House GOP Majority Shrinks; Trump Pushes for D.C. Arch; Violence Erupts in Pakistan; and More
Washington, D.C. – The Republican Party's already narrow majority in the House of Representatives is set to shrink further following a Democratic victory in a special congressional election in Texas, while former President Donald Trump is advocating for the construction of a large triumphal arch in Washington, D.C. Internationally, Pakistan's Balochistan province experienced a series of deadly attacks, and a Chicago neighborhood is grappling with the aftermath of ICE raids.
Democrat Christian Menefee, a former attorney for Houston's Harris County, won a special election in a left-leaning Texas congressional district that had been vacant for nearly a year, according to the Associated Press. Menefee defeated fellow Democrat Amanda Edwards, a former Houston City Council member, in Saturday's runoff election to fill the seat left vacant when Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner died last March, Fox News reported. Menefee's victory reduces the Republican's House majority by one seat. The GOP currently controls the chamber 218-213.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is championing a plan to construct a "massive triumphal arch" in Washington, D.C., as part of the America 250 celebrations, Fox News reported. The White House defended the proposal, stating it would become "one of the most iconic landmarks in the world" and a central part of Trump's legacy and vision. Critics, however, warn the structure could visually dominate nearby memorials, including the Lincoln Memorial.
In other political news, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is entering the 2026 midterm election year at a significant financial disadvantage compared to the Republican National Committee (RNC), according to new federal financial disclosures reported by The New York Times. The DNC entered 2026 in debt, reporting $14 million in the bank with $17.5 million in debt, putting the party roughly $3.5 million in the red. In contrast, the RNC had $95.1 million and no debt. The New York Times noted that without a president to headline events, the party that does not hold the White House often struggles to raise money in its main national committee.
Turning to international news, Pakistan's south-western Balochistan province was hit by a series of gun and bomb attacks that resulted in the deaths of 18 civilians and 15 security service personnel, the BBC reported. Security forces killed at least 92 attackers, according to the military. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating dozens of soldiers were killed. The BBC noted that this escalation represents one of the deadliest days of violence in the impoverished province, where Pakistan's government has been battling an ethnic insurgency for decades. Pakistan has accused India of supporting the BLA.
Finally, a once bustling Chicago neighborhood is experiencing significant changes following ICE raids, according to the BBC. The report highlighted that Chicago has already seen a surge of immigration agents, and a crackdown on its streets, ease somewhat. Operation Midway Blitz was launched in September with the aim, the Trump administration said, of targeting "criminal illegal aliens" and it peaked.
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