Afternoon Sun: What’s Old Is New

Good afternoon. This is the Afternoon Sun newsletter for Nov. 10, 2026. You can get it in your inbox every day by signing up here — it’s free!

Rep. Jim Jordan will lead House Republicans come January — an ironic turn of events for the Ohio lawmaker who has often served as the poster child for those criticizing GOP leadership. He beat Steve Scalise in a 106-73 vote this afternoon, touting his experience on Oversight as a sign he could push back on the investigations Democrats say they’ll launch next year.

John Thune was reelected Senate Republican leader with no challengers after an effort to delay the votes failed. The caucus is going to “stretch the calendar” by adding days to keep senators on the Hill during the lame duck to push through nominations and other bills, he said.

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen said he’s “actively listening” and speaking with colleagues about a potential Senate majority leader bid, saying two new senators would not be in the new Congress had Chuck Schumer and the DSCC “had their way.”

Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Bernie Sanders said they are not supporting Schumer’s leadership bid during a joint news conference. Slotkin said Democrats should withhold quorum if Schumer runs unopposed until a plan materializes, though the Michigan Democrat didn’t throw her own hat into the ring to run herself.

Democrats are launching an effort to ensure that Donald Trump’s administration preserves its records after multiple whistleblowers came forward to allege that federal officials were destroying documents related to the president’s construction projects around Washington, D.C.

Heidi Overton’s confirmation prospects as FDA commissioner are in doubt as she faces a Senate Health Committee with ousted Republicans who might not be in the mood to give Trump any more wins.

Top Trump administration officials, including JD Vance, publicly backed Pete Hegseth ahead of the expected House vote on his impeachment this evening, led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky).

Trump and Senate Republicans kicked off a rush to confirm as many judicial nominees as possible before they lose their majority, including the announcement of three new nominees.

Pete Buttigieg announced that he plans to release a new book — checking off a classic box on many future presidential contenders’ to-do lists.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, a Democrat, has requested a bipartisan review of an Election Day voting debacle, in which several ballot tabulators malfunctioned across Rep. Mike Lawler’s New York district, to determine how to prevent a future “failure of this magnitude.”

Republican Mike Lindell, who lost his Minnesota gubernatorial primary earlier this year, is calling for a “full recount of the 2026 midterm elections.” His fundraising URL: LindellOffenseFund.org.

Commentator Scott Jennings filed to dismiss the defamation lawsuit filed against him by streamer Hasan Piker, saying Piker “does not plausibly allege actual malice.”