What A Day – Episode Summary

Episode Title: And Then The Majority Was 2
Host: Jane Coaston (Crooked Media)
Guest: Burgess Everett, Congressional Bureau Chief at Semafor
Date: January 8, 2026
Theme: An urgent look at the razor-thin GOP House majority, new Congressional dynamics, Venezuela policy, ICE violence in Minneapolis, and changing federal dietary guidelines—all with a focus on how these stories may shape the coming year in American politics.

Overview

In this episode, Jane Coaston examines the precarious state of the Republican House majority, the shockwaves from U.S. actions in Venezuela, deep divides over health care, and the fallout from controversial ICE actions in Minneapolis. The show also explores late-breaking moves on redistricting, a bizarre resurgence of interest in Greenland, and the Trump administration’s new, controversial dietary guidelines. Coaston is joined by Burgess Everett for an inside view from Capitol Hill.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. House GOP Majority Shrinks & Legislative Paralysis

• Current Numbers Explained
  • With Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation and Doug LaMalfa’s death, GOP holds a 218–seat majority, but only 216 votes needed (due to vacancies and absences). ([01:17])
  • Speaker Mike Johnson can now only lose two votes for party-line legislation.
• Complicating Factors
  • Rep. Jim Baird (IN) is hospitalized after a car accident.
  • Rep. Thomas Massie (KY) is an unpredictable vote for the GOP.
  • Several Republicans expected to leave Congress soon, making their House majority even more tenuous.
• Political Consequences
  • Keeping the House in 2026 midterms looks “pretty unlikely.”
  • Trump links House control directly to his own future:

    “If we don't win the midterms, it's just going to be, I mean, they'll find a reason to impeach me. I'll get impeached.” — Donald Trump (paraphrased by Jane Coaston, [02:02])

2. Congressional Response to Trump’s Venezuela Operation

• Surprise Military Action
  • U.S. forces, under order from President Trump, captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a surprise operation. Congressional leaders—including the Senate Majority leader—were not informed in advance ([03:14]).
• Congressional Oversight & War Powers Resolution
  • Coming Senate vote on a War Powers Resolution to limit Trump’s future use of force in Venezuela without Congressional authorization ([03:35]).
  • Sen. Tim Kaine leads this bipartisan push, trying to force Republicans to take a public stance.
  • Burgess Everett on whether Trump would obey such a resolution:

    “I don't think it's a given that the president would follow a resolution like that even if it were passed and sent to his desk... I think it's an open question whether he would follow it.” — Burgess Everett ([04:34])

• Congress’s Decades-Long Reluctance on War Authority:
  • Congress has largely abdicated its responsibility to weigh in on war/peace since early 2000s.

3. Health Care Deadlock & Policy Prospects

• Senate Bipartisanship vs. House Division
  • Bipartisan Senate group (led by Bernie Moreno, R-OH) working to revive Obamacare subsidies with reforms ([05:31]).
  • Senate coming close to a deal (draft legislation pending), which would be a big accomplishment.
  • House remains resistant; recently rejected a simple three-year extension of ACA’s enhanced subsidies.
• Democrats Back Off Threats to Shut Down Government
  • After a record-long shutdown over health care in 2025, Democrats say they do not plan to repeat the “shutdown strategy.”

  • “I think if there were to be a shutdown, it would probably be from more run-of-the-mill congressional ineptitude... I don't feel like Democrats are engineering an entire strategy based around using their funding leverage to make health care a big issue.” — Burgess Everett ([06:55])

  • Dems believe they’ve already won public opinion and don’t see the advantage in pushing further, at least on ACA subsidies ([07:46]).

4. The Razor-Edge House and GOP Legislative Strategy

• Speaker Johnson Aims for Party-Line Reconciliation
  • Johnson considers a reconciliation bill (which can bypass the Senate filibuster, requires only a majority) ([08:19]).
  • Reality check: GOP would need nearly total unity in both House and Senate, with several moderate or outgoing GOP senators still wildcards.
  • “Buyer’s remorse” from the 2017–18 period drives desire to press agenda—even if odds are low.
  • Trump wants to kill the filibuster, but lacks Senate support; reconciliation is his alternative route.
  • Everett’s prediction:

    “If I had to bet on it, I'd bet against one passing this year.” ([09:14])

5. Redistricting Chaos: The Florida Gambit

• Late Breaking: DeSantis Calls April Special Session
  • Florida’s legislature may redraw congressional districts, potentially boosting GOP House seats ([09:27]).
• Wider Implications & State-by-State Stalemates
  • Other states (Virginia, Maryland) could be spurred to counter, leading to a “wash.”
  • Everett:

    “A lot of the country is already pretty damn gerrymandered, if you ask me.” ([10:47])

• Time Crunch:
  • April is considered “awfully late” for midterm-year redistricting, especially with some states’ primaries already completed.

6. Bipartisan Issues—Or Not?

• Surprise Entrant: Greenland
  • Talks on the Trump administration’s proposal to “take over” Greenland; even Republicans are skeptical ([11:12]).

