Here are the main events that occurred in Politics this week:
1. Mike Johnson Narrowly Re-Elected House Speaker

On January 3, 2025, Congressman Mike Johnson narrowly secured reelection as House Speaker on the first ballot, overcoming resistance from hard-right Republican holdouts. The tense proceedings marked a turbulent beginning to the new Congress, as a small faction of Republicans declined to vote for Johnson or backed other candidates. His struggles reflected the challenges of leading a fractured party, even with President-elect Donald Trump’s support. Trump, who will return to the White House with Republican control of both the House and Senate, personally called dissenting lawmakers to secure Johnson’s victory. The final tally stood at 218-215, highlighting Johnson’s slim margin of support.
2. President Biden Celebrates Judicial Milestone, Outpacing Trump’s First-Term Total Of Appointed Federal Judges

On January 2, 2025, President Joe Biden highlighted the confirmation of 235 federal judges during his presidency, a landmark achievement that narrowly surpassed the 234 lifetime judicial appointments made under President-elect Donald Trump in his first term. Among Biden’s confirmations was one Supreme Court justice, marking the culmination of a determined effort by Democrats to shape the judiciary in the final months of his term.
3. Congress Certifies President-elect Trump’s 2024 Victory in Peaceful Transition

On January 6, 2025, a joint session of Congress certified President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, fulfilling a vital democratic tradition that was violently disrupted four years ago. This time, there was no sign of unrest, though security at the Capitol was heightened. Unlike President-elect Trump in 2020, Vice President Kamala Harris did not dispute her loss in the November election, and Democrats refrained from raising any objections during the certification of Electoral College votes.
4. Iran’s Execution Rate Surges In 2024: UN Reports Record Numbers

Iran reportedly executed at least 901 people in 2024, the highest total recorded in nine years and a 6% increase from the 853 executions in 2023, according to the UN human rights chief, Volker Türk. The alarming rise includes about 40 executions in a single week in December, sparking fresh concerns over the country’s escalating use of the death penalty. “It is deeply disturbing that yet again we see an increase in the number of people subjected to the death penalty in Iran year-on-year,” Türk said, calling for a moratorium on executions with a view to eventual abolition.