**Newsom Rallies California Democrats as Trump Plans Major Government Overhaul**

In a closed-door lunch over sandwiches at a Capitol office building on Wednesday afternoon, California Governor Gavin Newsom rallied members of the state's Democratic delegation. With a Trump presidency on the horizon, the focus was on aligning their strategies for the special legislative session and preparing robust legal defenses. "We discussed the 122 lawsuits we were involved in during the Trump administration," Newsom told reporters. "We're set on being proactive rather than reactive regarding the incoming administration."

While there has been speculation about Newsom potentially running for president in 2028, other Democrats remained tight-lipped on the subject.

In other Capitol Hill updates, Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) secured unanimous reelection as GOP conference vice chair. Despite briefly contemplating a bid for the conference chair, Moore ultimately chose to pursue a full second term in his current role.

Additionally, Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) was elected to join House GOP leadership by defeating Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) for the position of Republican policy chair with a vote count of 111-91-1. Hern, previously chair of the Republican Study Committee, entered the race after news of his intentions surfaced weeks earlier.

Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has stirred discussions with his promise to involve Elon Musk in drafting sweeping government reforms. Trump announced the establishment of a new "Department of Government Efficiency" with Musk and MAGA investor Vivek Ramaswamy at the helm. The proposed structural reforms aim to eliminate up to $2 trillion in federal budget waste.

However, key Republicans expressed cautious optimism. "They might make recommendations that we go, 'nah, not going to do that,'" commented Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who leads the panel funding the Department of the Interior and environmental agencies. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), House Appropriations Chair, noted the challenge in slashing $2 trillion from the annual $6 trillion expenditure, suggesting such cuts would encroach upon significant programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

While some GOP members like House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) showed enthusiasm for Musk's involvement, Democrats were skeptical. "Where the hell are you going to find it and from whom?" asked Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. She emphasized the difficult intricacies of the appropriations process, pointing out that many proposing cuts might not fully understand it.