5 things on Congress' agenda right now

For more politics coverage and analysis, sign up for Here's the Deal, our weekly politics newsletter, here.

At just three days old, 2026 announced itself with the subtlety of a Bravo housewife.

The seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and pledge by President Donald Trump that the U.S. will "run" the country have changed history in the Western Hemisphere. And we are at the beginning of this story.

But this is not the only pressing matter for our lawmakers.

We thought it might be helpful to lay out a rough to-do list for members of Congress as they return from holiday break.

1. Oversight of U.S. action overseas

This of course includes briefings and questions about Venezuela. When and why would troops be sent? Does Trump propose spending U.S. dollars on its oil industry? What lies ahead for Venezuelans in this new political era?

Watch the segment in the player above.

But Congress must also remain relevant and connected regarding the list of other countries which the Trump administration has now threatened with U.S. action: Colombia, Cuba, Greenland, Mexico and Iran.

2. Avoid a government shutdown

Almost no one in Washington believes there will be a partial government shutdown at the end of the month when the last funding bill runs out.

But how will lawmakers avoid one? There are some tricky disagreements that are not resolved, including over the length of the next funding bill and a slew of specific cuts or additions that various lawmakers want to see.

On the positive side, lawmakers have funded the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Agriculture for the remainder of the fiscal year. That means all VA operations will continue and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, formerly known as food stamps, will flow regardless.

3. Tackle health care

The enhanced subsidies from the Affordable Care Act have expired.

But Congress can still — and some are working ardently to — retroactively restore them. We expect a measure on the House floor this week to extend those subsidies for three years. (Four Republicans teamed up with Democrats to force this vote.) Moreover, that vote will likely pass.

But it will hit a marble wall in the Senate, where this idea already failed a vote last year.

A handful of senators are in the middle of bipartisan talks aimed at finding something that can pass that chamber.

But it is not clear if that can happen soon, nor if anything that passes the Senate will work in the House.

4. Retire. Or don't. But decide

As we reported, this Congress is on pace for a near-record number of retirements, and there easily could be more to come.

With filing deadlines nearing, members need to decide in coming months if they will try to stay or if they will go.

5. Deal with the tough stuff

Consider this (because Congress does not seem to be): Both Social Security and Medicare face essential insolvency in just eight years. Eight years. To be specific, that is when the money runs out for the Social Security retirement trust fund and for Medicare's hospital insurance trust fund.

In addition, the national debt continues to rocket its way to unprecedented levels for peacetime.

These are problems our current lawmakers in Washington have created or ignored (and in ignoring, inflamed). These issues are fraught with political peril. And the running Republican thought is that the party is vulnerable in 2026.

Thus, it seems foolhardy to imagine that Republicans in power will work with Democrats to address these coming crises. But my task here is to create a list of what needs to be done, not what will be done.

And addressing our fast-approaching long-term issues should be in the top five.