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#tillis — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #tillis, aggregated by home.social.

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  1. @time @top-stories-time #ThomTillis voted to *confirm* #WhiskeyPete #Hegseth to become #UnitedStates Secretary of Defense - when even #SusanCollins would not!

    #Tillis was also too cowardly to run for re-election without the endorsement of #DonaldTrump.

    Sit down Thom, you’re an embarrassment to #NorthCarolina.

  2. @time @top-stories-time #ThomTillis voted to *confirm* #WhiskeyPete #Hegseth to become #UnitedStates Secretary of Defense - when even #SusanCollins would not!

    #Tillis was also too cowardly to run for re-election without the endorsement of #DonaldTrump.

    Sit down Thom, you’re an embarrassment to #NorthCarolina.

  3. @time @top-stories-time #ThomTillis voted to *confirm* #WhiskeyPete #Hegseth to become #UnitedStates Secretary of Defense - when even #SusanCollins would not!

    #Tillis was also too cowardly to run for re-election without the endorsement of #DonaldTrump.

    Sit down Thom, you’re an embarrassment to #NorthCarolina.

  4. @time @top-stories-time #ThomTillis voted to *confirm* #WhiskeyPete #Hegseth to become #UnitedStates Secretary of Defense - when even #SusanCollins would not!

    #Tillis was also too cowardly to run for re-election without the endorsement of #DonaldTrump.

    Sit down Thom, you’re an embarrassment to #NorthCarolina.

  5. @time @top-stories-time #ThomTillis voted to *confirm* #WhiskeyPete #Hegseth to become #UnitedStates Secretary of Defense - when even #SusanCollins would not!

    #Tillis was also too cowardly to run for re-election without the endorsement of #DonaldTrump.

    Sit down Thom, you’re an embarrassment to #NorthCarolina.

  6. Republicans don’t give a shit about ANYONE but themselves. All “No” votes are theater; there are no principled stands. We must remove them all!

  7. Republicans don’t give a shit about ANYONE but themselves. All “No” votes are theater; there are no principled stands. We must remove them all!

    #Collins #Murkowski #Cassisy #Tillis #Cornyn #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol

  8. Republicans don’t give a shit about ANYONE but themselves. All “No” votes are theater; there are no principled stands. We must remove them all!

    #Collins #Murkowski #Cassisy #Tillis #Cornyn #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol

  9. Republicans don’t give a shit about ANYONE but themselves. All “No” votes are theater; there are no principled stands. We must remove them all!

    #Collins #Murkowski #Cassisy #Tillis #Cornyn #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol

  10. Republicans don’t give a shit about ANYONE but themselves. All “No” votes are theater; there are no principled stands. We must remove them all!

    #Collins #Murkowski #Cassisy #Tillis #Cornyn #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol

  11. #Cornyn and #Tillis have a lot of damn gall saying that Republicans need to do more to throttle #Trump

    Especially right after they both caved on Blanche 🤬

  12. @tusk81
    That's what #Republicans do.

    In front of the cameras, say whatever you think they people want to hear & soak up the praise.

    Then, once the cameras are off, completely flip & blow those people off. They already got the good press from saying the right thing. "Following thru" once the cameras are off gains you nothing.

    #Cornyn #Tillis #Epstein

  13. @tusk81
    That's what #Republicans do.

    In front of the cameras, say whatever you think they people want to hear & soak up the praise.

    Then, once the cameras are off, completely flip & blow those people off. They already got the good press from saying the right thing. "Following thru" once the cameras are off gains you nothing.

    #Cornyn #Tillis #Epstein

  14. @tusk81
    That's what #Republicans do.

    In front of the cameras, say whatever you think they people want to hear & soak up the praise.

    Then, once the cameras are off, completely flip & blow those people off. They already got the good press from saying the right thing. "Following thru" once the cameras are off gains you nothing.

    #Cornyn #Tillis #Epstein

  15. @tusk81
    That's what #Republicans do.

    In front of the cameras, say whatever you think they people want to hear & soak up the praise.

    Then, once the cameras are off, completely flip & blow those people off. They already got the good press from saying the right thing. "Following thru" once the cameras are off gains you nothing.

    #Cornyn #Tillis #Epstein

  16. @tusk81
    That's what #Republicans do.

    In front of the cameras, say whatever you think they people want to hear & soak up the praise.

    Then, once the cameras are off, completely flip & blow those people off. They already got the good press from saying the right thing. "Following thru" once the cameras are off gains you nothing.

