Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Yesterday — 21 December 2024Main stream

Lawmakers react to stopgap funding and averting government shutdown

21 December 2024 at 12:12

As the dust settles on Congress frantically passing a stopgap bill at the eleventh hour to avoid a government shutdown, lawmakers are having their say on a chaotic week on Capitol Hill.

President Biden signed the 118-page bill into law on Saturday, extending government funding into March, the White House announced. The bill provides over $100 billion in disaster aid for those affected by storms Helene and Milton in the U.S. Southeast earlier this year. It also includes a $10 billion provision for economic assistance to farmers. 

President Biden has not yet publicly commented on the passage of the legislation, nor has President-elect Trump, although sources tell Fox that the incoming president is not that happy about the bill, because it does not suspend the debt ceiling. 

PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNS STOPGAP FUNDING BILL INTO LAW, NARROWLY AVERTING SHUTDOWN

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for his handling of the negotiations, said after the House vote that the result was "a good outcome for the country." He said he had spoken with Trump and that the president-elect "was certainly happy about this outcome, as well."

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., considered the legislation a win for his party. 

"The House Democrats have successfully stopped extreme MAGA Republicans from shutting down the government, crashing the economy and hurting working-class Americans all across the nation," Jeffries said, referring to Trump’s "Make America Great Again" slogan.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., praised Democrats, including Jeffries and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., for "their unity and courage withstanding the Trump-Musk irresponsibility."

"Democrats will always fight to protect the needs of America’s working families, veterans, seniors, farmers and first responders against the GOP’s agenda for billionaires and special interests."

A bulging 1,547-page continuing resolution was thrown into disarray earlier in the week following objections by Elon Musk and President-elect Trump. A slimmed-down version was then rejected by House members on Thursday before the House approved Speaker Mike Johnson’s new bill overwhelmingly on Friday by 366 votes to 34.

The Senate worked into early Saturday morning to pass the bill 85-11, just after the deadline.

WHITE HOUSE PRESSED ON BIDEN REFUSING TO SPEAK PUBLICLY AHEAD OF SHUTDOWN

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the passage of the funding legislation early Saturday.

"There will be no government shutdown right before Christmas," Schumer wrote on X. "We will keep the government open with a bipartisan bill that funds the government, helps Americans affected by hurricanes and natural disasters, helps our farmers and avoids harmful cuts."

Meanwhile, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., said the revised funding package keeps government funded at current levels, delivers aid to Americans suffering from natural disasters and protects agricultural supply chains. 

"Not only is this straightforward bill much more palatable to me, but it respects the taxpayers we represent, unlike the previous backroom boondoggle I opposed that was over 1,500 pages long and gave unnecessary and costly giveaways to the Democrats," Malliotakis wrote on X. 

"Passing this legislation today gives us what we need until President Trump is sworn in and settled so our Republican trifecta can deliver the results the American people voted for."

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., questioned why President Biden appeared to play a limited role in negotiations.

"People fail to recognize that even though the focus has been on President Trump, Joe Biden is actually still the president, which is really mind-boggling, because nobody's heard from him in weeks," Lawler told Fox & Friends Weekend on Saturday, adding that the debt ceiling has been used as a "political piñata for decades." 

"The party in the minority uses it as leverage in a negotiation, and I think what President Trump is trying to avoid is giving Democrats a loaded gun to hold to his head here."

Elsewhere, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., applauded the Senate for approving the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act, which he had introduced and helped pass in the House.

The bill would give the District of Columbia control of the 174-acre RFK campus and revive potential plans for a new Washington Commanders stadium.

The surprising move came after a provision in the initial continuing resolution (CR) -- to transfer control of the RFK campus from the federal government to the District -- was eliminated from Thursday's slimmed down version of the bill.

"The Senate’s passage of the D.C. RFK Stadium Campus Revitalization Act is a historic moment for our nation’s capital. If Congress failed to act today, this decaying land in Washington would continue to cost taxpayers a fortune to maintain," Comer said.

