Speaking one day after his party lost control of the Senate to the Republican Party, President Obama holds a news conference scheduled for 2:50 p.m. ET.
We'll update this post with news from the president's remarks.
Update at 3:24 p.m. ET: On The Punishment Democrats Took
President Obama lists some of his administration's accomplishments, but he says he understands that Americans hold him more accountable than most for Washington's dysfunction.
Asked whether an executive action would spoil the chances of reaching a compromise with Republicans, the president said that he hadn't seen any congressional action on immigration.
"There's a cost to waiting," he adds, noting the influx of young immigrants at the U.S. southern border this summer.
He says that if Republicans want immigration reform, they now have the capacity to get it passed in Congress.
"The sooner they do it, from my perspective, the better," he says.
Update at 3:17 p.m. ET: 'Get Stuff Done'
Saying that the message of the last several elections boils down to "Get stuff done," President Obama goes on to list the problems faced by regular Americans.
On the subject of immigration, he says he wants Congress to act on comprehensive immigration reform. He goes on to say that America's policies need to allow the best and the brightest to live there.
Lauding a bipartisan bill that came out of the Senate, Obama revisits the effort to get the bill up for a vote in the House. He says that when that didn't happen, he took executive action — and that his action would be rescinded when Congress acts.
"What I'm not going to do is just wait," he says.
Update at 3:12 p.m. ET: 'A Moment For Reflection'
"I think that every election is a moment for reflection," Obama says.
He adds that he and the White House staff won't change their principles. But he later adds that if Republicans have ideas that he thinks will help Americans, he'll support it.
Update at 3:08 p.m. ET: Working With Republicans
With the first question citing a "devastating" night for Democrats, Obama responds by saying the American people believe Washington isn't attentive to their needs.
"I'm the guy who's elected by everybody," he says, explaining that the public expects the president to get the U.S. government to produce.
"In terms of agenda items," he notes that American voters endorsed some of his own policies, particularly a minimum wage increase, in ballot initiatives in Tuesday's elections.
Obama goes on to say that there will be areas where he and the Republicans don't agree — and some on which they do.
"Let's get started on those things where we agree," Obama said. "Even on those things where we don't agree 100 percent," he added, it's important to get to work on them, to build trust.
Update at 3:05 p.m. ET: Plans For Ebola And ISIS
The president lists actions he's taking — and on which he wants help from Congress. They include new funding to bolster America's fight against Ebola and new plans for attacking ISIS extremists.
Update at 3:03 p.m. ET: Areas Of Common Interest
Listing areas where the Republicans and his administration could work together, Obama lists repairing America's infrastructure and foreign trade.
He adds that both he and the GOP's leaders are interested in helping youth.
Obama also noted that "voters went 5 for 5" in voting for minimum wage increases in last night's ballot initiatives.
Update at 3 p.m. ET: 'As Productive As Possible'
Obama says he spoke to both House Speaker John Boehner and presumptive Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, telling them that he looks forward "to finishing up this Congress's business" and then working in the next Congress. He noted that he'll be meeting with congressional leaders
The president said that in Tuesday's election, "the American people sent a message," that the public expects their elected leaders to work as hard as they do.
"All of us have to give Americans more of a reason" to feel better about their lives and their futures, Obama said.
The president added that he wants the government's next years to be "as productive as possible."
Our original post continues:
The president spoke shortly after presumptive Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell held his own news conference in Kentucky, where the Republican said the Senate "needs to be fixed" — and that he and his Republican colleagues are willing to work with President Obama on some issues.
Earlier Wednesday, the White House sent a letter to the Speaker of the House, requesting emergency appropriations to help the U.S. fight against the deadly Ebola outbreak that has struck three nations in West Africa.
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