Hi, I'm Naomi Shavin. Welcome to Axios Recap, where we cover one big story. Today is Tuesday,

December 14th, and we're focused on transitions of power. This weekend next, I'm hosting conversations with my Axios colleagues about the biggest

stories in their beats this year and what they're watching heading into 2022.

Today, I'm talking with Elena Trine, a political reporter who covers Congress and co-writes

the Axios sneak peak newsletter.

2021 was a really challenging year on her beat.

The political year got off to a dramatic and dangerous start, and no one knows that better than

Elena, who experienced it firsthand. She was in the Capitol on January 6th during the

insurrection, and she ended up in hiding with a number of senators.

Amidst that chaos, Elena sent dispatches back to the newsroom.

She then went on to cover the transition of power from the Trump White House to the Biden administration,

and how control of the Senate moved from Republicans to Democrats.

Today, she's hyper-focused on legislative action on the Hill,

and she's the best person to ask where things stand as we careen towards midterm elections next year.

In a moment, I'll be joined by Elena to discuss what she witnessed and what it tells us about our current political moment.

We're joined now by Elena Trine, Axios Congressional Reporter. Hi, Elena. Hi, Naomi. Thanks for

having me on. This year in Washington was dramatic, to say the least. When the year started,

President Trump was openly undermining the results of the election. Then there was an

insurrection on the Capitol, and you were on the hill that day.

As the insurrection was unfolding, it also became official that Democrats had one control of the Senate,

giving them control of Congress heading into President Biden's term.

Can you take us back to the beginning of the year?

...