"Revitalizing this RFK Memorial Stadium site has been a top economic priority for the city, and I am proud to have partnered with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to get this bill across the finish line and to the President’s desk. This bipartisan success is a testament to the House Oversight Committee’s unwavering effort to protect taxpayers and our full commitment to ensuring a capital that is prosperous for residents and visitors for generations to come," he added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Before yesterdayMain stream

Schumer seeks legislation giving local officials authority to ‘swiftly’ respond to drone sightings

16 December 2024 at 16:04

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Monday that he will move to advance drone legislation this week that will give local officials more authority to respond to the growing concerns of drone sightings.

Reports of drones flying over New Jersey and New York, particularly near military research facilities and Trump’s Bedminster golf course, have prompted lawmakers to press the Biden administration for more transparency when it comes to who is flying the suspected unmanned aircraft and why the government is not doing anything about them.

Schumer has called on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to "quickly deploy" any drone-detecting tools that are available to help New York and New Jersey deal with the mysterious drone sightings that started a few weeks ago.

"This week, I will also come to the floor of the Senate to seek passage of legislation that will give local officials greater authority to swiftly respond to these sightings," Schumer said while speaking on the Senate floor on Monday. "The reports of the past few weeks have ignited immense anxiety and confusion for millions of people living across the Northeast. Thankfully, there is no reason to believe these drone sightings pose a national security threat, but even so they can be disruptive if they fly over restricted airspace particularly near airports or bases."

SCHUMER REQUESTS 360-DEGREE RADAR SYSTEM FOR NY, NJ TO DETECT DRONES

He continued, saying there was no shortage of reports of possible drone activity, yet there are few answers being provided about where some of the drones originated from and who was operating them.

Local officials lack the resources and authority to find the underlying cause of the matter, Schumer added.

NJ DRONE SIGHTINGS COULD BE A ‘CLASSIFIED EXERCISE’: FORMER CIA OFFICER

Along with seeking the Senate’s help in passing the legislation, Schumer also urged the DHS to take all necessary action to deploy as many drone-detecting resources as possible.

One of those technologies is the Robin Radar System, which, according to its website, notes "bird, bat, or drone, our 360° radar systems log thousands of observations, scanning every second to track and classify with precision."

DRONE MYSTERY CONTINUES IN NEW JERSEY AS EXPERTS OFFER NEW THEORIES ABOUT SIGHTINGS

Schumer said systems like Robin would go a long way to help local officials collect real data about where these drones are coming from.

"I want to see a flock of ROBIN-like technology systems deployed across the New York City metro area," he said. "So, we need the Department of Homeland Security to spring into action."

The House Intelligence Committee will receive a classified briefing on the drone activity on Tuesday afternoon, a source familiar with the matter told Punchbowl News. The news agency also said Biden administration officials from the FBI, Department of Defense, CIA, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence will hold the briefing.

Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.

Schumer requests 360-degree radar system for NY, NJ to detect drones

16 December 2024 at 07:26

As unknown airborne craft traverse the night skies in parts of the United States, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called upon the Department of Homeland Security to deploy 360-degree radar systems capable of detecting drones to the New York and New Jersey region. 

"Our local people who have questions about these drones should not have to shake an eight ball to get an answer," Schumer said, holding up a magic eight ball toy in one hand and an image of a drone in another. 

"They want real answers, and the Robin can supply those answers, and that's why we want them here," Schumer said, likely referencing the Dutch company Robin Radar Systems, which produces such systems.

NJ DRONE SIGHTINGS COULD BE A ‘CLASSIFIED EXERCISE’: FORMER CIA OFFICER

The website of Robin Radar Systems notes, "Bird, bat, or drone, our 360° radar systems log thousands of observations, scanning every second to track and classify with precision."

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Sunday, "In response to my calls for additional resources, our federal partners are deploying a state-of-the-art drone detection system to New York State." 

Fox News Digital reached out to DHS, Hochul's office, and Schumer's office for comment. 

DRONE MYSTERY CONTINUES IN NEW JERSEY AS EXPERTS OFFER NEW THEORIES ABOUT SIGHTINGS

"DHS responds to Congressional inquiries directly via official channels, and the Department will continue to respond appropriately to Congressional oversight," a DHS spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Department of Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas said during an appearance on ABC's "This Week" that some of the sightings have been drones while "some are manned-aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones."

He said "we know of no foreign involvement" related to "the sightings in the north-east." 

