New Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has been privately indicating she's prepared to intervene in contested primaries.

Why it matters: Senate Democrats want to avoid the GOP's Obama-era pain of watching preferred candidates lose primaries to unelectable newcomers.

• Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) know their ability to claw their way back to the majority starts with candidates who are built for the general election.
• The top target: Getting the right candidates in three of the most competitive races of the 2026 cycle — Maine, North Carolina and now Michigan.

Zoom in: At a private DSCC fundraiser on Wednesday night, Gillibrand told donors that Roy Cooper, the former North Carolina governor, would be a "formidable candidate," according to people familiar with the matter.

• Cooper has yet to decide whether to run, but he's clearly indicated he's considering it and used his farewell address to say, "I am not done."
• A big announcement from Cooper would help offset fears of losing other seats — especially if Gov. Brian Kemp (R-Ga.) decides to challenge Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.).

Democrats were stunned by Sen. Gary Peters' (D-Mich.) surprise announcement he won't seek a third term, opening a primary they thought would be closed.

• Reps. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.) are both mulling primary bids. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the current Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist are also taking a look.

The bottom line: In these MAGA times, the NRSC is typically left with whatever candidate President Trump endorses.

• Schumer and Gillibrand don't have that kind of power, but they clearly want to avoid intra-party fights and save their resources for the general election.
• "As always, the DSCC evaluates every primary on a case-by-case basis and doesn't take any options off the table," a DSCC aide said.

Top congressional Democrats smell blood over President Trump's federal spending freeze.

Why it matters: The base is loving the party's muscular signs of life and wants more. Phone lines lit up in Democratic offices on Wednesday, sources told Axios.

• "This is only the beginning," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told House Dems on an emergency call Wednesday afternoon.
• House Democrats are planning a "day of action" Thursday on the funding freeze, even after the White House withdrew the memo and blamed media coverage for the public's confusion.

Zoom in: The Trump White House is in retreat.

• Top Trump advisers said the memo was an unforced error and skipped the proper channels, the N.Y. Times reported on Wednesday.

Now, Democrats will try to turn the public backlash into durable opposition to other (and more popular) parts of his agenda.

• Senate Dems will flood the floor into the overnight hours Wednesday night with speeches about the dangers of Trump's move.
• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has demanded the creation of "strike teams" to combat the budget reconciliation plan by Republicans, sources tell Axios.

The bottom line: After weeks of internal frustration over his leadership, Schumer has taken a heavier hand.

• Schumer obsesses over issue polling and privately acknowledges that some of Trump's priorities play well with voters.
• But the magnitude and scope of the OMB memo jumped out to Schumer and leadership as a massive overstep by Trump.

Republicans are jockeying over how to deal with a government shutdown deadline that's coming fast — and everything else President Trump wants them to get done.

Why it matters: Congress has a huge to-do list. And leaders are largely still arguing about logistics.

• Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) argued against a long-term stopgap spending measure during the Senate GOP weekly lunch on Tuesday — pointing out the impact on defense, in particular, multiple sources told Axios.
• "Our leadership is pretty hostile to that idea," Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told Axios about the long-term continuing resolution idea. "But I don't know what they're going to do otherwise."
• Meanwhile, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Oh.) told Punchbowl News he doesn't think it's a good idea to force a big appropriations package right before Republicans have to rally to pass top Trump's priorities through reconciliation. He's pushing for a short-term stopgap.

Zoom in: The top four congressional appropriators have been meeting to try to find agreement on topline spending numbers for appropriation packages to keep the government funded and running past March 14.

• When asked on Monday when there might be a decision there, Collins told Axios, "We're talking, but we're not that close."

Zoom out: Congress wants to address border, energy, defense and tax cuts through a major budget reconciliation bill (or two), which would allow the Senate to avoid the 60-vote filibuster.

