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These days, Silicon Valley occupies a fraught place in the American psyche, one far bigger than the slice of California it fills geographically. It's at once a hotbed of innovation, a threat to democracy easily exploited by Russia and others, a gobsmackingly powerful economic engine, a privacy-gobbling leviathan, a factory churning out our cherished digital tools, a social-division-exacerbating menace, and also, just maybe, the United States' last best hope.

House Democrats have backed off a proposed rule that would have made it more difficult for them to raise taxes and pass their most ambitious goals, an early victory for the left-flank of the party that is about to take control of the House.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), incoming chair of the House Rules Committee, told lawmakers Tuesday he will not advance "supermajority" rules requiring three-fifths majorities to approve tax hikes for most taxpayers, according to Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

A bipartisan pair of congressmen is trying again to force a vote on U.S. support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen's civil war before the end of the year, as the Senate is poised to take similar action.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) recently reintroduced a War Powers Resolution that would remove U.S. forces from hostilities in Yemen except to fight terrorism as allowed by the 2001 war authorization.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus Nov. 29 announced its newly-elected leadership heading into the 116thCongress, with Indian American U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Ro Khanna named among the leaders.

In addition to being elected to the caucus, Jayapal was chosen as a co-chair for the caucus.

With the Republican monopoly on power in Washington broken, the new Democratic majority in the House of Representatives can now advance a bold agenda for the country. To do so, progressives inside and outside the House will need to force hearings and floor votes on signature reforms, from Medicare for All to a Green New Deal.

For politically-minded interns, a gig in Rep. Ro Khanna's congressional office just got better. Khanna said he will pay his incoming class of interns a $15 an hour wage.

"The House has a new fund for internships. This is a welcome change & long overdue. Like many other offices, we will be paying our interns at least $15 an hour," Khanna tweeted Wednesday. "This will ensure that young people of different economic backgrounds will be able to pursue public service internships."

In 1973, as President Richard M. Nixon escalated an unauthorized bombing campaign in Cambodia, Sen. J. William Fulbright (D-Ark.) asked, "Does the President assert — as kings of old — that as Commander in Chief he can order American forces anywhere for any purpose that suits him?" Later that year, Congress answered unequivocally that he could not, overriding a presidential veto to authorize the War Powers Act.