Skip to main content

Full coverage

The election is over. What’s supposed to happen next for Congress?

23 sources|Diversity: 84%|

By Extra Extra Editorial

Cross-spectrum analysis, synthesized with AI from 23 sources · Updated

How we analyze coverage

Following the 2024 election, major media outlets are examining the procedural and political steps Congress must undertake before the new legislative session begins. The coverage focuses on the transition period, including committee assignments, leadership elections, and the formal swearing-in process. These reports address both the institutional mechanics of congressional turnover and the substantive policy challenges the incoming Congress will face.

Left· 12 sources

Left-leaning outlets emphasize procedural accountability and the institutional responsibilities Congress must fulfill during transition. These sources appear focused on ensuring transparency in how the new Congress organizes itself and prepares to govern.

Center· 2 sources

Center sources take a narrower focus on specific personnel changes, particularly former members returning to Congress. This approach treats the transition as primarily a story about individual political careers and staffing shifts.

Right· 9 sources

Right-leaning outlets frame the post-election period through the lens of party control and political outcomes, with some sources examining what the election results mean for Republican governance priorities. The coverage suggests concern with how the new Congress will exercise power rather than procedural details.

Key Differences

  • Left sources emphasize institutional processes and congressional responsibilities; right sources focus on party control and policy implications of the election outcome
  • Center coverage narrows to personnel stories rather than broader transition dynamics, treating the story as primarily about individual career moves
  • Left outlets appear more numerous and coordinated in covering the transition story, while right-leaning sources show more varied framing around election results and governance

How this story is being covered

23 reports from 23 outlets84/100 cross-spectrum diversity15 high-reliability sources

Extra Extra has grouped 23 reports on this story from 23 news outlets across the political spectrum. By political lean, that breaks down as 12 left-leaning, 2 center, and 9 right-leaning sources.

With a coverage-diversity score of 84 out of 100, this is one of the more evenly reported stories in our index right now — left, center, and right outlets are all giving it attention.

On reliability, 15 of the 23 rated outlets carry a high or mostly-factual reliability rating (A or B) and 8 outlets fall into our mixed or lower-reliability tier (C or D). Ratings are drawn from independent assessments and are meant to help you weigh each report, not to tell you which to trust.

Coverage of this story has developed over roughly 41 hours, so the perspectives below capture how the framing shifted as the story matured.

Below, the same story is laid out side by side as left, center, and right outlets reported it. Read across the columns and watch what changes: the headline emphasis, which facts lead, the adjectives, and what each side leaves out. The story itself rarely changes — the framing almost always does.

Outlets covering this story: Colorado Newsline, Oregon Capital Chronicle, Arizona Mirror, Missouri Independent, Florida Phoenix, Kansas Reflector, Louisiana Illuminator, Foreign Policy, AL.com, ProPublica, Wisconsin Examiner, Iowa Capital Dispatch, Roll Call, Radio Free Europe/RL, The National Pulse, The American Conservative, NY Post, Fox News, Hot Air, Bearing Arms, RedState, PJ Media, Twitchy.


Left(12)

Colorado NewslineBNov 4, 10:47 PM

The election is over. What’s supposed to happen next for Congress?

WASHINGTON — Voting ended Tuesday in this year’s midterm elections, leaving officials and volunteers counting tens of millions of ballots to determine which U.S. House and Senate candidates will take

Oregon Capital ChronicleBNov 4, 7:59 PM

The election is over. What’s supposed to happen next for Congress?

WASHINGTON — Voting ended Tuesday in this year’s midterm elections, leaving officials and volunteers counting tens of millions of ballots to determine which U.S. House and Senate candidates will take

Arizona MirrorBNov 4, 6:11 PM

The election is over. What’s supposed to happen next for Congress?

WASHINGTON — Voting ended Tuesday in this year’s midterm elections, leaving officials and volunteers counting tens of millions of ballots to determine which U.S. House and Senate candidates will take

Missouri IndependentBNov 4, 5:57 PM

The election is over. What’s supposed to happen next for Congress?

WASHINGTON — Voting ended Tuesday in this year’s midterm elections, leaving officials and volunteers counting tens of millions of ballots to determine which U.S. House and Senate candidates will take

Florida PhoenixBNov 4, 5:51 PM

The election is over. What’s supposed to happen next for Congress?

