Republicans in Congress are back to work this week with one less member.

What’s Next for Congress?

The Story

Republicans in Congress are back to work this week with one less member.

Because of George Santos?

Yes. On Friday, the House expelled the now-former freshman lawmaker following a series of scandals. Note: Expulsion is extremely rare and requires a two-thirds majority vote. In the end, 105 GOP lawmakers voted with nearly all Democrats to expel the third time around. 112 Republicans and two Dems voted against, with some saying it could set a dangerous precedent. Now, the GOP only has a three-vote majority in the lower chamber at a time when it's facing a hefty agenda. For the time being, the House clerk will have control of Santos’s office.

What happens next?

A special election. NY Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) will announce one, and it has to happen 70 to 80 days after that. Meaning, some New Yorkers will be wearing “I voted” stickers soon after the new year. As for who could be on the ballot, that’s up to local party leaders. They will choose the nominees, with Democrats leaning toward former Rep. Tom Suozzi (D) and Republicans still deciding. The choice is tough for the GOP since the seat was blue for a decade before Santos flipped it. The House Democratic super PAC said it will “do whatever it takes” to win.

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Santos became the third member since the Civil War to get booted by his colleagues, leaving a battleground seat wide open earlier than expected. What happens next could give lawmakers an early preview into how battleground districts might be leaning in 2024.

The Latest:

• Southern Gaza: Yesterday, Israel ordered Palestinians sheltering in southern Gaza to evacuate as it expands its ground invasion. The news comes as the Biden admin is reportedly pressuring Israel to restore humanitarian aid to the same levels as during the weeklong truce.

• Vermont: Hisham Awartani, one of the three Palestinian American students shot in Burlington last weekend, is paralyzed from the chest down. His mother said he has an “incomplete spinal injury” that allows him to feel but not move. She also said he is going into “intensive rehab.”

• Red Sea: The Pentagon said it’s investigating reports of a US warship and commercial vessels coming under drone attacks. Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility, saying the ships were Israeli. Israel denies any connection to the ships.

What it’s actually wrap on…

Jobs. Spotify just laid off 17% of its staff, about 1,500 jobs in the third round of layoffs this year. CEO Daniel Ek said the company “must be defined by being relentlessly resourceful in the ways we operate.”

Who people are remembering…

Sandra Day O’Connor. Many are awaiting a date for the former Supreme Court justice’s funeral, after it was announced on Friday that she died at age 93 from issues related to her dementia. Hailing from Arizona, O’Connor grew up on her family's large ranch and went on to enroll at Stanford University at 16 years old. In 1981, O’Connor became the first woman to ever sit on the high court, serving as a justice for 25 years. She became known as a moderate conservative and a swing voter in many cases, including over affirmative action and abortion. In 1992, O’Connor was the fifth and critical vote against overturning Roe v. Wade. President Biden called her “an American icon.” Chief Justice John Roberts described her as a “fiercely independent defender of the rule of law.”

Who might be feeling the heat…

The president of COP28. Yesterday, the Guardian reported that the UAE’s Sultan Al Jaber said there’s “no science” that proves phasing out fossil fuels will stop global temperatures from reaching 1.5 degrees Celsius. He also said phasing out fossil fuels doesn’t help sustainable development “unless you want to take the world back into caves.” Not everyone agrees with him. Scientists called his comments “incredibly concerning.” Former US VP Al Gore reportedly pointed out that the UAE’s gas emissions are actually on the rise. As Dubai hosts the climate conference, some countries are pushing for the final agreement to have stronger language like “phase-out” of fossil fuels while others want “phase-down.” The conference ends on Dec 12.

What’s going back to the courtroom…

Purdue Pharma. Today, the Supreme Court will hear arguments over the legality of Purdue Pharma’s $6 billion bankruptcy settlement. Last year, the company reached a deal to end thousands of lawsuits over its role in the country’s opioid epidemic. Purdue Pharma, which produces the highly addictive pain medication OxyContin, also put billions towards fighting the crisis. In exchange, the Sackler family (who own Purdue Pharma) would be protected from all future civil opioid lawsuits. The Justice Department is appealing that part of the deal. The Supreme Court’s ruling could have sweeping implications, determining the conditions for how other companies could file for bankruptcy and settle mass injury cases.

Who got to hear Beyoncé’s new track…

Everyone who watched “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.”

Who put on their best Balenciaga look…

Cardi B.

Why we’re prepping the negroni sbagliato with prosecco in it…

The newest “House of the Dragon” trailer.

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