WASHINGTON, D.C.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/GETTY
Members of the 116th Congress welcome a triumphant Nancy Pelosi back to the speakership on January 3. After a blue wave in the midterm elections, Democrats returned to power in the House of Representatives. “Our nation is at a historic moment,” declared Pelosi, who became the first female speaker when she previously held the post from 2007 to 2011. “I pledge that this Congress will be transparent, bipartisan and unifying, that we will seek to reach across the aisle in this country and across divisions across our nation.” President Donald Trump kept the partisan flag flying, however, threatening that a partial shutdown of the federal government could last “years” if he did not get money for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.