2 MASSACHUSETTS MEN ARRESTED FOR FLYING DRONE ‘DANGEROUSLY CLOSE’ TO BOSTON AIRPORT

"Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge. I don’t think so!" President-elect Donald Trump declared last week in a post on Truth Social. "Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!"

McConnell warns RFK Jr. to steer clear of the polio vaccine

14 December 2024 at 08:16

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gave a stern warning to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after a report highlighted how one of Kennedy's associates had sought to rescind approval for a polio vaccine.

McConnell, a polio survivor, said in a statement that "efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed – they’re dangerous." 

"Anyone seeking the Senate’s consent to serve in the incoming Administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts," he added, without naming Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic who is President-elect Trump's choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. 

NOBEL LAUREATES CRITICIZE RFK JR. HHS NOMINATION OVER ‘LACK OF CREDENTIALS,’ VACCINE STANCE

McConnell's statement follows a New York Times report on Friday that highlighted how Kennedy's personal attorney, Aaron Siri, had represented clients in cases that sought to rescind approval for a version of the polio vaccine and others. 

"Like millions of families before them, my parents knew the pain and fear of watching their child struggle with the life-altering diagnosis of polio. From the age of two, normal life without paralysis was only possible for me because of the miraculous combination of modern medicine and a mother’s love. But for millions who came after me, the real miracle was the saving power of the polio vaccine," McConnell said.

RFK JR. WANTS TO CLEAR OUT ‘ENTIRE DEPARTMENTS’ IN THE FDA: ‘THEY HAVE TO GO’

"For decades, I have been proud to work with devoted advocates – from Rotary International to the Gates Foundation – and use my platform in public life to champion the pursuit of cures for further generations. I have never flinched from confronting specious disinformation that threatens the advance of lifesaving medical progress, and I will not today. 

The GOP leader was joined by his Democratic counterpart, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who demanded that RFK Jr. make his position on the polio vaccine clear.

TRUMP TAPS RFK JR. TO LEAD DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

"This would undoubtedly make America sick again," Schumer said, sharing the Times report on X. "It’s outrageous and dangerous for people in the Trump Transition to try and get rid of the polio vaccine that has virtually eradicated polio in America and saved millions of lives. RFK Jr. must state his position on this." 

Reached for comment, a Trump transition team spokesperson said, "Mr. Kennedy believes the Polio Vaccine should be available to the public and thoroughly and properly studied." 

Manchin, Sinema tank Schumer lame-duck effort to secure Dem majority on top labor board

11 December 2024 at 11:16

In a lame duck effort, President Biden and Senate Democrats tried to reconfirm National Labor Relations Board Chair Lauren McFerran, a Democrat, to another five-year term, and thereby solidify a Democratic majority on the board until well into President-elect Trump's term. 

However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., failed to handicap Trump's impact on labor and unions for the first two years of his term with the vote, which took place on Wednesday afternoon.

Outgoing Sens. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., dealt their caucus a blow, voting down the test vote. 

MCCONNELL'S SENATE MONEY MACHINE MAKES TRANSITION TO THUNE AS NEW ERA BEGINS

McFerran was not reconfirmed on the floor, despite the Democrats' effort. Her nomination has been waiting to be considered since August, when Democrats advanced her out of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). The Democrats notably have a razor-thin majority of only 51 and making sure all senators are there to vote can often be tricky. 

Senators voted 49 to 50 against ending debate and proceeding to a vote on her reconfirmation. 

Schumer said in a statement following the failed cloture vote: "It is deeply disappointing, a direct attack on working people, and incredibly troubling that this highly qualified nominee — with a proven track record of protecting worker rights — did not have the votes."

A point of frustration for Republicans was the fact that HELP Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., denied a request from his counterpart, ranking member Bill Cassidy, R-La., to hold a public hearing on McFerran before advancing her. 

'EXCEPTIONALLY QUALIFIED': TRUMP TRANSITION ROLLS OUT VIDEO HYPING HEGSETH AMID CAPITOL HILL MEETINGS

"This NLRB seat should be filled by President Trump and the new incoming Senate. Not a historically unpopular president and a Senate Democrat Majority that has lost its mandate to govern," Cassidy said in a statement. "I am glad the Senate rejected Democrats’ partisan attempt to deny President Trump the opportunity to choose his own nominees and enact a pro-America, pro-worker agenda with the mandate he has from the American people." 

