By Eleanor Ever Loyal
It is a Saturday in Washington, and the floor is dark. Neither chamber meets today, the President is in Palm Beach, and the two Senate races still being counted — Alaska and Mississippi — will set the size of the incoming majority, not its party. The week’s business points to Monday.
The Day Ahead
Congress. Neither chamber meets today. The House next meets Monday, November 9, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern (House Clerk, November 5). The Senate returns Monday at 3:00 p.m. Eastern on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2347, described by the Senate as the vehicle for the permitting reform bill, with a cloture vote at approximately 5:30 p.m. Eastern (Senate Daily Press, November 5).
The White House. Saturday’s guidance lists a travel pool call at 7:30 a.m. Eastern, executive time at 8:00 a.m. Eastern in Palm Beach, Florida, closed press, and a policy meeting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern, closed press. The First Lady is in Baton Rouge to establish a Fostering the Future Endowment Fund with Louisiana State University at 1:00 p.m. Central and to attend the LSU vs. Alabama game at 2:30 p.m. Central, both pre-credentialed media (White House weekend guidance, November 6–8, 2026).
The Supreme Court. The Court hears no argument today. Its next arguments are Monday, November 9, in Nielsen v. Watanabe (No. 25-417) and Hoffmann v. WBI Energy Transmission (No. 25-159), followed Tuesday by Department of Labor v. Sun Valley Orchards, LLC (No. 25-966) (supremecourt.gov hearing list, November 2026 session).
The Pentagon. No Defense Department public briefing is listed for today in the sources checked this morning.
The Federal Register. No issue is published on Saturday. Friday’s issue published two proclamations signed November 3: Proclamation 11078, “Anti-Communism Week, 2026” (91 FR 70765), and Proclamation 11079, “The American Declaration of Freedom in Space” (91 FR 70767) (Federal Register, November 6, 2026). The President also traveled Friday to Florida, speaking at 6:00 p.m. Eastern at the Kennedy Space Center.
What Moved
A new chief of staff, effective Monday. President Trump announced Friday that Stephen Miller, a deputy chief of staff, will become chief of staff starting Monday, November 9, and that Susie Wiles will move to the Trump Political Operation. The President called Mr. Miller “one of my most trusted advisors” and said Ms. Wiles “has done an outstanding job” (Truth Social, November 6, 2026, via USA Today and NPR). Mr. Miller posted that he was “honored beyond words” to serve (X, November 6, 2026, via CNN). Ms. Wiles, the first woman to hold the post, confirmed Friday was her final day (X, November 6, 2026).
The October jobs report. Employers added 165,000 jobs in October and unemployment was 4.1 percent, down from 4.2 percent in September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. Earnings rose 0.4 percent to $38.00, up 3.1 percent on the year. August was revised to 186,000, from 133,000, and September to 60,000, from 29,000. A Reuters poll had expected 65,000 (BLS, Employment Situation — October 2026, November 6, 2026).
A court pause on the arch. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a 14-day temporary restraining order late Thursday barring construction on the proposed 250-foot arch at Memorial Circle, near Arlington National Cemetery, hours after the National Capital Planning Commission voted 8–4 to approve the plans after a hearing of more than eight hours. The administration’s compliance report is due Monday. The challengers — the District of Columbia and Virginia, with three veterans and an architectural historian — contend the project lacks specific congressional authorization. The White House said Friday it expected to prevail (order reported November 6, 2026).
A Treasury order on a crypto exchange. FinCEN ordered Friday that covered U.S. financial institutions stop transmitting funds to or from MEXC Global, a cryptocurrency exchange. FinCEN puts funds tied to Russian illicit finance and other illicit activity at $16.7 billion from May 2021 to May 2026, including nearly $1.5 billion tied to Russian sanctions evasion; Treasury says at least $16 billion. The order takes effect 30 days after Federal Register publication; as of 05:43 UTC on November 7, it had not yet appeared there. MEXC said it was reviewing the order (FinCEN and Treasury, November 6, 2026; MEXC, November 7, 2026).
The Guard mission in the capital. The Pentagon confirmed November 5 that memos signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on October 29 authorize the National Guard mission in Washington, D.C., to use up to 60 marked patrol cars, military tactical vehicles, patrol boats, and up to 20 portable light towers and generators in support of law enforcement. As of Thursday, 3,084 Guard members were assigned (Pentagon statement, November 5, 2026, as reported by the Associated Press, November 6, 2026).
The Power Count
The incoming Senate stands at 54 seats for Democrats, including independents who caucus with them, and 44 for Republicans, with two races uncalled (AP tally). Neither affects control — only the final margin.
In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom leads Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by 2,493 votes, with about 97 percent counted, in Friday’s tally. The AP has not called the race. Counties must submit certified results by November 13 (Mississippi Secretary of State, November 4, 2026). In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola leads Republican Senator Dan Sullivan by 637 votes — 102,962 to 102,325 — with an estimated 74 percent counted (AP results, November 6). The AP has not called it; if no candidate passes 50 percent, ranked-choice tabulation is set for November 18 (Alaska Division of Elections). In the House, the AP had called 254 seats for Democrats and 162 for Republicans by Friday afternoon, with 19 uncalled; 218 make a majority (AP counts, November 6, 2026).
One Thing to Watch
Monday, November 9. The Senate returns at 3:00 p.m. Eastern with a cloture vote at approximately 5:30 p.m.; the House returns at noon; Mr. Miller’s first day as chief of staff begins; the Supreme Court hears argument at 10:00 a.m.; and the arch compliance report is due in court. What is said and filed Monday will set the terms for the session that follows.
— Eleanor Ever Loyal
From The Library — the estate of our family.