• Lawmakers also have to fund the government for the rest of the year, start the appropriations process for next year and raise the debt ceiling. They're not far on any of those priorities.
• Don't forget all the Cabinet nominations the Senate still has left to churn through.

President Trump's freezing of federal aid and grants and his mass firing of inspector generals has quickly shocked congressional Democrats into a coordinated resistance movement.

Why it matters: One week after the 2025 inauguration, it feels more like the winter of 2017.

• Democrats have flipped overnight from retreat to obstruction after Trump fired government watchdogs and froze (some) government spending.

They have no plans to stop unless or until Trump backs down.

• "This is about Trump wanting to seize control of everything," Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) told reporters Tuesday.

Zoom in: A coherent Democratic counteroffensive is starting to emerge.

• Make noise: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' (D-N.Y.) messaging arm urged House Dems to hold press conferences and go live on social media. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) Democrats audibled Tuesday's press conference from Jan. 6 pardons to Trump's spending freeze.
• Block bills: Senate Dems filibustered a GOP bill sanctioning the International Criminal Court (ICC). Democrats were resigned on Monday that they'd be jammed on the bill. Now they know they can increase their negotiating position if they stay unified.
• Protest votes: Nearly two dozen Senate Democrats voted against Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's confirmation, a day after the chamber voted unanimously to advance his nomination.
• Lawsuits: A federal judge blocked Trump's spending freeze plans on Tuesday. But all day, Democrats decried Trump's move. The lawsuit will give them time to create a narrative about the real-world impact of the cuts. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers will be hearing from their (potentially) angry constituents.

The bottom line: The all-day rage session was convenient for Schumer, who'd rather talk about Trump than a soon-to-be-open Michigan Senate seat. Gary Peters surprised the Hill today by announcing he won't run for reelection.

Senate Democrats are expected to block a bill sanctioning the ICC on Tuesday, a show of Democratic unity after a week of internal dissent.

Why it matters: If Democrats follow this, this stonewalling is their first concrete action since President Trump's inauguration to thwart the GOP agenda.

• Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told Axios on Tuesday that Democrats and Republicans were unable to reach a deal on the ICC bill, and that the caucus plans to block the bill on the floor Tuesday.
• It will also give them leverage to change the ICC bill, which could help Democrats in Trump states avoid a controversial vote.

The Senate voted 59-34 Saturday to confirm South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security

Why it matters: Noem, a Trump loyalist and immigration hardliner, will play a crucial role in implementing President Trump's immigration policies, including his plans to carry out mass deportations and shut down the border.

• Seven Democrats joined Republicans in backing the nomination.
• The role also places Noem in charge of FEMA — a part of DHS— which Trump has proposed eliminating to force states to do more disaster relief independently.

Catch up quick: The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 13-2 Monday in favor of her nomination.

• Noem, 53, was the first governor to deploy state National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas.
• She resigned her post as governor on Saturday, and Gov. Larry Rhoden, formerly South Dakota's lieutenant governor, now has the role.

Go deeper: ICE returns to calling immigrants "aliens"

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) used a rare emergency meeting on Friday to make a plea for unity, but Democrats have a tactical problem he can't avoid.

Why it matters: Schumer can't guarantee the votes to give Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) the time and leverage to negotiate with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on the upcoming ICC sanctions bill.

• Democratic senators know they're stronger when they stick together, especially on procedural votes.
• But many senators have a greater interest in voting for GOP legislation that can help them win reelection in Trumpy states.

Zoom in: Democrats didn't resolve any of their short- or long-term strategic differences in Friday's 90-minute meeting, which Axios scooped was coming in Hill Leaders.

• After the meeting, senators were extremely reluctant to discuss the open rift in their party. They emerged stone-faced and weren't in the mood to talk.
• Staff weren't allowed to attend the strategy session.

Between the lines: Schumer approached the meeting with a message of kumbaya, according to a source briefed on the session.