  • “I never would have thought I'd say this a week ago, but, like, Greenland is a big issue now. Like, I'm not even kidding.” — Burgess Everett ([11:12])

  • The Danish ambassador is meeting senators; unpredictability dominates the legislative outlook.
• Routine Legislation?
  • Some bipartisan bills (permitting reform, transportation) might advance, but “that has not been the story of this Congress. It's been partisan power plays, party line bills, and government shutdown.” ([12:09])

7. Headlines: ICE Killing in Minneapolis

• Incident
  • ICE officer fatally shoots Minneapolis driver Renee Goode, a 37-year-old American citizen, in broad daylight ([16:11]).
  • Eyewitness videos dispute official account of events.
• Community & Political Response
  • Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz: “Don’t believe this propaganda machine.”
  • Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to ICE:

    "Get the fuck out of Minneapolis." — Jacob Frey ([17:15])

  • Thousands protest as ICE announces no pause in operations.
• Broader Context
  • Surge in ICE agents in Minneapolis; fifth reported ICE-involved death since 2024.

8. Venezuela Oil Policy Aggression

• Seizures & Strategy
  • U.S. forces board and seize two sanctioned Venezuelan tanker ships ([17:54]).
  • Vice President J.D. Vance explains that the U.S. will “exert incredible pressure on Venezuela without endangering American lives.”
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlines three-phase oil strategy: seize, sell, and “transition.”
  • Rubio quips:

    “I hope I'm alive to see it.” ([18:32])

9. Women in Combat: Pentagon Review

• The Pentagon reviews effectiveness of women in ground combat roles ([18:57]).
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (mocked for constructing a “makeup studio” for TV):
  • “There are domains exclusively for men and others for women... Pete does his own makeup.” — Jane Coaston ([19:33])
• Review comes after sexist comments and amid slow change in military demographics.

10. Gutting of Environmental Laws

• NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) rules are slashed to accelerate permit approvals.
• White House boasts: “NEPA’s reign of terror has ended.”
• Bipartisan talks on “permitting reform” stall; coaston quips that for Trump, “the real terrorizer [is] paperwork asking if a pipeline might poison a river.” ([20:58])

11. New Food Pyramid: Protein Maxxing

• RFK Jr., as Health & Human Services Secretary, unveils upside–down food pyramid, prioritizing protein and fat, vilifying sugar and processed food ([22:01]).
• Notable Quote:
  • “Today, the lies stop. New guidelines recognize that whole, nutrient dense food is the most effective path to better health and lower healthcare costs. Protein and healthy fats are essential, and we are ending the war on saturated fats.” — RFK Jr. ([22:22])
• Coaston’s Reality Check
  • Good: Emphasis on less processed food, more protein.
  • Bad: Underlying moves benefit industry; skepticism about the true motivation.
  • Calls out “protein popcorns and protein waters and tallow in pretty much everything. Because money.” ([24:35])
  • “The real issue with the new food recommendations isn't the food recommendations, it's that RFK Jr is full of shit.” — Jane Coaston ([25:37])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jane Coaston, on Trump’s Congressional defiance:

  “Honestly, he's right, because he's getting away with it.” ([02:32])

• On ICE and Minneapolis:

  “Get the fuck out of Minneapolis.” — Mayor Jacob Frey ([17:15])

• On Greenland:

  “I never would have thought I'd say this a week ago… like, Greenland is a big issue now. Like, I'm not even kidding.” — Burgess Everett ([11:12])

• Dietary guidelines skepticism:

  “The real issue with the new food recommendations isn't the food recommendations, it’s that RFK Jr is full of shit.” — Jane Coaston ([25:37])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 01:17 | Shrinking House GOP majority and math explained | | 03:14 | Venezuela operation shocks Congress | | 04:34 | Will Trump listen to Congress on military limits? | | 05:31 | Health care: Senate bipartisanship vs. House splits | | 06:55 | Shutdown prospects and Dems' tactics | | 08:19 | Reconciliation and GOP's legislative challenge | | 09:27 | Florida redistricting – will it matter? | | 10:47 | Stalemate and exhaustion with gerrymandering | | 11:12 | Greenland emerges as a surprise issue | | 16:11 | ICE officer kills Minneapolis driver | | 17:15 | Mayor Frey to ICE: "Get the fuck out..." | | 17:54 | U.S. seizes Venezuelan tankers; Rubio outlines plan | | 22:01 | New dietary guidelines; protein prioritized | | 25:37 | Coaston's blunt assessment of RFK Jr.'s intentions |

Overall Tone & Approach

• Jane Coaston’s style: Sharp, unsparing analysis with biting humor and a commitment to clarity.
• Burgess Everett: Pragmatic, insider’s view, consistently highlighting uncertainties and political realities.
• Mood: Wry, skeptical, focusing on real consequences amid political chaos.

Conclusion

And Then The Majority Was 2 is a brisk yet substantive episode capturing the fluid, unpredictable, and frequently absurd state of American politics at the start of 2026. Coaston and Everett detail the perilous state of Congress, the chances (or lack thereof) for major policy breakthroughs, and the profound disconnect between official narratives and on-the-ground realities—whether in Washington, Venezuela, or Minneapolis. The episode’s sharp, candid tone underscores what makes What A Day unique: complex issues, made accessible (and often entertaining), for an audience that wants more than partisan noise.