The Daily Punch

President-elect Donald Trump's nominees have a busy week ahead. Plus: What are Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune focusing on? Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tech reporter Ben Brody takes you behind the scenes of the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and how Congress may react to agentic artificial intelligence. This story was featured in The Readback, our weekend digest featuring the best of Punchbowl News this week. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Jodey Arrington "accidentally" pitched raising taxes in a presentation to House Republicans. Plus: Tulsi Gabbard changes her tune on Section 702. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Donald Trump came to the Capitol Wednesday night and met with Senate Republicans. There, Trump made it clear that he's leaning toward Speaker Mike Johnson on reconciliation. Plus: Is reconciliation the best place for the debt limit? Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Donald Trump is set to meet with Senate Republicans tonight on Capitol Hill. Plus: Some congressional Democrats are expressing a willingness to work with the Trump administration. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Donald Trump's relationship with the House Freedom Caucus is growing tenuous. What does the future look like? Plus: The Senate eyes votes on immigration. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's election certification day on Capitol Hill, and Congress is coming in despite the snow. Plus: Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated to us that he’d oppose efforts to overrule the Senate’s parliamentarian. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congressional reporters Mica Soellner and Max Cohen break down the speaker's race and how the House Freedom Caucus quickly shifted their support for Mike Johnson to win the gavel. This story was featured in The Readback, our weekend digest featuring the best of Punchbowl News this week. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker Mike Johnson seeks another term leading the House of Representatives. Can he keep the gavel? Plus: It's syllabus week in the Senate. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford to lose one vote during the speakership election tomorrow. With Rep. Thomas Massie already committing to vote against the Louisiana Republican, attention turns now to how Rep. Chip Roy will vote. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker Mike Johnson faces an uphill battle to keep his role leading the House of Representatives. Plus: Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on his successor John Thune. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vault co-author Brendan Pedersen discusses French Hill's history of pushing for meaningful changes to financial regulation for the sake of new technologies. This story was featured in The Readback, our weekend digest featuring the best of Punchbowl News this week. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker Mike Johnson and President-elect Donald Trump are not having a great week. We are hours from a government shutdown and the speaker's options are limited. Plus: Who's up and who's down this week in the Punch Power Matrix. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker Mike Johnson finds himself in a precarious position as time runs out to avoid a government shutdown. Plus: What are Democrats saying about the situation? Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a CR. And House Republicans are in an uproar about what’s in it, including a pay raise for lawmakers. Plus: Some of Trump's nominees skirt Democrats on Capitol Hill. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal agencies run out of money at midnight on Friday night, and as of now, there’s no text available for a funding bill needed to avert a shutdown. Plus: This morning’s Democratic Caucus meeting will feature a fascinating moment. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal agencies run out of money Friday night at midnight. And there’s still no bipartisan deal on a government funding bill. Which isn’t great news. Plus: RFK Jr. comes to the Hill. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Punchbowl News Financial Services Reporter Laura Weiss joins the show to talk about the latest developments in the tax world. Plus: The top songs sung at the Punchbowl News holiday party. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House Republican Steering Committee has finished selecting chairs for the 119th Congress, a breakdown of the picks. Plus: Rep. Bobby Scott is eyeing a bid to be governor of Virginia. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House Steering Committee surprised many by picking Rep. Brian Mast to be the next chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Plus: The latest on Trump's nominees; this time, it's Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel's turn. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House will vote this afternoon on the FY2025 defense authorization bill, but like everything in the 118th Congress, it’s not going to be simple. Plus: Is Rep. David Scott's run of leading Democrats on the House Ag Committee coming to an end? Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The vibes around Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Defense Department have shifted during the last few days. Plus: As the top spots in House committees start to fill out, there’s one group glaringly absent from their roster: GOP women. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress has 11 days to avert a government shutdown. Plus: Former Sen. Cory Gardner will become the chair of the board of the Senate Leadership Fund. And the latest from The Canvass. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Punchbowl News tech reporter Ben Brody talks about his interview with Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan and Little Tech's approach to President-elect Donald Trump. Plus, Ben shares about launching Punchbowl News Tech. This story was featured in The Readback, our weekend digest featuring the best of Punchbowl News this week. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some Senate Democrats are keeping an open mind to several of President-elect Donald Trump's nominees. Plus: Speaker Mike Johnson says he hasn’t committed to a reconciliation strategy. