What's next for Democrats after the midterms. And, a look at the outstanding races

Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Democrats won this week in districts and states that President Trump carried by double digits just two years ago. The party now has its largest Senate majority since the passing of the Affordable Care Act during Obama's early presidency.

Senate results from Alaska and Mississippi are still pending. If those races favor Democrats, their majority could grow to 54, plus the two independents who caucus with them. For more than a year, Democrats urged voters to elect them to lower costs and eliminate corruption.

Now, the party must act to fulfill its campaign promise. The new Congress is unlikely to see much major legislation signed into law, but Democrats plan to launch ambitious investigations in the House and Senate. Democratic Party leaders and political analysts shared their insights with Morning Edition on the midterm election results, discussed the impacts of mid-decade redistricting efforts and outlined the party's next steps.

Trump focused on his East Wing ballroom construction project during his first public appearance after the Republicans lost the House and Senate. When asked about the election, he said he wasn't to blame for his party's losses. Have you ever found yourself drowning in a sea of your own mail or other documents?

Well, it is time to tackle that paper chaos. Kacy Paide, a professional organizer with more than 20 years of experience, has shared tips with Life Kit to make the task less overwhelming. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.

In Ukraine's Kherson region, a brief ceasefire brought a momentary return to normalcy. Brokered by first lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo last week, the truce allowed hundreds of residents to evacuate from a Russian-occupied town and provided a rare few days of peace in a frontline city. Russia and Ukraine agreed to the deal to help Oleshky, a town near Kherson that was occupied by Russian troops in 2022.