• To give her room to negotiate, Shaheen needs Democrats to send a clear signal that they oppose the current version of the bill — and are prepared to vote it down.
• Shaheen is the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Cotton introduced the ICC sanctions bill in the Senate.

But lawmakers emerged from the meeting without a clear strategy on how to approach the ICC measure, which has splintered progressives and moderates.

• Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) told Axios after the meeting "all I can tell you is that Jeanne Shaheen is in the middle of negotiations."

The bottom line: Schumer has a handful of moderates who are up for reelection next year, and they will face pressure to back some GOP legislation.

• Schumer allowed Democrats to vote their conscience on the Laken Riley Act, the GOP's first border crackdown bill of the new session.
• With a dozen Democratic votes for the procedural vote, Republicans passed the bill without any changes to the legislation.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is summoning the entire Democratic caucus on Friday after a surprise meeting left key issues unresolved.

Why it matters: Republicans are already teeing up their next tough vote, and Schumer's members want a clear strategy from the top on protecting Trump-state Democrats.

• Schumer met for over an hour with about a dozen senators Thursday afternoon to discuss general strategy. Axios scooped the meeting.
• Now Schumer wants to take the pulse of his full membership.

Zoom in: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has lined up a vote on sanctioning the ICC as the Senate's next legislative piece of business. It could come as early as next week, depending on the pace of Cabinet confirmations.

• The ICC sanctions bill, which imposes penalties on ICC officials involved in prosecuting Americans or citizens of U.S.-allied countries that are not a party to the ICC, has nearly universal support in the Republican Party.
• But it puts vulnerable Democrats in a difficult political position between pro-Israel groups and progressive activists who think Israeli officials are guilty of war crimes.

What they're saying: "I am reviewing the bill," said Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) after the meeting, declining to say how he planned to vote.

• "I think folks are still trying to work through some amendments and I am going to have to wait and see," Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) told Axios after meeting with Schumer.
• "I think all of us would like to see the ICC perform differently but do it in a way that ensures that our allies and partners are still supporting and working with us," said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).

Between the lines: The House and Senate GOP control their chambers' calendars, giving them a tactical advantage over Schumer and the Democrats who represent districts and states that President Trump won in 2024.

• They used the Laken Riley Act, which allows for greater detention of undocumented immigrants, to divide the Democratic caucus and score a quick political win.

What's next: The House GOP bill banning transgender women from playing in women's sports is also in the pipeline.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has called a last-minute closed-door meeting on Thursday to hash out the party's internal fight over engaging with Republicans.

Why it matters: Schumer has put himself right in the middle of his caucus' tug-of-war over immigration. More tough votes are coming, including over Israel and trans rights.

• Schumer is juggling two different parts of his caucus. One wants to engage with the GOP on some of its priorities. The other thinks the party should fight back against the MAGA agenda.
• Behind the scenes, Schumer was hands off in dealing with the GOP's first immigration crackdown bill, letting Democrats engage with Republicans on the bill but ultimately voting against the legislation on the floor.
• Senate Democrats on both sides of the immigration issue told Axios that Schumer needs to find a better strategy in dealing with Republican bills which fracture the party.

Between the lines: Sources around Schumer argue the Democratic leader is good at providing cover for both flanks of his party.

• But multiple Senate Democrats, who were granted anonymity to speak freely about the caucus, said Schumer should do more to give them leverage in negotiations over the GOP bills.

Between the lines: The meeting on Thursday will give Senate Democrats a chance to air the grievances ahead of a battle over proposed sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), which Republicans have prioritized in their first weeks in power.

• The ICC issue is another which splits Democrats — some believe the court's arrest warrants for top Israeli officials are unjust, while others believe the Israeli government should be held accountable for the war in Gaza.
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) started the process of getting the bill through the chamber on Thursday.

Senate Democrats from Trump states are starting to vote in tandem, which could make Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) life more complicated for the next two years.

