Judy Woodruff:

The 2018 midterm election results lead to an influx of new female lawmakers coming to Washington, most of them Democrats.

But, in the year of the woman, two prominent female senators, Democrats Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Claire McCaskill of Missouri, are packing up their Washington offices this week and heading back to the Midwest after bruising reelection losses last month.

In a wide-ranging and revealing conversation earlier today, they shared their thoughts on Washington's dysfunction, working with the president and the future of the Democratic Party.

But I started by asking them if the sting has lessened any and how they're handling the setback.