Schumer filed cloture on her nomination on Monday, setting up a vote on Wednesday. In floor remarks, the New York Democrat did not acknowledge the lame-duck nature of the vote, telling his colleagues, "If you truly care about working families, if you care about fixing income inequality in America, then you should be in favor of advancing today’s NLRB nominees. You can’t say you are for working families, then go and vote no today, because the NLRB protects workers from mistreatment on the job, and from overreaching employers."

RACHEL MORIN'S MOM PLEADS SENATORS 'HEAR OUR CRIES FOR HELP' IN MASS DEPORTATIONS HEARING TESTIMONY

In his own remarks, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said, "The NLRB member who’s held primary responsibility for executing on the Biden-Big Labor agenda is its chair, Lauren McFerran. And she’s up for confirmation to another term."

GOP SENATOR QUESTIONS FBI OVER REPORTED IRANIAN HACK ATTEMPT OF TRUMP PICK KASH PATEL

He added, "This is to say nothing of the fact that her confirmation would give a lame-duck president control of an independent board well into his successor’s term!"

A source familiar with the vote told Fox News Digital that Vice President-elect JD Vance flew to D.C. from Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday morning to vote to block McFerran.

Since McFerran was not reconfirmed, the position will be Trump's to fill.

Trump's transition team did not immediately provide comment to Fox News Digital. 

Turning Point USA founder and CEO Charlie Kirk sounded the alarm bell on Schumer and Biden's effort on Monday, writing on X, "EMERGENCY: Chuck Schumer is trying to ram through Dem activist Lauren McFerran for another term chairing the National Labor Relations Board—a very big deal. If successful, we will have a Dem Chair of the NLRB for the first 2 YEARS of Trump's Presidency. We need every GOP Senator to show up and block her!"

Senate Democrats name top leadership positions after losing chamber majority

3 December 2024 at 07:58

Senate Democrats held a closed-door election Tuesday morning to name who would fill their top leadership posts for the next two years, most notably filling the No. 3 position held by a retiring longtime lawmaker.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was unanimously re-elected to serve as Democratic leader and chair of the conference next year, per a Senate Democratic leadership source, holding on to the top position in the chamber among his Democratic colleagues.

"I am honored and humbled to be chosen by my colleagues to continue leading Senate Democrats during this crucial period for our country," Schumer said in a statement following Tuesday's election. "We have a lot of work ahead – in the Senate and as a country – and in this upcoming Congress, our caucus will continue to fight for what’s best for America’s working class."

Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., will also remain in the party's No. 2 position as Democratic minority whip next cycle. However, the No. 3 spot in the senate will have new representation.

‘IT’S A SETBACK': DEMOCRATS CRITICIZE BIDEN OVER HUNTER PARDON

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., has served in the No. 3 position of policy and communications committee chair for several years, but the position was up for grabs after the senator did not seek re-election this cycle.

SENATE CONFIRMING KASH PATEL AS FBI DIRECTOR IS A ‘BIG QUESTION MARK,' EXPERT ARGUES

Democratic senators selected Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., to assume the No. 3 position after being tapped to chair the steering and policy committee.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., will also take on a leadership role in the next Congress, being elevated on Tuesday to chair the strategic communications committee, the fourth-highest ranking position in the Senate minority.

Other notable nominations include Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., as vice chair of the conference, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., as vice chair of the conference, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as chair of outreach, and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., as senate Democratic conference secretary.

Republican senators recently held their own leadership election for next year when they will have the majority in the chamber, electing Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., to take over the role of Senate majority leader.

Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report.

Congress has just weeks to avoid a partial government shutdown after Thanksgiving

25 November 2024 at 13:34

After Congress returns from Thanksgiving break in December, they will have just weeks to approve continued government spending past the Dec. 20 deadline. 

In floor remarks last week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said, "When the Senate returns after Thanksgiving, senators can expect a very busy few weeks to finish our work before the end of the year.

"Both sides must continue working together to keep the government open beyond the Dec. 20 deadline."

