Ailsa Chang

The Kentucky Republican never really thought about running for president while growing up. Instead, he dreamed of being Senate majority leader. That dream came true on Tuesday.

Republicans formally took full control of Congress for the first time during Barack Obama's presidency on Tuesday. Republicans took over the Senate and added to their majority in the House.

It's the first time since the 2006 election that both chambers will be controlled by Republicans. They pledge an end to gridlock, but they still have to work with the same Democratic president.

The number of judicial vacancies is now at its lowest point since Obama took office. All told, the president has seen more than 300 judges confirmed, including a record number of women and minorities.

The adjournment brought the 113th Congress to a formal close. Democrat Harry Reid ended his run as majority leader, as Republicans take control of the Senate next month.

Nearly 9 percent of 8th graders, more than 16 percent of 10th graders and more than 17 percent of high school seniors have used the devices in the past month, the survey found.

The longer-than-expected Senate session is allowing Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid to confirm even more of President Obama's nominations to the federal bench.

The Senate is to vote Tuesday on Sarah Saldana's nomination to run Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Republicans believe she will be too sympathetic to the president's actions on deportations.

A plan to pass a no-drama, year-long measure for most of the federal government started looking shaky Thursday afternoon, when the bill nearly died on a procedural vote in the House.

The House appears to have reached a trillion-dollar deal to keep the government running, but leaves the Senate just hours to speed the bill through — and some senators may prefer to take their time.

Congress has just over two days left to pass a spending bill before the government runs out of cash, and lawmakers appear to be pushing it to the wire. So far, no one is worried about...

A year after Democratic senators invoked a "nuclear option" to stop GOP filibusters of confirmation votes, Republicans are debating whether to switch back. Some say they're sick of the fighting.

Congress hopes to be done for the holidays by the end of next week — which also happens to be the deadline for a new spending bill. The government will run out of money Dec. 11 if nothing is passed.

All 45 Republicans were on board, but the bill fell short of just one Democrat. It's a project President Obama has not been a fan of.

In an interview with Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent in the Senate, says he may run for president.

The incumbent Louisiana Democratic Senator is fighting to keep her seat in a December runoff. An identical bill sponsored by her Republican opponent, Rep. Bill Cassidy, has already passed the Senate.

Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell has wanted to be Senate majority leader since grade school. Now, as he starts his sixth term in office, he'll finally get his wish.

Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell is in line to go from the Senate's minority leader to majority leader. He will have a majority smaller than the one Democrat Harry Reid has enjoyed.

The GOP scored major victories in the midterm elections. The wins reshape the political dynamic in Washington and complicate the legislative agenda for President Obama's final two years in office.