United States Senate

The Takeaway’s Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich, looks at the new Congress and the top five things to watch out for in 2011.

After months of debate, the Senate passed a financial regulatory bill by a 59-39 vote Thursday. The biggest change in the bill is the creation of an agency whose sole job is to monitor fairness of any product that is bought by the consumer.

A bill that would ban abortions for women more than 20 weeks pregnant and could close down all but five abortion clinics in Texas was defeated Tuesday after a nearly 13-hour filibuster from State Senator Wendy Davis. Though she may have only delayed the inevitable, it brought her support from many around the country.

Sen. Rand Paul spent 13 hours on a talking filibuster to stall the nomination of John Brennan to head up the CIA. With bipartisan concern over drone strikes aimed at Americans overseas, some are concerned drones could also be used on American soil in the future.

Vice President Joe Biden came out swinging in Thursday night’s debate, seeking to erase memories of President Barack Obama’s bland performance a week ago. Instant polls gave him somewhat less than a victory — a title that perhaps should be awarded to the moderator.