The New York Times examines how Donald Trump, confronting his first stretch as a lame duck after voters gave Democrats both chambers in the midterms, accepted the results but denied the wave was his fault or tied to his war with Iran, while Vice President JD Vance blamed that war for Republican losses. Trump leaned on his veto power and executive orders as aides readied a "menu of options," Chris Christie forecast he would act out to divert attention from 2028, and Representative Robert Garcia, set to lead House Oversight, wrote "LAWYER UP."