SENATE GOP MOTIVATED TO RAPIDLY CONFIRM TRUMP NOMINATIONS AHEAD OF PARTY TRIFECTA IN WASHINGTON

"Letting the government shut down just before Christmas would be asinine, plain and simple, and nobody wants that to happen," he said. "Well, there may be a few in the other chamber who do, but they’re a distinct minority."

While nearly all the appropriations bills have passed through committee and are ready to be voted on, Schumer hasn't brought any to the floor. His office has not answered questions from Fox News Digital about whether he will in the time that Congress has left. 

'CONVEYOR BELT OF RADICALS': GOP SLAMMED OVER SENATE ABSENCES THAT HELPED BIDEN SCORE MORE JUDGES IN LAME DUCK

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has noted Schumer's inaction on individual appropriations bills, suggesting its likely that lawmakers will ultimately put forward a short-term stopgap spending bill into next year. This would be preferable to some Republicans, who would like the GOP and the incoming Trump administration to contribute to a spending bill as soon as possible. 

If appropriations measures are passed during this Congress while Democrats control the Senate and President Joe Biden is still in office, Republicans will have much less leverage in influencing bills that will dictate the entire rest of the 2025 fiscal year. 

A short-term spending bill, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), would give Republicans much more authority much earlier. But it's unclear whether Democrats will let this happen and those who have discussed the forthcoming deadline have expressed an expectation of a large appropriations bill known as an omnibus, or smaller groups of spending bills known as minibuses. 

DSCC HOPEFUL GILLIBRAND SAYS DEMS SHOULD HAVE PUT IMMIGRATION FIX ON TABLE '2 YEARS AGO'

However, some Republicans have vocally opposed this type of bill. In fact, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, penned an open letter to the American people recently, warning them that their representatives and senators are poised to push through a large, omnibus bill ahead of Christmas. He urged people to call lawmakers and urge them not to. 

If Congress does not pass some form of stopgap bill or appropriations package prior to Dec. 20, the government will enter into a partial shutdown until they do so.

Senate showdown: GOP secures deal with Schumer to save coveted appellate judges for Trump

21 November 2024 at 06:44

FIRST ON FOX: Senate Democrats and Republicans struck a late-night deal on judicial votes and confirmations on Wednesday, securing the ability for President-elect Trump to appoint four crucial appellate court judges in his second administration. 

As Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., attempts to push through as many President Biden judicial picks as possible, Republicans in the upper chamber have worked to delay the process by using procedural floor maneuvers, causing several late nights.

Around midnight on Wednesday, the parties came to an agreement which would allow Democrats to hold votes on four district court judges in exchange for pulling four higher tier circuit court judicial nominees, a senior Senate source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital. 

SENATE GOP INITIATES THUNE-ENGINEERED SLOWDOWN AS SCHUMER LOOKS TO STACK JUDICIAL VOTES

These four vacancies will now be Trump's to fill, per the deal. 

"The Senate has reached a time agreement to invoke cloture on four judicial nominations tonight and have three more votes tomorrow," Schumer's office said around 11 p.m. 

The senior source told Fox News Digital that Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., were both key figures in securing the near-midnight deal. 

According to a Senate Democrat leadership aide familiar with the agreement, the deal allowed for the Senate to vote on cloture on nine district court judges this week, and vote to confirm them when they return after Thanksgiving. 

The office of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., did not immediately provide comment to Fox News Digital. 

SPRINT TO CONFIRM TRUMP NOMINEES KICKS OFF IN JANUARY

The deal was primarily motivated by a Senate slowdown initiated by Republicans through procedural maneuvers on Monday night, which was spearheaded by Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., who was recently elected as the next Republican Senate leader. The delay tactic plan came in response to Schumer's efforts to stack additional judicial confirmation votes on the calendar ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. 

"If Sen. Schumer thought Senate Republicans would just roll over and allow him to quickly confirm multiple Biden-appointed judges to lifetime jobs in the final weeks of the Democrat majority, he thought wrong," Thune told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement at the time. 

By objecting to Democrats' unanimous consent requests in order to file cloture on the Biden nominees, Republicans were adding additional votes to the schedule, taking up a substantial amount of time and forcing senators to spend all night at the Capitol.

