IJR News

Hesselbein Elected Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader — 1dWisconsin Senate Democrats elected Dianne Hesselbein of Middleton as majority leader after winning an 18-15 majority, with Mark Spreitzer chosen as Senate president and Kristin Dassler-Alfheim as assistant majority leader. Democrats say their agenda will focus on public school funding, affordability and health care, alongside other priorities including limits on data centers and ending Act 10.

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Incoming Democrats Back Van Hollen Over Schumer For Leadership — 9hIncoming freshman and young Democratic senators want to replace Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer with 67-year-old Democratic Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen.

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Senate Has Unfinished Business and a Ticking Clock2 sources — 2d

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Maya Lindstrom The Senate must stop delaying and pass the remaining appropriations bills before the fiscal deadline hits.

Talarico, Cornyn Meet for Senate Transition — 2dSen.-elect James Talarico met with outgoing Sen. John Cornyn to discuss the transition and opportunities to work together for Texas. Cornyn congratulated Talarico after his win over Ken Paxton and said he considers helping the incoming senator with the transition his responsibility.

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Tom Gallagher Hope their talks lead to real cooperation on Texas priorities instead of gridlock.

Soros Fellow Launches Pennsylvania Senate Bid Challenging Fetterman1 source — 2d

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Derek Foss I don't trust candidates with Soros funding running in Pennsylvania.

Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Trump Urges Senate Passage of Bipartisan Permitting Bill Before Democrats Take Over — 2dPresident Donald Trump urged senators Sunday to pass a bipartisan bill that would speed permits for pipelines, mines and power plants before Democrats take over Congress.

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Senator Predicts FCC Chairman Carr Will Face Monthly Questioning — 1dSenate Democrats opposed President Trump’s FCC nominee Danielle Thumann Severs, warning her confirmation could give Republicans a 3-1 commission majority and challenging her on Chairman Brendan Carr’s actions toward broadcasters and the future of the E-Rate program. Democrats said they will use their incoming congressional majority to investigate Carr and summon him regularly to testify.

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Derek Foss Protecting E-Rate funding matters more than giving any chairman free rein.

Jeffries backs Massie push for quick Hegseth impeachment vote — 3dHouse Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says he will support Rep. Thomas Massie’s effort to force a House vote impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his handling of the Iran war, with reports that some Republicans may also back the measure. Hegseth calls the effort political theater and says he will not step down; any removal would require a Senate conviction.

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Sam Okafor If Republicans join in it means the evidence against Hegseth must be pretty strong.

Senate Republicans want midterm autopsy before leadership elections1 source — 3d

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Dana Whitfield An autopsy of the midterms could reveal why Republicans underperformed before they pick new leaders.

Abdul El-Sayed Selects Former Pharma Lobbyist To Lead Senate Transition1 source — 2d

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Marcus Bell Bringing in someone who knows the industry from the inside could help navigate Senate rules more effectively.

Thune Reportedly Opposes Burchett for Senate Seat — 2dJohn Thune faces pressure from conservative Republicans to delay a leadership vote and address the party’s election losses and stalled agenda. The dispute has extended to Tennessee’s Senate succession, where Rep. Tim Burchett says Thune opposes his appointment, though a report says Thune has not intervened in the process.

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New York Pizza vs Chicago Deep DishYourlist — VS BattleThe foldable slice versus the fork-and-knife casserole — America's longest-running food fight.

Tim Burchett Says He Would ‘Absolutely’ Replace Marsha Blackburn In US Senate — 3dRepublican Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett announced Sunday he is willing to fill GOP Tennessee Governor-elect Marsha Blackburn's seat in the U.S. Senate.

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Ahmed Moor Announces 2028 Fetterman Senate Challenge — 2dPalestinian American progressive Ahmed Moor has launched a Democratic primary challenge to Sen. John Fetterman for Pennsylvania’s 2028 Senate seat, campaigning on affordability, civil liberties and accountability. The bid underscores Democratic discontent with Fetterman’s pro-Israel stance and occasional breaks with his party; Fetterman has not said whether he will seek reelection.

