Thread by @mkraju

On a caucus call, Pelosi is giving a positive assessment of the outcome of Tuesday's election, despite House Democratic losses that likely mean she will hold a smaller majority in the new Congress.

"We did not win every battle but we won the war," she said, per source

Pelosi told her caucus that Tuesday was a “big win” for the party. But she’s explaining the D losses by noting that 2020 was a more difficult cycle for some House Dems with Trump on ballot, particularly ones in deep red districts who in 2018 when Trump wasn't running, per sources

Rep. Cheri Bustos, who chairs DCCC and has faced criticism from Dems, blamed bad polling for the outcome and for the bullish predictions headed into election day, per two sources.

"Voters looked more like 2016 than projected," Bustos told Democrats.

Pelosi is using the word ‘mandate,’ per sources, saying Dems have created a “mandate” for Biden “to lead our country in a unified way."

Abigail Spanberger, who is narrowly ahead in her race, was sharply critical of the liberal wing of her caucus, saying talk about socialism and defunding the police hurt Ds

"Don't say socialism," Spanberger said angrily. "Don't say defund the police when that's not what we mean”

Pelosi later said: "It may be in some people's DNA but it doesn't mean it has to be in our talking points."

As she hopped off the call, Pelosi said: "Just remember: Joe Biden has a mandate. We have a mandate."

Spanberger singled @JakeSherman and me out for live tweeting out what was happening on the private call, per sources. (Correcting last tweet, which said Pelosi)

Members are definitely speaking up about the “defund the police” attacks and those resonating in their districts, per sources