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WASHINGTON (WDRB) -- WDRB News anchor and reporter Monica Harkins and photojournalist Frank Stamper traveled to Washington for the first week of the 118th Congress.

With the speaker vote in the United States House, the game plan was up in the air. Below is a behind-the-scenes viewpoint of what went into the coverage from Capitol Hill"

The team started the drive at 4:45 a.m. Monday, Jan. 2, and celebrated getting to D.C. with lobster rolls. The rest of the evening was spent scoping out a plan for Tuesday morning and shooting reporter intros and outros for WDRB News.

On Tuesday, Kentucky Rep. Morgan McGarvey welcomed the team to his office for the first interview in the space. He got the keys for the first time that morning. In his office, you'll find photos of his family and plenty of Louisville memorabilia, like Louisville Slugger Bats, bourbon barrel lids and bottles of bourbon.

McGarvey showed WDRB News around his new space and talked about his priorities as the lone Democrat in Congress from Kentucky.

While the House had the speaker vote to get to before it could move on to any work, the Senate was proceeding on schedule.

IMAGES | WDRB News travels to Washington for 1st week of 118th Congress

Around noon Tuesday, Sen. Mitch McConnell was sworn in as longest-serving party leader in U.S. Senate history. He passed Democrat Mike Mansfield's record of 16 years.

McConnell did an exclusive one-on-one interview with WDRB one hour before the Senate gaveled in. His staff said his leadership office has stayed the same despite shifts in power from majority leader to minority leader.

His leadership office is in the Capitol and houses one of seven working fireplaces. He also has a separate room down the hall for meetings and interviews that is decorated with old campaign posters and Louisville and Kentucky memorabilia.

Following McConnell's interview, WDRB News, like the majority of other news outlets, set up to watch the speaker vote begin. 

With votes going into the late afternoon, photojournalist Frank Stamper prepared equipment for a live shot outside the front of the U.S. Capitol for the 5 p.n. and 6 p.m. newscasts.

The House then called for a break for the night until noon Wednesday. WDRB News got to work on content for the evening newscasts.

Wednesday morning started with a one-on-one with Kentucky Rep. James Comer. He is now leading the House's investigative body.

WDRB News talked with him about the start of the session and the lengthy speaker vote, and he teased he wants to look into COVID-19 spending, immigration and the Biden family.

Next, Sen. Rand Paul sat down with WDRB News. He is now the ranking member for the Senate's version of government oversite. He shared his priorities are inflation and the origin of the COVID-19 virus.

Following Paul's interview, McConnell's staff invited WDRB News to a tour of McConnell's personal office in the Russell Building. He has one of three balconies that overlooks the U.S. Supreme Court building and the US Capitol.

McConnell uses political cartoons as décor and showcases some of his favorites.

Following the tour, WDRB News prepared for a story on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack.

The House returned at noon Wednesday. Following the sixth vote, it was clear the vote for speaker could take a while. WDRB News wrapped up content at the hotel and headed back to Louisville.

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