M.S. W. Media.

This week, Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the House for a second time as Democrats took back the House of Representatives.

But that blue wave that swept the Democrats into power would have given them a much larger majority

without gerrymandering. And campaign finance reform may be necessary

to ensure that Congress is responsive to the people.

What can be done to eliminate gerrymandering and reform campaign finance laws?

And what agenda should House Democrats pursue in the year ahead.

Let's get on topic. Welcome to On Topic, a weekly in-depth look at a topic that helps us understand the week's news.

My name is Renato Mariati.

I'm a former federal prosecutor, a practicing lawyer, and a CNN legal analyst. and I'm joined by my friend Patty

Vasquez a WGM radio host who will join us regularly on this podcast.

So Patty I you know I have to say we have already started to see the

effects of the House Democrats taking over just this morning it's Friday, January 4th and we have already seen Donald Trump

tweeting about impeachment. He's clearly got that on his mind.

I think people like thinking about him shaking in his boots.

I don't know that he is, but every time he tweets,

you're like, oh, someone's been riled a little bit.

And they already took a vote to stop the shutdown last night,

didn't they? And I mean, it's less to go through the Senate.

Exactly right you know it was a vote that in fact had some Republicans switch sides which I give those Republicans credit I'm sure

that they're just reading the tea leaves for 2020 but you know these

Republicans on both on both sides the House and the Senate voted to end the shutdown on the exact terms

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