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg?resize=640,360 640w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg?resize=876,492 876w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg?resize=960,540 960w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/manchinjoe_012623gn2_w.jpg?resize=50,28 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><\/figure>\n<p>Democrats entered January about as happy as a party can be,\u00a0given it\u00a0just lost the House majority. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The party held the Senate, after all, and it kept its losses in the lower chamber to a minimum. It also gained a couple of Democratic governors.<\/p>\n<p>But if Democrats were getting drunk while celebrating a strong November, GOP infighting and Trump\u2019s post-election problems, those in the Senate were stone sober over a Senate map that has the party defending seats in tough states around the country in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Senate Democrats up for reelection\u00a0include Sens. Joe Manchin in West Virginia and Jon Tester in Montana \u2014 two states won handily by Trump in 2020.\u00a0They\u00a0are proven winners, but the races will be competitive if both men decide to run for reelection. Neither has announced so far.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) will be up for reelection in Ohio, another tough state for Democrats. Brown is seen as a Democratic legend for his victories in a state that has been seemingly moving toward the GOP over the last decade. He\u2019ll be tough for the GOP to defeat but will be a target given the state\u2019s trajectory.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) announced her retirement in January, creating an open seat race in Michigan that will draw GOP challengers.<\/p>\n<p>Competitive races are also likely in Pennsylvania, Nevada and Arizona, where Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is now an Independent. \u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"George_Santos_is_the_story_that_keeps_on_giving\"><\/span>George Santos is the story that keeps on giving\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4290\" height=\"2860\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/fa73210552374c26ba85022db2337af5-1.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"George Santos\" class=\"wp-image-3831783\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/fa73210552374c26ba85022db2337af5-1.jpg 4290w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/fa73210552374c26ba85022db2337af5-1.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/fa73210552374c26ba85022db2337af5-1.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/fa73210552374c26ba85022db2337af5-1.jpg?resize=1080,720 1080w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/fa73210552374c26ba85022db2337af5-1.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/fa73210552374c26ba85022db2337af5-1.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/fa73210552374c26ba85022db2337af5-1.jpg?resize=645,430 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/fa73210552374c26ba85022db2337af5-1.jpg?resize=50,33 50w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/fa73210552374c26ba85022db2337af5-1.jpg?resize=876,584 876w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s probably too much to say that Santos is transforming Washington. He\u2019s just a freshman lawmaker, after all. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Santos is a political gift to Democrats, who can point to the Republican\u2019s committee assignments any time they want to argue the GOP is hypocritical for seeing to remove Democrats from working panels. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s a distraction for House Republicans, many of whom have not been shy to\u00a0offer barbs\u00a0about their new colleague. One called him an imposter; another a \u201cbad guy.\u201d Several called for his resignation. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s unclear how long a career in Washington that Santos will enjoy. But as long as he\u2019s around, he\u2019ll likely to draw questions for House GOP leaders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more News articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/3836142-five-ways-january-transformed-the-political-landscape\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Five ways January transformed the political landscape A new year and a new power structure at the Capitol with a House GOP majority eager to exert its influence is quickly transforming the political landscape. The year\u00a0\u2014 barely a month old \u2014\u00a0has already been marked by at least one political happening not seen in more than&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":545617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/mccarthykevin_0107232gn12_w.jpg?w=1280","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[134344,30889,134417,134661,137726,90482,136218,71035,133498,124783,991,35813,28962,134345],"class_list":["post-545616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-administration","tag-biden","tag-blog-briefing-room","tag-energy-environment","tag-george-santos","tag-house","tag-house-speaker-vote","tag-ilhan-omar","tag-in-the-know","tag-international","tag-joe-biden","tag-kevin-mccarthy","tag-mike-pence","tag-state-watch"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/545616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=545616"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/545616\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/545617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=545616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=545616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=545616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}