Danger ahead

A look at the (long) start to the 118th Congress [View this email online]( [NPR Politics]( Jan. 7, 2022 This week, we looked at the start of the 118th Congress and Kevin McCarthy's days-long quest for speaker. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Big Picture: Danger ahead Win McNamee/Getty Images If it wasn’t already obvious that very little would likely get done over the next two years in a Republican-led House, this week made it painfully clear. The very small majority that Republicans won to take over the chamber in the midterm elections made it likely that a small, hard-right intransigent faction of the GOP conference would have a lot of leverage. And they began using it this week even before members of Congress could be sworn in. [For the first time in 100 years]( a vote for speaker went more than one ballot, as [the hard right aimed]( to extract [concession after concession]( giving them more power and weakening the speakership. While that is an embarrassment for GOP leadership and the Republican House conference as a whole, what it will mean for the country is potentially very dangerous. What happens when the debt ceiling comes up again and needs to be raised? Will the hard right once again jeopardize the nation’s credit as it did during the Obama presidency? What happens when a budget needs to be passed or funding for the government runs out? Are we headed for shut down after shut down? And what does it mean for democracy? If this group had this kind of power after the 2020 election, it’s almost certain that the presidential election would not have been certified. This is not just what moderate Republicans are dealing with but now, the country, as we head into another presidential election cycle. — [Domenico Montanaro]( NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- ICYMI: Top Stories Patrick Semansky/AP FTC proposes noncompete ban: The Biden administration has [proposed a new rule that would prohibit employers from imposing noncompete]( agreements on their workers. The FTC says the practice affects some 30 million American workers. Biden immigration moves: President Biden [announced new border control efforts]( including expanding a program allowing the administration to quickly expel people from Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti who illegally cross into the country. Biden also said the U.S. would expand some legal pathways for migration from those countries. Jan. 6 ceremony: Public safety officers who were on duty during the January 6 insurrection as well as state and local election officials were [awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal]( by President Biden on Friday. "It's not [an] exaggeration to say America owes you, owes you all — I really mean this — a debt, a debt of gratitude," Biden said at the event, "one we can never fully repay unless we live up to what you did." — [Brandon Carter]( NPR Politics social media producer --------------------------------------------------------------- Become a NPR Politics+ Subscriber Hey y'all. Want to show your support for our podcast and even listen to sponsor-free episodes? Try subscribing to The NPR Politics Podcast+ and get your political insights, news and analysis without the distraction. Learn more at [plus.npr.org/politics]( or at the link below. [Subscribe Today]( --------------------------------------------------------------- The Shot: Swearing by 'Superman' J. Scott Applewhite/AP Among the most striking photos from the 118th Congress' first day: An image of a first-edition Superman comic from 1939 next to texts like the Constitution and a variety of holy books that House members will use when they get sworn in. But why? Rep.-elect Robert Garcia, a Republican from California, plans to swear himself in on a copy of the Constitution, a photo of his late parents, his certificate of U.S. citizenship and a copy of Superman #1, on loan from the Library of Congress. Wait. But WHY? It makes sense to NPR's Glen Weldon, who writes: The important thing about Superman #1 – and if Congressman-elect Garcia is a nerd like me, he knows this – is that the Superman that appeared in its pages is not the Big Blue Boy Scout we know today. He's not the smiling cop-in-a-cape who enforces the rule of law and saves the occasional day. No, the Superman of those first few outings was an agitator. He didn't reinforce the status quo, he upended it, again and again. Superman's entire deal in Superman #1, Weldon writes, was to be someone who fought for those who couldn't fight for themselves. [Read more.]( — [Heidi Glenn]( NPR digital editor --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [nprpolitics@npr.org](mailto:nprpolitics@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! [They can sign up here.]( Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Politics emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]