The Democrats were trying to get the focus back on the parts of their agenda that could actually get through the lame duck Senate this week—that is, until the latest WikiLeaks documents got out. With revelations of a secret war in Yemen, US plans for North Korea, embarrassing assessments of Putin, the diplomatic cables have been a blow to the government’s credibility. The media’s focus has now shifted to these foreign policy issues, but that doesn’t make the economic situation any less dire.

Democratic strategist Karen Finney and Nation contributor and author of Herding Donkeys: The Fight to Rebuild the Democratic Party and Reshape American Politics Ari Berman join The Nation on Grit TV to discuss the situation in DC, the Democratic agenda and what hope, if any, there is for passing some last bits of legislation before the new Congress sweeps in.

The Nation on GRIT TV is a weekly video collaboration between The Nation and GRIT TV with Laura Flanders. Watch for Monday briefings, Wednesday commentaries, weekend conversations and more at TheNation.com. For full half-hour episodes of The Nation on GRIT TV, or local television air times visit www.grittv.org.