Skip to content
RollCall logo

Podcasts

Having a plan beats not having a plan

Political Theater, Episode 357

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has largely stuck to his plan to consistently confirm executive nominees and has plans to take the lead on the budget process if the House cannot forge a path.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has largely stuck to his plan to consistently confirm executive nominees and has plans to take the lead on the budget process if the House cannot forge a path. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
By Jason Dick and Jessica Wehrman
Posted February 6, 2025 at 3:14pm

The early days of the 119th Congress and the second Trump administration have been a whirlwind, but here is one observation for those looking to make sense of things: Having a plan beats not having a plan. 

Show Notes:

Recent Stories

Campaign workers erect signs before a Graham Platner event in Portland, Maine, on June 7. Now the state party is scrambling to find a replacement.

Race for Platner alternative takes shape

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Capitol on June 24, 2026. Trump is flanked from left by Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Rick Scott, R-Fla., John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.

Trump: Definitely not signing bipartisan housing bill

President Donald Trump rings the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq to mark the launch of Trump investment accounts for some U.S. children in the Oval Office on Monday.

Government-seeded accounts could test Trump’s ‘communists’ claim

President Donald Trump speaks during a Small Business Summit in the East Room of the White House on May 4. Trump on Thursday fired two members of the Election Assistance Commission, while a third resigned. The commission now has no commissioners.

After Thursday night firings, election commission has no members

The Highway Trust Fund would still face significant shortfalls despite new fees on electric vehicles, the CBO analysis says. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

CBO: House highway bill would widen trust fund deficit

The Smithsonian Castle is seen on the National Mall in 2015. During the current Trump administration, both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are watching a cultural battle play out over the Smithsonian.

As Trump threatens the Smithsonian, Congress is on the sidelines