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Sam Okafor This early challenge feels like a waste of time. Fetterman should run again and let voters decide instead of letting progressives pick the nominee now.

Senate Advances Sweeping Energy Permitting Bill — 2dThe Senate advanced bipartisan legislation to speed permitting for clean- and fossil-fuel energy projects and require data centers to pay for their power, as supporters say it could ease energy delays and costs. Environmental groups warn the measure could weaken safeguards and lock in fossil-fuel development, leaving its prospects uncertain despite bipartisan backing.

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Marcus Bell This bill should cut red tape so data centers and new power plants get built faster without endless lawsuits holding everything up.

Senators Push Bipartisan Bill To Ban Chinese Connected Vehicles Before Congress Ends — 4dTime is running out for a bipartisan bill to ban Chinese cars from the U.S. to be passed in the Senate before a new Congress is sworn in.

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Build a pizza and the AI guesses your ageQuizie — QuizCrust to final slice, every topping is evidence. The AI guesses your age — and explains exactly which choice gave you away.

Palantir hires former Sen. Jon Tester who opposed Patriot Act — 2dA tech giant in Democrats' crosshairs has recruited one of their former senators.

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Colom Leads Mississippi Senate Race Amid Ballot Fight — 5dDemocrat Scott Colom narrowly leads Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi’s still-undecided Senate race, with thousands of absentee and provisional ballots left to count and both campaigns preparing for possible legal challenges; the state has no automatic or candidate-requested recount. A Colom victory would make him Mississippi’s first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction, and he has called for expanded early voting, an Election Day holiday and an end to partisan gerrymandering.

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Burgum Vows To Unleash American Energy — Now He Just Needs Congress To Do Their Part — 1dInterior Secretary Doug Burgum urged Congress on Tuesday to pass a bipartisan permitting bill, one day after the Senate voted to advance it.

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DeSantis Delivers Sharp Remarks on Senate GOP2 sources — 6d

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Nicole Hardy DeSantis has a point about the Senate GOP dragging their feet on border security and spending cuts.

Former Senator, Governor Jay Rockefeller Dies at 89 — 5dJay Rockefeller, the Standard Oil great-grandson who spent 30 years as West Virginia’s senator after starting as a VISTA volunteer in Emmons, died Friday at 89 in D.C.

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Blackburn not considering Hegseth for her Tennessee Senate seat, reports say — 6dA source close to Gov.-elect Marsha Blackburn says Pete Hegseth "is not being considered" for her Tennessee Senate seat, calling the idea D.C. spin.

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Maya Lindstrom Blackburn should appoint someone with real Tennessee ties instead of chasing D.C. names like Hegseth.

Michigan’s El-Sayed Projected as First Muslim Senator — Nov 4, 2026AP called Michigan’s Senate race for Abdul El-Sayed after 2:25 a.m.; at 51.9%–46.1% with ~85% in, he is set to be the first Muslim U.S. senator.

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Dana Whitfield A Muslim senator from our state brings a new perspective that could help on national security debates.

Democrat Senator Who Urged RFK Jr Resignation Received Pharma PAC Funds — 5dA fierce critic of Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who is also Maryland's junior Democratic senator is a recurring recipient of Big Pharma contributions, Federal Election Commission records show.

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Wisconsin Republicans elect Bradley as new Senate minority leader — 6dMichigan Democrats elected Kevin Hertel majority floor leader and Darrin Camilleri majority leader for the next legislative session. Wisconsin Senate Republicans chose Julian Bradley as minority leader after Democrats won control of the Senate, with Bradley saying the caucus will continue to focus on tax relief, economic opportunity and its core priorities.

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Developing storylines

Senate advances bipartisan energy permitting legislation

Paxton-Talarico Texas Senate race intensifies