What does Charlie Sykes expect House Democrats to do with oversight after the 2026 midterms?

Charlie Sykes said a Democratic Congress will not pass signature laws past Trump's veto, so accountability and oversight become its main job. He warned that Trump could tell his Justice Department not to enforce subpoenas and has signalled pardons for allies, forcing Congress to decide whether to use its inherent power to arrest and jail witnesses. Sykes said none of it matters unless Democrats also win in 2028.

• Sykes said Republicans learned in the 1990s that you cannot govern from Congress.
• Susan Glasser added that her 21-year-old son has never seen Congress pass all of its annual appropriations bills.
• Preet Bharara noted an incoming committee chair had already told Trump officials to lawyer up.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on On with Kara Swisher (2026-11-05). Read the whole episode summary →

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