From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

A new look for politics and new leadership at the Pentagon.

Hello again, I'm Armin Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues, Americans care about most.

On the day after, Democrats won control of the Congress, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld

steps down. Former CIA director Robert Gates is named to replace him. Nancy Pelosi will be

the new House Speaker, but the Senate majority may not be known before Christmas. A lot of

questions on To the Point. President

Bush and Speaker-elect Pelosi pledged bipartisanship, but what about their differences on the war in

Iraq? Just who is Nancy Pelosi? Will there be recounts for Senate seats in Virginia and in Montana?

Whatever happened to the permanent Republican majority? Can Democrats maintain power without the South?

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica

and from the Public Radio International Program Fund,

whose contributors include the Ford Foundation

and the John D. and Catherine T. McArthur Foundation.

Warman, on me, back with To the Point. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco will be the next

Speaker of a Congress controlled by Democrats. The Senate is still too close to call. On To the

Point, we'll look at yesterday's voting, the prospect for recounts, and the politics of the immediate

future. First, this news update, President Bush has

accepted Donald Rumsfeld's resignation as Secretary of Defense. His chosen replacement is former

CIA director Robert Gates. Mr. Bush was asked if that means a new direction.

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