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are coming to Capitol Hill today to talk DOGE. Plus: The CBC is mum on support for Rep. David Scott in the House Ag race. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heading into the 119th Congress, Speaker Mike Johnson will have no margin to work with to pass legislation. And over in the Senate, what's going on with President-elect Donald Trump's nominees? Plus: The latest on government funding. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House Democratic Caucus is moving to purge some of its most veteran lawmakers from key committee positions. Plus: It's a big day for President-elect Donald Trump's nominees. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress is back and it's time for the December rush. Plus: Inside the House Democrats' contests for top committee posts. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Punch Power Matrix is out. President-elect Donald Trump and the Congressional Black Caucus are up while Rep. Lauren Boebert and Vice President Kamala Harris are down. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When lawmakers return next week, they’ll face a three-week sprint to the end of the session centered around resolving two huge issues — government funding and the annual defense authorization bill. Plus: The pitfalls of Cameo. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Donald Trump has picked Russell Vought to lead OMB. Vought could end up having as big an impact early on as any of the president-elect’s picks. Plus: The latest on Trump's pick to run the Labor Department, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Punchbowl News reporters Max Cohen and Mica Soellner take a closer look at the Republican-led push to bar an incoming transgender member from using the bathroom of their choice. This story was featured in The Readback, our weekend digest featuring the best of Punchbowl News this week. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The MAGA firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is expected to support Mike Johnson’s reelection as speaker come January. Plus: The latest on Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation and the state of play for the Georgia 2026 Senate race. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz's floundering nomination to serve as attorney general is making some GOP senators fear that President-elect Donald Trump is leaving them out to dry. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The GOP Steering Committee elections are today, and several of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s top lieutenants are getting challenges from allies of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Plus: The latest on President-elect Donald Trump's nominations. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker Mike Johnson might be the only congressional leader who wants to put a government funding deadline in the first quarter of Donald Trump’s presidency. Yet that doesn’t mean Washington won’t ultimately go along with punting the spending fight into 2025. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Punchbowl News is excited to introduce The Portal with Enbloc AI. The Portal will include integrated news, congressional directories, legislative text, regulations, real-time alerts and much more. Enbloc AI is a Punchbowl News-designed AI platform embedded in The Portal that brings together all of the databases that you use every day in Washington, overlaid with our news and proprietary Washington data. You can check out this week’s The Portal newsletter here. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Punchbowl News reporters Max Cohen and Melanie Zanona discuss President-elect Donald Trump's stunning move to tap Rep. Matt Gaetz to be the next attorney general. This story was featured in The Readback, our weekend digest featuring the best of Punchbowl News this week. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a Republican trifecta — control of the House, Senate and White House — how will the GOP leaders work with President-elect Donald Trump? Plus: A look at outgoing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How is Congress reacting to Rep. Matt Gaetz's nomination to be attorney general? Plus: The Congressional Hispanic Caucus seeks a new messaging strategy after Trump's gains. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate Republicans are set to pick a new leader today. Sens. Rick Scott, John Cornyn and John Thune are all vying for the top spot. Plus: The House GOP Conference votes on rules and the latest from The Vault. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress returns to Capitol Hill today, and this week will be a busy one as the lame-duck session kicks off. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Donald Trump is getting involved in the Senate GOP leadership race. Plus: House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik is taking the U.N. ambassador job. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Punchbowl News reporters Max Cohen and Andrew Desiderio take you behind the scenes of the marathon race between Sens. John Thune, John Cornyn and Rick Scott to succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader. This story was featured in The Readback, our weekend digest featuring the best of Punchbowl News this week. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Control of the House is still up in the air. If Republicans do hold onto power, Speaker Mike Johnson will be forced to govern with a paper-thin majority again. Plus, President-elect Donald Trump looms over the Senate GOP leadership race. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who is going to have power come January when Trump is sworn in for a second term? Plus: House Republican leadership looks to lock down their positions. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump's stunning evisceration of the Blue Wall and Vice President Kamala Harris’ underperformance in all corners of the country has ushered in a new era for U.S. politics — a dramatic shift rightward. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Election Day; what are congressional leadership doing and how are they marking the occasion? Plus: How things could shake up in the Senate, and what House races to watch tonight. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One more day to Election Day: A close look at what brought us here. Plus: House Majority Leader Tom Emmer whips votes for his colleagues — and Trump. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices