Shutdown fight awaits new Congress

Democrats officially take control of the House on Thursday as the 116th Congress convenes. The new majority will have 235 seats to Republicans’ 199, with one seat still undecided in North Carolina amid allegations of voter fraud. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is all but certain to reclaim the House speaker’s gavel. In the Senate, the GOP will add to its majority, seating three new senators for a total of 53.

Lawmakers will try again Friday to work out a compromise with President Donald Trump on funding for border security to end the partial government shutdown, which is in its 13th day. Pelosi said in an interview that aired Thursday on NBC’s Today show that there was no way House Democrats would approve the amount of border wall funding Trump requested: “We can go through the back and forth. No. How many more times can we say no?”