How Lawler is defying political gravity

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

Congressional reporters Max Cohen and Mica Soellner dive into Rep. Derrick Van Orden's increasingly competitive race against Democrat Rebecca Cooke in Wisconsin’s rural 3rd District. 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

It's November, and Election Day is just four days out. House Democrats are dominating on the air in the last sprint before Nov. 5. Plus: A look at House Minority Whip Katherine Clark and an update on House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith. 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