What’s up, Angry Democrats? Matt here.
Everybody keeps talking about a blue wave. But what would a blue wave actually mean, and what could Democrats realistically do if they won control of both the House and Senate?
For this discussion, I am not going to complicate things with every possible outcome. I am not talking about Democrats winning the House while Republicans keep the Senate. I am also not talking about some massive Democratic supermajority that fundamentally changes the rules.
I am talking about the simplest realistic scenario: Democrats win a narrow majority in the House and at least 51 seats in the Senate.
What happens then?
First, a Reality Check
Winning Congress would not mean Democrats could suddenly pass anything they wanted.
Most legislation can still be blocked by the Senate filibuster unless Democrats have 60 votes, use budget reconciliation or change Senate rules. Even if a bill passes both chambers, it would still go to Donald Trump’s desk. He could veto it, and overriding that veto would require two-thirds of both the House and Senate.
So let’s be honest about what a narrow Democratic majority would mean.
It would be much better at stopping Trump, investigating Trump and slowing down the administration than passing an enormous Democratic legislative agenda.
1. Block Trump’s Legislative Agenda
Right now, Republicans control the House, Senate and executive branch. That gives Trump considerable freedom to move legislation through Congress when Republicans remain united.
If Democrats control both chambers, that stops.
Whether Trump wants another artificial-intelligence bill, another round of tax cuts, another funding package or those $5,000 bribery checks, Democrats would control whether that legislation receives a vote and what ultimately reaches his desk.
The same would apply to legislation involving immigration, energy, healthcare, military funding and the federal budget.
Trump could no longer expect Congress to rubber-stamp everything he wants.
