Will Congress get anything done this year?

As the Trump administration has moved to centralize executive power in the past year, the legislative branch has struggled to maintain its traditional role as an effective counterweight.

Apart from passing the large tax cuts package last year, lawmakers have struggled with narrow Republican majorities, unclear goals from the president and a growing partisan divide.

With the midterms coming up, lawmakers will shift into campaigning mode, making progress even harder. But there are still some possibilities for action. 

Heading into the rest of the year, here are the biggest questions on my mind (and probably yours too!)

• Will Congress pass anything?

• Will Democrats push back more?

• Will Congress change voting laws?

• What will Trump say at the State of the Union?

• Who will win in November?

As a reporter who spends lots of time covering Capitol Hill, I tackle these questions one-by-one. You can read my answers here. 

Democrats are divided over the future of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. While some on the left are calling to “abolish ICE,” others worry that will turn off voters and call for reforming it instead.

Here are some highlights of the president’s actions over the last seven days:

The news can feel overwhelming. But each week, we pause to highlight a person, organization or movement sticking up for their principles or their fellow Americans. This week’s challenger is Minnesota lawyer Chris Madel.

Chris Madel supports cracking down on illegal immigration. He’s representing Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer who shot Renee Good. And until recently, he was also a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Minnesota. But in a surprise video announcement on Monday, he quit the race, citing the immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis. “I cannot support the national Republicans’ stated retribution on the citizens of our state,” he said. “Nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so.” Madel said he had heard from Hispanic and Asian law enforcement officers who had been pulled over by ICE. “United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship,” he said. “That’s wrong.” Learn more.

After weeks of protests and the death of Renee Good, leaders of Target, Best Buy, General Mills and UnitedHealthcare, to name a few of the more than 60 of the largest companies in Minnesota, declared: “We are calling for an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions.” Honestly, it’s pretty bland. Then again, it’s noteworthy because business leaders have been pretty quiet since Trump returned to office. It wasn't always that way. After the Jan. 6 riots, many CEOs loudly announced they wouldn’t give money to candidates who voted against certifying the election. Five years later, watching this administration target companies and individuals it disagrees with, many executives appear to have opted for silence and self-censorship. CEOs are in a bind: Say something and risk a backlash. Saying nothing and risk a backlash as well. Business leaders may claim they want to stay away from politics. Today, for better or worse, everything is politics.

— Stephanie Ruhle, host of “The 11th Hour”