Why it matters: Call it the buddy system for vulnerable Dems. If Senate GOP leader John Thune (R-S.D.) can flip a Democrat who's up for election in 2026, he increases his chance of picking up the other state's Dem senator.

• That 2-for-1 math gives him massive incentive to push the limit on messaging bills ahead of 2026.
• It's a major headache for Schumer if Monday night becomes a trend.

You saw this on the Laken Riley Act vote, which passed with help from 12 Democrats.

• Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) quietly changed his position by voting in favor of final passage. He was backing up Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), who faces reelection in 2026. Warnock later blamed a process objection for his flip.
• Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) voted with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who's up in '26.
• So did new Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), whose fellow Democratic Michigander Sen. Gary Peters is up next year.

Zoom out: The Laken Riley Act is just the beginning of a barrage of GOP bills that Senate Democrats will have to find their footing on in the coming months.

• Thune is likely to try to pass an abortion-related bill later this week, which is unlikely to get much — if any — Democratic support, sources tell Axios.
• But other GOP legislation, particularly if it is related to the border and the economy, is an area ripe for some Democratic buy-in.

Editor's note: This article has been corrected to note that Sen. Shaheen (not Sen. Hassan) faces reelection in 2026.

The Senate voted 99-0 on Monday to confirm Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as President Trump's secretary of state.

Why it matters: Rubio will be instrumental in making good on many of Trump's grandest campaign promises — from ending the war in Ukraine to countering China's growing influence to implementing a ceasefire deal in Gaza.

• The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted unanimously earlier Monday to recommend Rubio's confirmation, and Democrats cleared the way for an expedited process.
• It's a resounding show of Senate bipartisanship for one of their own.

Zoom in: The 53-year-old Floridian has served in the Senate since 2011. He ran for president in 2016 before dropping out and endorsing Trump. He was on Trump's 2024 vice presidential shortlist.

• Rubio, who would be the first Latino secretary of state, opposes normalizing relations with Cuba and is a noted China hawk.
• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tapped the state's attorney general, Ashley Moody, to replace Rubio in the Senate, as Axios first reported.

Zoom out: Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which will enter into its fourth year next month, will be one of the Trump administration's greatest foreign policy challenges.

• Trump and his allies have criticized how the Biden administration has handled the conflict. The GOP has been fractured in the past year over whether the U.S. should continue sending aid to Ukraine.
• Rubio testified last week that both Russia and Ukraine need to make concessions to end the conflict.
• Rubio voted against $95 billion in Ukraine aid in April, and has called for Ukraine to negotiate an end to the war with Russia — even if that means Russia keeps some of the territory from the invasion.

The Senate on Monday passed the Laken Riley Act, setting the immigration crackdown bill for a vote in the House later this week.

Why it matters: The legislation could be on President Trump's desk by the end of this week, handing him an early win on a core campaign promise.

• The bill passed the chamber 64-35, with 12 Democrats voting for it.
• The Laken Riley Act would require the detention of undocumented immigrants arrested for certain crimes.
• The bill is named for a 22-year-old nursing student who was killed on the University of Georgia campus.

The big picture: Senate Democrats helped the Laken Riley Act prevail, with 10 voting to break a filibuster last week.

• The party is still trying to find its footing on immigration and the border after it lost the White House and both chambers of Congress in last year's election.

Between the lines: The Senate passed two amendments to the bill over the past week, including one Monday night before the vote.

• One brought by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) requires ICE to detain undocumented immigrants who attack law enforcement.
• Another brought by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) adds those who commit crimes resulting in death or bodily injury.

Go deeper: ICE warns Laken Riley Act could force it to release detained migrants

Senate Majority Leader John Thune notched his first big win Friday by clearing the filibuster on the Laken Riley Act. It'll almost certainly pass Monday with ease.

Why it matters: It's a specific, popular, bipartisan bill. But it also hands Thune a chance to prove he's serious about promises made during the GOP leadership election.

• Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) told Axios: "What we can feel good about is we're having a lot more conversations about what we're doing." Scott ran against Thune for leader.
• Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) told Axios that Thune "says what he means and means what he says when he talks about having a more open amendment process." Lee wants a more open process and backed Scott in November.

Zoom in: Thune spent days haggling with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer over the bill, which requires ICE to detain immigrants charged with or convicted of theft.

• Thune and Schumer agreed Wednesday to allow two votes on amendments. One passed, which would require ICE to detain immigrants who attack law enforcement.
• Senators will vote Monday on another amendment from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) that would add to the detention list immigrants who commit crimes resulting in death or bodily injury. It's likely to pass.
• Because of the change, the House will have to pass the bill again before it reaches President-elect Trump's desk.

Zoom out: Nearly a quarter of Senate Dems proved they're willing to help break a filibuster for GOP priorities.

• Schumer privately told Democrats they were free to engage with the GOP on the bill, before he publicly opposed it once it was clear that substantive changes weren't happening.
• His defectors included new Sens. Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan.
• Schumer also lost Georgia's Jon Ossoff, Arizona's Mark Kelly, Michigan's Gary Peters, Nevada's Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, and New Hampshire's Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen.

Former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) conspicuous silence is starting to spook Tulsi Gabbard's team.

Why it matters: President-elect Trump Trump's transition thinks Gabbard, the nominee for director of national intelligence, can get confirmed even with a "no" vote from McConnell. But his public opposition — if it materializes — could open the door to other GOP defectors.

• Gabbard's team isn't banking on McConnell's vote, sources tell Axios.
• McConnell is studiously avoiding public or private indications that he'll support Trump's nominees, three people familiar with the matter tell Axios.
• Voting against Gabbard would resume hostilities between McConnell and Trump. It could have implications for big policy questions down the line, from funding Ukraine to raising tariffs.

📣 McConnell said on the Senate floor on Thursday that he'll support nominees to "senior national security roles whose record and experience will make them immediate assets, not liabilities, in the pursuit of peace through strength."

• When asked specifically about Gabbard, McConnell told CNN's Manu Raju he was not ready to announce whether he can back her.

Zoom in: Gabbard is focused on winning over members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, where the GOP has a 9-8 voting advantage.

• Two key GOP swing votes sit on the Intel committee: Sens. Susan Collins (R-Me.), a former SSCI chair, and Todd Young (R-Ind.).
• Gabbard has met with every Republican and five of the eight Democrats, including Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the ranking Democrat. She has reached out to all of them.
• Majority Leader John Thune can still bring Gabbard's nomination to a full floor vote even if she doesn't have the support to be recommended by the committee — but it would not be a great sign for her chances.

Between the lines: Most of Trump's nominees are pocketing hard "yeses" from senators, as they meet privately or appear before their committees.

• Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, whose nomination as secretary of Defense appeared doomed in early December, appears to be a glide path to confirmation, barring any new revelations about his personal life.

The bottom line: If Democrats have any chance — and it's slim — at helping drag down a Trump nominee, they see Gabbard as the most likely prospect.

• Minority Leader Chuck Schumer views the party's grilling of Hegseth as a success.
• He'll demand the same for their treatment of Gabbard, HHS nominee RFK Jr. and FBI director nominee Kash Patel.

Top Senate negotiators are privately warning that talks about a government spending deal are way behind schedule.

Why it matters: Without significant progress, the GOP trifecta will need another spending stopgap or a much-despised omnibus spending package.

• Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) — the top two Senate appropriators — told colleagues they're worried spending talks have taken a back seat to reconciliation planning, sources tell Axios.
• Collins, for her part, has warned colleagues to not lose sight of the 2025 appropriations process, with the March deadline speeding nearer.
• Talks between the House and Senate over a spending deal only recently began.

Zoom in: The current spending deal expires on March 14.