    #Cornyn #Tillis #Epstein

  17. They had nothing to lose; they could have gained the respect of 2/3 of America.

  18. Some key points re: "deal" that satisfied & to advance nomination for

    1) Trump still stands to gain significantly as he, his sons Don & Eric & Trump Org. will still get retroactive tax audit protection

    2) Blanche's order "may not be significant or legally binding" since it doesn't change that would have to change the deal "in his personal capacity" & he, & would have to agree to changes, per how deal was written.

    wsj.com/politics/policy/blanch

  19. Some key points re: "deal" that satisfied #Cornyn & #Tillis to advance #Blanche nomination for #AG

    1) Trump still stands to gain significantly as he, his sons Don & Eric & Trump Org. will still get retroactive tax audit protection

    2) Blanche's order "may not be significant or legally binding" since it doesn't change that #Trump would have to change the deal "in his personal capacity" & he, #IRS & #DOJ would have to agree to changes, per how deal was written.

    #USpol

    wsj.com/politics/policy/blanch

  20. Some key points re: "deal" that satisfied #Cornyn & #Tillis to advance #Blanche nomination for #AG

    1) Trump still stands to gain significantly as he, his sons Don & Eric & Trump Org. will still get retroactive tax audit protection

    2) Blanche's order "may not be significant or legally binding" since it doesn't change that #Trump would have to change the deal "in his personal capacity" & he, #IRS & #DOJ would have to agree to changes, per how deal was written.

    #USpol

    wsj.com/politics/policy/blanch

  21. Some key points re: "deal" that satisfied #Cornyn & #Tillis to advance #Blanche nomination for #AG

    1) Trump still stands to gain significantly as he, his sons Don & Eric & Trump Org. will still get retroactive tax audit protection

    2) Blanche's order "may not be significant or legally binding" since it doesn't change that #Trump would have to change the deal "in his personal capacity" & he, #IRS & #DOJ would have to agree to changes, per how deal was written.

    #USpol

    wsj.com/politics/policy/blanch

  22. Some key points re: "deal" that satisfied #Cornyn & #Tillis to advance #Blanche nomination for #AG

    1) Trump still stands to gain significantly as he, his sons Don & Eric & Trump Org. will still get retroactive tax audit protection

    2) Blanche's order "may not be significant or legally binding" since it doesn't change that #Trump would have to change the deal "in his personal capacity" & he, #IRS & #DOJ would have to agree to changes, per how deal was written.

    #USpol

    wsj.com/politics/policy/blanch

  23. #Tillis and #Cornyn obviously thought it was just foreplay.
    Thanks to them acting like MAGA Senators, they will have a criminal Atty General confirmed.
    You can kiss justice goodbye, let slone accountability.
    #toddblanche
    #doj
    #USAttyGeneral

  24. Friday, #DonTheCon said his "Anti-weaponization Fund" is dead.

    Saturday, he was pledging to bring it back.

    Is it any wonder #Cornyn & #Tillis don't believe him? 🤔

    #PayoutPot4Punks

  25. Friday, #DonTheCon said his "Anti-weaponization Fund" is dead.

    Saturday, he was pledging to bring it back.

    Is it any wonder #Cornyn & #Tillis don't believe him? 🤔

    #PayoutPot4Punks

  26. Friday, #DonTheCon said his "Anti-weaponization Fund" is dead.

    Saturday, he was pledging to bring it back.

    Is it any wonder #Cornyn & #Tillis don't believe him? 🤔

    #PayoutPot4Punks

  27. Friday, #DonTheCon said his "Anti-weaponization Fund" is dead.

    Saturday, he was pledging to bring it back.

    Is it any wonder #Cornyn & #Tillis don't believe him? 🤔

    #PayoutPot4Punks

  28. Friday, #DonTheCon said his "Anti-weaponization Fund" is dead.

    Saturday, he was pledging to bring it back.

    Is it any wonder #Cornyn & #Tillis don't believe him? 🤔

    #PayoutPot4Punks

  29. @ponderingpolitics.bsky.social reacts to Donald Trump threatening to withdraw #ToddBlanche from the Attorney General nomination and KEEP him in TEMPORARY position after GOP Senators #Cornyn and #Tillis block him. PROVING this is ALL about HIM and his slush fund for traitors!
    youtu.be/30yUKij3dBY?...

    🚨 BREAKING: TRUMP FORCED TO SU...

  30. @ponderingpolitics.bsky.social reacts to Donald Trump threatening to withdraw #ToddBlanche from the Attorney General nomination and KEEP him in TEMPORARY position after GOP Senators #Cornyn and #Tillis block him. PROVING this is ALL about HIM and his slush fund for traitors!
    youtu.be/30yUKij3dBY?...

    🚨 BREAKING: TRUMP FORCED TO SU...

  31. @ponderingpolitics.bsky.social reacts to Donald Trump threatening to withdraw #ToddBlanche from the Attorney General nomination and KEEP him in TEMPORARY position after GOP Senators #Cornyn and #Tillis block him. PROVING this is ALL about HIM and his slush fund for traitors!
    youtu.be/30yUKij3dBY?...

    🚨 BREAKING: TRUMP FORCED TO SU...

  32. #Cornyn responded with a post of his own, in which he said #Trump “is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me & Senator #Tillis.”
    
