How Democrats plan to investigate the Trump administration after their midterm wins

Democrats, who will control Congress when the new session opens in January, are preparing to lean heavily on oversight, since they cannot force President Trump to sign their legislation. NPR's Eric McDaniel explains that Congress can compel testimony under oath, demand records, and go to court against those who refuse. He points to past probes of the Nixon administration, the Iran arms sales, the 9/11 Commission, and the CIA torture report as examples of the tool's value.

Likely targets include the growth of the president's family wealth and the Justice Department's treatment of files on Jeffrey Epstein. McDaniel argues two other subjects matter even more. One is spending: Trump and Office of Management and Budget director Russ Vought have twice diverted or withheld money Congress had assigned, which McDaniel says threatens the power underpinning every other congressional authority. The other is the use of force, including the war in Iran and strikes on alleged drug boats, none of which Congress authorized.

Host Ailsa Chang notes that voters cared most about living costs, so probes could look like payback. McDaniel concedes the danger but says issues such as reports of a deadly strike on an Iranian school are not partisan.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NPR’s reporting. Read the full story at NPR →