Read · November 9, 2026

Congress returns for a lame duck session after the midterms, with a Dec. 11 funding deadline and leadership races

• From the LeftCBS News: CBS details the leadership races, Ron Johnson's push to delay them and the Dec. 11 funding fight.

  CBS details the leadership races, Ron Johnson's push to delay them and the Dec. 11 funding fight.

  Grade: B (84/100). Lehrer score 84/100 (starts at 85; +4 named, on-record sources (2+): Sen. Ron Johnson, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Rep. James Comer and Sen. John Thune quoted by name; +3 primary document linked or cited (filing, ruling, data release, statement): Johnson's letter to Sen. Tom Cotton quoted; +4 other side quoted or given its response: Democrat DeLauro and Republicans Johnson and Thune both heard; +2 context: background or what came before: "The initial deadline to fund the government was Sept. 30"; −4 loaded word or phrase in the outlet's own voice (rule 2/7/13): "last week's electoral bloodbath for the party" in its own voice; −4 loaded word or phrase in the outlet's own voice (rule 2/7/13): "the GOP's crippling losses" in its own voice; −6 unlabeled claim, analysis or opinion in the outlet's own voice (rule 2/10): "the unpopular conflict" in its own voice). Fixed scale: 90+ A, 80s B, 70s C, 60s D, under 60 F → B.

• CenterCNBC: CNBC lists the agenda from the Dec. 11 deadline to the debt limit, permitting and a stock trading ban.

  CNBC lists the agenda from the Dec. 11 deadline to the debt limit, permitting and a stock trading ban.

  Grade: B (82/100). Lehrer score 82/100 (starts at 85; +4 named, on-record sources (2+): Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sen. Todd Young and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries quoted by name; +2 key numbers sourced: "The Bipartisan Policy Center ... said Treasury is likely to hit its maximum borrowing capacity by mid-summer"; +4 other side quoted or given its response: Democrats Murray and Jeffries and Republicans Young and Cramer heard; +2 context: background or what came before: "In September, the federal debt hit $40 trillion for the first time"; −4 loaded word or phrase in the outlet's own voice (rule 2/7/13): "after dozens of members lost their seats in an electoral bloodbath" in its own voice; −5 unnamed source on a side point, or a figure with no stated source (rule 11): "according to a Senate aide familiar with the schedule"; −6 unlabeled claim, analysis or opinion in the outlet's own voice (rule 2/10): "Democrats will have little incentive to cut deals with their GOP counterparts" in its own voice). Fixed scale: 90+ A, 80s B, 70s C, 60s D, under 60 F → B.

• From the RightFox News: Fox quotes GOP senators on a crowded lame duck; an unnamed House Republican expects another stopgap.

  Fox quotes GOP senators on a crowded lame duck; an unnamed House Republican expects another stopgap.

  Grade: C (71/100). Lehrer score 71/100 (starts at 85; +4 named, on-record sources (2+): Sens. Bernie Moreno and James Lankford and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis quoted by name; +2 context: background or what came before: "The current CR was passed to cover the end of the last fiscal year ending Sept. 30 through next month"; −5 unnamed source on a side point, or a figure with no stated source (rule 11): "one House Republican, granted anonymity to speak candidly"; −5 unnamed source on a side point, or a figure with no stated source (rule 11): "Some Democrats signaled to POLITICO" with none named; −6 leaves out a fact or voice the other two pieces report / one side only (rule 5/13): leaves out the Hegseth impeachment vote, which CBS News and CNBC both report as lame duck business; −4 profanity or graphic violence the story doesn't need (rule 12): "Closet is full of s—" in its own headline). Fixed scale: 90+ A, 80s B, 70s C, 60s D, under 60 F → C.

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