Jeffries Eyes Speakership as Democrats Weigh Iran War Funding Fight; Johnson Backs Chip Limits

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is on track to become House speaker in January after Democrats won the House majority in the midterms. On Thursday he declined to say whether Democrats would force a government shutdown over the Iran war. Asked at a press conference about attaching a provision ending the war to an appropriations bill, Jeffries did not answer directly. He said Democrats have opposed the war from Day 1 and oppose sending any additional money to the Trump administration for it. Government funding runs out Dec. 11, and he said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., is leading four-corners talks with appropriators. Jeffries also said he will speak to every member before leadership elections. No rival has emerged, though some progressives are holding out, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., made a petition-related move Wednesday that could signal trouble for him. Separately, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he favors limiting computer chip exports to China and that Congress is considering it after an Nvidia scandal.

Left-leaning coverage, here a short CBS News report by Nikole Killion, leads with Johnson's support for chip export limits, framing it around competition with China in AI development and the Nvidia scandal. It does not mention Jeffries, the speaker race or Iran. Right-leaning outlets center on Jeffries. The Washington Examiner's headline stresses that he would not rule out a shutdown over Iran and quotes his criticism of the war's cost. Fox News stresses that he faces progressive holdouts but no rival, and adds a lighter tour of returning freshmen, including a quote from Rep.-elect Melissa Bean. Both outlets cover Democratic leadership, but neither covers the chip story CBS leads with. Alternative outlets add a distinct angle on the speakership. The Hill urges the next speaker to engage moderate Republicans, while Zeteo reports Pressley's move and a Democratic Mississippi Senate win.