The source noted to Fox News Digital that the new deal did not mean Republicans were going to allow the Biden district judges to sail through without opposition. GOP senators are still expected to fight and vote against the Democrat-nominated judges as they have done throughout Biden's term.  

SCHUMER NOW PLEADS FOR BI-PARTISANSHIP HAVING PROMISED TO RAILROAD DEMOCRAT AGENDA THROUGH

Ahead of Trump taking office and a new congressional term starting in January with Republicans in the Senate majority, Democrats are in a race to the finish line to push through as many of President Biden's judicial nominations as possible. As of Wednesday night, Biden's judicial confirmation count went up to 220 — still trailing behind Trump's 234 confirmed Article III judges during his first term. 

Schumer's effort to push through Biden judges quickly during the lame duck session has already drawn the ire of Trump. 

He recently took to social media to call for a halt to judicial confirmations for the remainder of the session, writing on social media on Wednesday, "The Democrats are trying to stack the Courts with Radical Left Judges on their way out the door. Republican Senators need to Show Up and Hold the Line — No more Judges confirmed before Inauguration Day!"

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"In his first term, President Trump appointed constitutionalist judges who interpret the law as written. He will do so again," Trump-Vance transition spokesperson Brian Hughes told Fox News Digital in a statement last week.

Incoming Senate Dem Elissa Slotkin torches identity politics in 2024 autopsy: 'Go the way of the dodo'

20 November 2024 at 09:04

Sen.-elect Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., said Democrats need to ditch identity politics if they want to win over voters in future elections, telling reporters the ideology needed to "go the way of the dodo."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democrats who won Senate races in the 2024 elections held a briefing for reporters at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) on Tuesday, during which they explained how they managed to get elected despite President-elect Trump winning in their state. 

According to Slotkin, who represents a swing district in the House of Representatives that she initially flipped from red to blue, identity politics is not a winning strategy in a state like Michigan. 

RICK SCOTT OUTLINES CONSENSUS FOR 'DRAMATIC CHANGE' TO SENATE OPERATION IN POST-MCCONNELL ERA

She defeated Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in what was considered a "toss-up" race in the presidential battleground state. 

Slotkin further attributed her win to focusing on the economy, or "kitchen table" issues. However, she said it isn't enough just to focus on those issues, but to talk about them plainly. 

Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., DSCC Chair Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Sen.-elect Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., were also at the briefing.  

MATT GAETZ 'WORKING THE PHONES,' SPEAKING TO GOP SENATORS DESPITE DIFFICULT CONFIRMATION ODDS

For Schumer, the victories Democrats saw could be boiled down to three things: good candidate quality, economic accomplishments in the Senate that affected each of their states, and early strategic television ad investments. 

He also pointed to high digital ad spending in the rapidly changing media landscape that he believes helped push them over the edge. 

As for the Senate race in Pennsylvania, Schumer noted that DSCC staff will still be on the ground working in the state, where Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., allowed an automatic recount to be triggered by refusing to concede, despite Sen.-elect Dave McCormick's lead. 

SENATE GOP INITIATES THUNE-ENGINEERED SLOW DOWN AS SCHUMER LOOKS TO STACK JUDICIAL VOTES

When asked what went wrong in Pennsylvania, where Casey did not run significantly ahead of Democrat presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Schumer just said that a recount was still going on in the state. 

Other Democrats in swing states and Republican states managed to run ahead of Harris by substantial margins, leading to some of the wins they saw in Trump-won states. 

One of those successful Democrats, Gallego, gave some insight to reporters about why he defeated Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake. He pointed to the voting group of male and Latino voters, who he saw early progress with in polls. He pointed to specific cultural messaging to this demographic through boxing match watch parties and rodeos. 

GOP CRIES FOUL ON DEM BORDER SPENDING BILL THEY SAY WOULD DRAG OUT MIGRANT CRISIS

Additionally, he hit Lake for discussing the border crisis in the way that someone outside of Arizona and unfamiliar with the dynamic might talk about it. Gallego said Lake's talk of shutting down the border sounded like someone from the East Coast. 

According to him, Arizona can't fully shut down its border because its economy relies on travel and transportation of goods between the state and Mexico. 

❌
❌