A New Congress Takes Shape; Stefanik's Stock Rises; 'Spare' Sparks Drama

The NPR Politics Podcast

NPR

Politics, Daily News, News

4.5 • 24.9K Ratings

🗓️ 13 January 2023

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

With a narrow majority in the House, Republicans will need to find ways to work with Democrats — who still control the Senate and the White House. What battles may loom large for the new Congress?

As those battles are waged, one person will be on the front lines: New York Republican Elise Stefanik, who chairs the Republican conference. Her rise from a bipartisan member of Congress to a staunch defender of Donald Trump has drawn attention.

And, among the things we can't let go of this week? A certain royal's memoir.

This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, political correspondent Susan Davis, and national correspondent Brian Mann.

This episode was produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. It was edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Research and fact-checking by Devin Speak.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, this is David from Arlington, Virginia. We are enjoying the last night of our honeymoon beach side at Playa del Carmen in Mexico.
0:08.0	This podcast was recorded at 11.46 a.m. on Friday, January 13th of 2023.
0:17.0	Things may have changed by the time you hear this podcast, but we will be catching up on all the NPR podcast episodes we've missed since January 1st.
0:25.0	The day we got married. Enjoy the show.
0:28.0	That's so sweet.
0:34.0	I hope they had a great honeymoon, but for a second I'll admit I thought they were going to say they were honeymooning in Arlington, Virginia.
0:39.0	And I got a little nervous for that.
0:41.0	Mexico is a much better honeymoon destination. I'll do respect to Arlington.
0:45.0	Hey there, it's the NPR Politics podcast. I must m'ahala that I cover the White House.
0:49.0	I'm Claudine Garizales, I cover Congress.
0:51.0	And I'm Susan Davis, I cover politics.
0:53.0	And it might have taken a little while, but last Saturday in the early hours of the day, the new House of Representatives took office.
0:59.0	Congratulations. We're now in the mood for the 118th Congress.
1:07.0	The GOP is now in control of the House.
1:10.0	And they're going to have to figure out how to bargain with a Democratic Senate, much less a Democratic president, if they want to get anything done beyond oversight and accountability, which we all know, of course, are very high on their agenda.
1:21.0	And Claudia, I want to start with you because you cover Congress.
1:24.0	You know, I imagine that the first few days of a new Congress are maybe a little bit like the first few days of school, especially if you're a new member, but this was not the typical start to a new legislative session.
1:35.0	Not at all. I was actually on vacation that week, and I could not turn away.
1:39.0	You can't offer it.
1:41.0	Because it was just so compelling and just amazing to see this play out.
1:46.0	All of this back and forth between members of the Republican Party. We talk about they have to bargain with the Democratic Senate Democratic White House, but now they have to bargain with each other.
1:56.0	They have to figure out how to work with each other.
	...

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