The Hill's 12:30 Report — Congress returns to a scrambled Washington

12:30 REPORT

It’s Tuesday. Capitol Hill is filled with freshly dry-cleaned suits this morning. That casual, seven-week fall recess has come to an end. Here’s what’s happening:

DDHQ projects that Republicans have won the House.
Trump has made nearly a dozen administration picks already, featuring Marco Rubio and Kristi Noem.
Trump’s Capitol Hill picks may complicate GOP’s margins.
Apple is teaming up with airlines to find missing luggage using AirTags.

I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. 

🦆 On Capitol Hill

Did everyone enjoy their seven-week recesses?:

Capitol Hill is bustling this morning. The House and Senate are back in town for the first time since Sept. 25, walking into a chamber that feels very different from their last sessions.

Republicans are entering this lame-duck period happier than ever, having reached the Washington trifecta for the next two years. Now, they’re hashing out their priorities and debating over party leadership.

Today’s victory lap: House Republicans held a news conference this morning where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said they are going to “raise an 'America First' banner" over the House. Johnson also said President-elect Trump may visit Capitol Hill.

🗨️ Live blog of GOP Capitol Hill updates today

It’s not all rainbows and butterflies, though: Trump will test the loyalty of Republicans, particularly in the Senate, with some bold demands.

He may pardon many of the people who were convicted on Jan. 6, 2021-related crimes.
He’s also floated implementing steep tariffs that many GOP lawmakers fear could hurt the economy.
He has demanded unilateral power to confirm his nominees without a majority. This would happen through “recess appointments,” which are meant for emergencies.

To quote Mulan, “let’s get down to business!”: Republicans have geared up for leadership elections this week. Sens. John Thune (S.D.), John Cornyn (Texas) and Rick Scott (Fla.) are battling to replace outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.).

Meanwhile, Democrats are still feeling totally dejected, but lawmakers and staffers are moving toward strategies for how to push back. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has been chatting with allies on their resistance plans, according to Axios.

Related read, via The Atlantic: ‘The Democrats’ Senate Nightmare Is Only Beginning’

🗳️ Election Results

Republicans officially have the trifecta:

Decision Desk HQ projects that Republicans have won the House, giving the GOP total control of Washington starting in January.

Several races have still not been called, so the final House breakdown is uncertain, but they reached the magic number of 218 seats.

📊 Full election results

➤ COMPLICATING REPUBLICANS’ NUMBERS IN EARLY 2025:

President-elect Trump has dipped into the House for Cabinet picks. For example, Trump selected Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to serve as his U.N. ambassador. That would trigger a special election — leaving her seat open in the meantime.

It’s a little cleaner for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who Trump has reportedly tapped for secretary of State. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) can appoint his replacement, who would remain in office for two years.

🌴 At Mar-a-Lago

Don’t blink or you might miss it:

President-elect Trump has been churning through his appointment list at a rapid pace. He’s been camped out at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., meeting with advisers and filling out his second administration. Here are the picks we know so far:

Marco Rubio (R-Fla.): secretary of State, reports Brett Samuels.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R): Homeland Security secretary, according to Rebecca Beitsch.
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.): national security adviser
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.): U.N. ambassador
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.): Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator
Susie Wiles: White House chief of staff
Stephen Miller: Deputy chief of staff for policy
Tom Homan: “Border czar”

➤ SOME REACTIONS TO THE PICKS:

Kinzinger praised Rubio’s nomination: Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a frequent Trump critic, praised Rubio’s reported nomination. “He’s somebody that understands foreign policy. And that’s going to be important,” Kinzinger told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. His full quote

Warren argues Trump has already broken the law: “Donald Trump and his transition team are already breaking the law. I would know because I wrote the law,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) posted on X. “Incoming presidents are required to prevent conflicts of interest and sign an ethics agreement. This is what illegal corruption looks like.” Read Warren’s full post, linking to an ethics agreement article.

📹 Watch late-night hosts weigh in on Trump’s Cabinet picks

➤ MORE READS ON TRUMP’S TRANSITION:

‘As Trump prepares for mass deportations, Mexico is not ready’: The Washington Post
‘Was the Trump Election a Setback for Women? Even Women Do Not Agree.’: The New York Times
‘Trump Gears Up for Assault on Wokeness With Education Overhaul’: The Wall Street Journal
‘Trump’s 2024 Win Isn’t a Repeat of 1980’s Reagan Revolution’: New York Magazine

🧑‍⚖️ In New York

What happens to Trump’s hush money conviction?:

The judge overseeing President-elect Trump’s hush money case has delayed his pending decision while he factors in that Trump is now the president-elect.

The old plan: Judge Juan Merchan was expected to rule today on whether Trump’s guilty verdict can stand considering the Supreme Court’s recent presidential immunity decision.

The new plan: Merchan has frozen the case until Nov. 19. This gives prosecutors time to react to Trump’s demand to entirely dismiss the case.

Keep in mind about timing: Trump’s sentencing to determine his penalty for being convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records is scheduled for Nov. 26.

Read Zach Schonfeld and Ella Lee’s reporting: How Trump’s 2024 election win impacts his criminal conviction

🐝 Internet Buzz

🥪 Celebrate: Today is National French Dip Day!

🧳 Ayy, we can all work in lost luggage recovery!: If you lose your luggage, you may soon be able to share its location with the airline if it has an Apple AirTag. (ABC News)

📆 On The Agenda

The House and Senate are back! President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington. (all times Eastern)

12:15 p.m.: Biden and Harris have lunch together.
1:15 p.m.: The State Department holds a press briefing. 💻 Livestream
2 p.m.: Biden holds a bilateral meeting with Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto.
3 p.m.: The Senate meets for the first time since September!
5:30 p.m.: First lady Jill Biden hosts a reception honoring culinary arts in diplomacy. 💻 Livestream
5:30 p.m.: The Senate votes on a confirmation. 📆 Today’s agenda
6:30 p.m.: First and last House votes. 📆 Today’s agenda