WASHINGTON — Voting ended Tuesday in this year’s midterm elections, leaving officials and volunteers counting tens of millions of ballots to determine which U.S. House and Senate candidates will take

Kansas ReflectorBNov 4, 5:34 PM

The election is over. What’s supposed to happen next for Congress?

WASHINGTON — Voting ended Tuesday in this year’s midterm elections, leaving officials and volunteers counting tens of millions of ballots to determine which U.S. House and Senate candidates will take

Louisiana IlluminatorBNov 4, 5:20 PM

The election is over. What’s supposed to happen next for Congress?

The post-election process includes numerous steps and varying deadlines for when ballots have to be certified, since each state has different laws governing not only what happens on Election Day but w

Foreign PolicyBNov 4, 6:02 PM

Trump’s Next Trade War Could Be With Congress

Trump’s tariffs are unpopular, and lawmakers want to claw back their authority.

AL.comBNov 4, 11:14 PM

Former NFL insider Dianna Russini reportedly returning to work next week

Former NFL insider Dianna Russini will reportedly return to work next week.

ProPublicaANov 3, 11:00 AM

How We’re Covering the Midterms — and the Aftermath

The post How We’re Covering the Midterms — and the Aftermath appeared first on ProPublica.

Wisconsin ExaminerBNov 4, 10:32 PM

Democrats won Congress. Now they have to figure out how to deal with Trump.

WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders in Congress have just a couple months to decide how they want to balance investigations into President Donald Trump and his administration with securing his signature o

Iowa Capital DispatchBNov 4, 9:57 PM

Democrats won Congress. Now they have to figure out how to deal with Trump.

WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders in Congress have just a couple months to decide how they want to balance investigations into President Donald Trump and his administration with securing his signature o

Center(2)

Right(9)

The National PulseDNov 4, 10:53 AM

The GOP Has Lost Congress. What Happens Next?

The Democrats have secured majorities in both the House and Senate in the midterm elections, ending Republican control of Congress for the final two years of President Trump’s second term.⁠ Under the

The American ConservativeBNov 4, 5:03 AM

A Plea to the Next Congress

Do something, anything! The post A Plea to the Next Congress appeared first on The American Conservative.

NY PostCNov 4, 10:46 PM

Ousted NFL reporter Dianna Russini sets return to work — 7 months after quitting over Mike Vrabel scandal

Russini resigned from the Athletic after Page Six caught her at a resort with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.

Fox NewsCNov 4, 9:52 PM

Dianna Russini is planning a return to unknown sports media position 'next week' after scandal

Dianna Russini has been texting people around the NFL that she'll announce a new job next week, likely with a gambling or prediction provider.

Hot AirCNov 4, 7:59 PM

Midterm Election Aftermath: What Happened Last Night

On this full episode of LARRY with Larry O'Connor, we discuss last night's electoral losses for Republicans, what the results reveal about the polls, the fallout for Donald Trump and the GOP, where Re

Bearing ArmsCNov 4, 7:59 PM

Midterm Election Aftermath: What Happened Last Night

On this full episode of LARRY with Larry O'Connor, we discuss last night's electoral losses for Republicans, what the results reveal about the polls, the fallout for Donald Trump and the GOP, where Re

RedStateDNov 4, 7:59 PM

Midterm Election Aftermath: What Happened Last Night

On this full episode of LARRY with Larry O'Connor, we discuss last night's electoral losses for Republicans, what the results reveal about the polls, the fallout for Donald Trump and the GOP, where Re

PJ MediaDNov 4, 7:59 PM

Midterm Election Aftermath: What Happened Last Night

On this full episode of LARRY with Larry O'Connor, we discuss last night's electoral losses for Republicans, what the results reveal about the polls, the fallout for Donald Trump and the GOP, where Re

TwitchyDNov 4, 7:59 PM

Midterm Election Aftermath: What Happened Last Night

On this full episode of LARRY with Larry O'Connor, we discuss last night's electoral losses for Republicans, what the results reveal about the polls, the fallout for Donald Trump and the GOP, where Re

Get this analysis in your inbox

The Daily Spectrum: one email, three perspectives on the day's biggest stories.

Free forever. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam.

New to comparing coverage? Start with our guides to reading the news critically.

Back to Compare