Hello and welcome to the 538 politics podcast. I'm Gailen Druk. Many of the big political

stories from the last several weeks have come from two places, the White House and the courts

responsible for ruling on the White House and the courts responsible for ruling

on the White House's executive actions. It might be easy to assume that those are the only

two branches of government, but there is actually a little known third branch. They have their

own building and everything. It's like this big marble compound on a hill. I actually, I don't

remember what they call it.

Okay, jokes aside. After a month and a half of keeping relatively quiet in Trump's Washington,

this week, Congress will be thrust into the spotlight. Tuesday night, Donald Trump will make

the first address to a joint session of Congress of his second term. It's not technically a

state of the union address, but that's basically what it is. Meanwhile, the government will run out of money and shut

down next Friday unless Congress comes to a bipartisan agreement. And Republicans are at the same time

trying to pass a budget, one that cuts taxes and spending. But passing big spending cuts with slim majorities and nervous

members from swing districts is tricky to say the least. So where is it all heading? That's what

we're going to talk about today. Plus, we also have a good or bad use of polling. Has America become

too soft and feminine? Growing numbers of Republicans say yes, but how should we interpret that data?

Joining me to discuss it all and more is senior elections analyst.

Jeffrey Skelly, welcome to the podcast, Jeff.

Hey there, Gailen.

Happy So-2 week or whatever we're calling us.

Join address to Congress Week.

Yes, happy fake So-2 week to you as well, Jeff.

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