• The GOP's worst-case scenario: A shutdown when Republicans control the whole government.

The bottom line: The House and Senate need to bridge a $30-plus billion gap in their spending wishes. They aren't close.

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing is becoming a test of will for Republicans on ensuring FBI files aren't distributed throughout the entire Senate.

Why it matters: The Trump transition team is demanding that the president-elect's nominees be treated the same way they insist Joe Biden's were.

• That means no FBI background check access for rank-and-file senators, according to two people familiar with the matter.
• Senate Armed Services chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and ranking member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) have been briefed on the report. Others have not.
• A member of the Trump transition sat in on the FBI background briefing on Hegseth's file, a source familiar told Axios. The senators weren't given a copy of the file. They also weren't allowed to take notes or pictures.

Zoom in: Wicker privately raised the idea of letting his full committee see Hegseth's file, but Trump officials are opposed to sharing it, according to a person familiar with the matter.

• The Trump team wants to hold the line on having a consistent standard for all nominees.
• Look for them to fight any effort to release Hegseth's file, even if Wicker says there's not much of interest.

Zoom out: Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Dems are huddling tonight on how to respond, as Axios scooped earlier on Monday.

• Democrats admit the precedent is on the GOP's side. But they say the nature of Hegseth's nomination — including allegations of sexual misconduct that he's denied — at least deserves a conversation.
• "We should all be able to see the report and draw our own conclusions about how incomplete it is and even in the modest amount it covers, how much damage it does to Mr. Hegseth," Armed Services committee member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told Axios.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with details on the background briefing.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Democrats on the Armed Services Committee will huddle Monday amid a standoff over Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Only one top Senate Democrat has read Hegseth's FBI background check since it was given to Congress last week. His confirmation hearing begins on Tuesday morning.

• Paperwork delays meant the background checks and other materials for top Trump nominees were given to lawmakers late. Democrats have pushed for the reports to be available to all members before the hearings.
• Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the panel's top Democrat, met with Hegseth last week. Reed said the meeting did not relieve his concerns about Hegseth's nomination.
• Hegseth's hearing is the party's first shot to carry out the demands handed down by Schumer — skewer Trump's nominees and the MAGA brand.

Zoom in: The background report on Hegseth is particularly important given allegations of sexual assault and financial mismanagement of a nonprofit group.

• Republican senators at the time said the allegations were concerning and wanted more details about the complaints.
• Hegseth has denied wrongdoing.

The big picture: Schumer has been intimately involved in his caucus' prep for the confirmation hearing showdowns. For him, and for Democrats, the stakes are high.

• "Republicans spent four years attacking the Democratic brand and we need to use the hearings to begin returning the favor," Schumer told top Democrats in a private meeting in early January.
• The background check issues will likely rear their head in the hearings. Schumer has criticized Republicans for "rushing" the nomination hearings of nominees like Hegseth.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is privately pressing his senators to create fireworks when they question President-elect Trump's nominees in the coming weeks, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: "Republicans spent four years attacking the Democratic brand and we need to use the hearings to begin returning the favor," Schumer told his top committee Democrats in a meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

• Schumer told the Democratic caucus in a lunch on Tuesday that they should grill Trump nominees on the MAGA agenda, and what they say it means for the American people.

The big picture: Schumer reminded senators that they have an opportunity to seize the narrative from a GOP that is convinced the public is on its side on the economy, the border and cultural issues.

• The combative strategy is also an indication that Schumer has decided that there's more political upside in challenging the MAGA movement than finding common ground with it.

What to watch: Expect Democrats to zero in on some of Trump's most high profile nominees as they come through the Senate over the next few weeks.

• That includes the likes of Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon, and RFK Jr., the GOP nominee for HHS.

Senate Democrats are forcing a delay in Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation hearing next week, claiming she hasn't provided required vetting materials — while Republicans accuse them of playing games, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: It's the first taste of what's expected to be a drama-filled few weeks as the Senate takes up some of President-elect Trump's most controversial Cabinet picks.

• Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is balking at GOP requests to hold a hearing for Gabbard early next week, according to multiple sources familiar with the conversations.
• Gabbard, a former member of the House, is Trump's pick for national intelligence director.
• Warner has pointed out that the committee has not yet received Gabbard's FBI background check, ethics disclosure or a pre-hearing questionnaire, a source familiar with the matter told us. Committee rules require the background check a week in advance of a hearing.

The other side: Gabbard completed the background check process last week, according to a source working with the nominee. Her active security clearance also means the process will be expedited.

• Gabbard submitted an initial pre-hearing questionnaire and intends to submit a second on time and was given a Thursday deadline, the source said.
• Another source familiar said the ethics disclosures have been delayed for multiple nominees due to the snow and other logistics but are expected to come through soon.

Between the lines: Either way, without the materials or sign off from Democrats, the hearing for one of Trump's most vital national security officials could be pushed to late next week — if not the week following.

• Intel Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) "intends to hold these hearings before Inauguration Day," a spokesperson told Axios. "The Intelligence Committee, the nominees, and the transition are diligently working toward that goal."
• "After the terrorist attacks on New Year's Eve and New Years Day, it's sad to see Sen. Warner and Democrats playing politics with Americans' safety and our national security," Trump transition spokesperson Alexa Henning told Axios in a statement, adding the nominee is willing to meet with every committee member.

The details: Committee rules hold that a confirmation hearing cannot be held until seven days after the panel receives "background questionnaire, financial disclosure statement, and responses to additional pre-hearing questions."

• That gives the Gabbard and the transition team just a couple days if the committee wants to easily set up a hearing for next week.
• Cotton could bypass that rule with a majority vote of the panel. But it would be a rare step for a committee that has long prided itself on bipartisanship.

The big picture: Gabbard is still making the rounds with Senate Democrats before the hearing and is scheduled to meet with Warner today.

• Gabbard will also meet with Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Az.) and Angus King (I-Maine) later this week, per a source. She has already met with Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) — all members of the intelligence panel.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to note Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas is a Republican (not a Democrat).

Hill leaders are setting up the first votes of the 119th Congress this week — on a bill at the center of a heated political debate over illegal immigration.

Why it matters: The expected votes in both chambers on the Laken Riley Act make clear Republicans plan to keep hitting the border issue — putting pressure on vulnerable Democrats trying to find their post-election footing.

Driving the news: The House will vote Tuesday on the bill, which requires the detention of undocumented immigrants who commit certain nonviolent crimes such as theft, according to a House leadership aide.

• Senate Majority Leader John Thune began the process to allow a vote on the Senate version of the bill — likely on Friday, a senior Senate GOP aide confirmed.
• The bill is named after a nursing student who was murdered last year by an undocumented immigrant who had previously been arrested on theft charges.

What they're saying: "I am thrilled that we're going to get moving," Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) told us about the bill, which she introduced in the Senate last year.

• Britt anticipates the bill will get Democratic votes "if they're being honest about what we need to do to protect Americans."

What to watch: The bill already passed the House in 2024 with bipartisan support. It will need to pass the House again as it's a new Congress.

• Expect the bill to pick up Democrats in the Senate — though it's not clear it will be enough to overcome the 60-vote filibuster.
• Two House Democrats who voted in favor of the bill last year are now in the Senate — Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.).

At least one other Trump-state Democrat is expected to vote in favor, according to a source familiar.

• Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) — Riley's home state senator — is up for reelection in 2026. Ossoff told us he would "carefully consider any legislation that comes to the floor of the Senate."

The bottom line: The Democratic support highlights the new reality for the party, which is still reeling from their 2024 losses.

• Democrats have been forced to move right on the immigration issue in particular, and are already signaling their willingness to work across the aisle on measures to secure the border.