Congress Splits, Sessions Fired

All through the campaign, there were warnings of a Blue Wave of Democrats ready to sweep away the Republican majority in Congress, as if a Category 5 tsunami were to hit.

Turns out, the supposed tsunami became a Category 1 tropical storm hitting land.  But even weakened storms do damage.  According to Associated Press, Democrats won the House of Representatives 222-196 while the GOP kept the Senate by a 51-44 margin, mainly through President Donald Trump's fear and race-bating tactics aimed at shoring up support among disaffected white men (and the women who love them).

The real wave came when more than 100 women, mainly Democrats, won their congressional races in record numbers:  95 in the House and 13 in the Senate.  One of those, Nancy Pelosi of California, is expected to return as Speaker of the House.

Leave it to Trump to steal the headlines the following day.  There was first a raucous news conference, in which he (A) considered the GOP's retaking the Senate a 'victory', (B) put down those in the party who lost their races because they weren't loyal to him, (C) complained of 'hostile' reporters and (D) made an example of CNN's Jim Acosta by taking away his White House press pass for the crime of allegedly touching the young woman who tried to take away his microphone.

Then it was announced that Attorney General Jeff Sessions had resigned, though some would say he was fired.  No surprise, considering how Sessions never really got along with the President.  Matthew Whitaker, who had been Sessions' aide, replaces him on an interim basis.  Whitaker is also not a big fan of the ongoing investigation special prosecutor Robert Mueller is making in regards to any alleged Trump misdeeds in the 2016 election, which is now in danger of getting shut down.

Yes, the 2018 midterms made history.  It remains to be seen whether the split Congress will either make much of an impact, or whether Trump will neuter their efforts.

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In Minnesota, Democrats had a big night.

• Tim Walz swaps his U.S. House seat for the Governor's chair, defeating Republican Jeff Johnson.  Walz' running mate Peggy Flanagan became the first Lieutenant Governor of Native American descent.
• Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith are going back to the U.S. Senate, defeating Republicans Jim Newberger and Karin Housley, in that order.
• Dean Phillips defeated Erik Paulsen, ending more than 50 years of GOP control over the Third Congressional District.
• Angie Craig is the state's first LGTBQ congresswoman, defeating incumbent Jason Lewis in the Second District.
• Ilhan Omer is the first Somali-American to serve in Congress, coming from the Fifth District.  She replaces Keith Ellison, who in spite of charges of alleged domestic abuse, is now Minnesota's Attorney general.