A refusal by the #Senate to confirm #ToddBlanche would be a notable political setback for Trump, marking a rare instance when the #GOP-led chamber blocked something he wanted. But even if Cornyn & Tillis’s concerns remain unaddressed, Blanche could remain “acting” AG for the foreseeable future.

    #law #DOJ

  33. #Cornyn responded with a post of his own, in which he said #Trump “is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me & Senator #Tillis.”
    
A refusal by the #Senate to confirm #ToddBlanche would be a notable political setback for Trump, marking a rare instance when the #GOP-led chamber blocked something he wanted. But even if Cornyn & Tillis’s concerns remain unaddressed, Blanche could remain “acting” AG for the foreseeable future.

    #law #DOJ

  34. #Cornyn responded with a post of his own, in which he said #Trump “is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me & Senator #Tillis.”
    
A refusal by the #Senate to confirm #ToddBlanche would be a notable political setback for Trump, marking a rare instance when the #GOP-led chamber blocked something he wanted. But even if Cornyn & Tillis’s concerns remain unaddressed, Blanche could remain “acting” AG for the foreseeable future.

    #law #DOJ

  35. #Cornyn responded with a post of his own, in which he said #Trump “is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me & Senator #Tillis.”
    
A refusal by the #Senate to confirm #ToddBlanche would be a notable political setback for Trump, marking a rare instance when the #GOP-led chamber blocked something he wanted. But even if Cornyn & Tillis’s concerns remain unaddressed, Blanche could remain “acting” AG for the foreseeable future.

    #law #DOJ

  36. #Trump targeted #Cornyn & #Tillis on social media Thurs, both are leaving the #Senate
“John Cornyn, of Texas, & Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, both of whom I refused to Endorse, & whose political careers have been ended by my action, are refusing to vote for this Great Nominee, who will remain, in any event,”as acting AG, Trump wrote, adding∶“I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, & putting him back after Cornyn & Tillis are out of office”

  37. #Trump targeted #Cornyn & #Tillis on social media Thurs, both are leaving the #Senate
“John Cornyn, of Texas, & Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, both of whom I refused to Endorse, & whose political careers have been ended by my action, are refusing to vote for this Great Nominee, who will remain, in any event,”as acting AG, Trump wrote, adding∶“I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, & putting him back after Cornyn & Tillis are out of office”

  38. #Trump targeted #Cornyn & #Tillis on social media Thurs, both are leaving the #Senate
“John Cornyn, of Texas, & Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, both of whom I refused to Endorse, & whose political careers have been ended by my action, are refusing to vote for this Great Nominee, who will remain, in any event,”as acting AG, Trump wrote, adding∶“I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, & putting him back after Cornyn & Tillis are out of office”

  39. #Trump targeted #Cornyn & #Tillis on social media Thurs, both are leaving the #Senate
“John Cornyn, of Texas, & Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, both of whom I refused to Endorse, & whose political careers have been ended by my action, are refusing to vote for this Great Nominee, who will remain, in any event,”as acting AG, Trump wrote, adding∶“I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, & putting him back after Cornyn & Tillis are out of office”

  40. Where will we be without a , AG????

    "The revolt over Todd is suddenly very real

    Republican Sens. John and Thom have effectively stalled Blanche’s nomination, and could prevent his confirmation until September — if he gets confirmed at all. "

    ms.now/news/gop-revolt-todd-bl

  41. Where will we be without a #kowtowed, #corrupt AG????

    "The #GOP revolt over Todd #Blanche is suddenly very real

    Republican Sens. John #Cornyn and Thom #Tillis have effectively stalled Blanche’s nomination, and could prevent his confirmation until September — if he gets confirmed at all. "

    #USA #News #Corruption #Kleptocracy #MAGA #Trump #Senate

    ms.now/news/gop-revolt-todd-bl

  42. Where will we be without a #kowtowed, #corrupt AG????

    "The #GOP revolt over Todd #Blanche is suddenly very real

    Republican Sens. John #Cornyn and Thom #Tillis have effectively stalled Blanche’s nomination, and could prevent his confirmation until September — if he gets confirmed at all. "

    #USA #News #Corruption #Kleptocracy #MAGA #Trump #Senate

    ms.now/news/gop-revolt-todd-bl

  43. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/thom-tillis-trump-weaponization-fund-paxton-endorsement-iran_n_6a13199fe4b0f1ba1f6688d8

    Ok, Tillis went full scorched Earth, and its great, I particularly like…

    To call Paxton ‘ethically challenged’ is to call Jeffrey Dahmer ‘suffering from an eating disorder


    #USPol #Republicans #Tillis #Conservatives #Texas #TX
  44. GOP’s YOLO caucus could be trouble for Trump agenda

    In a Republican-led Congress defined by deference to Donald Trump, there’s a small but steadily growing cohort who have found themselves more willing to break with the White House.
    Although the president maintains a firm grip on Republican voters, the expanding club could hinder his agenda on everything from the Iran war to immigration funding at a moment when his party holds a tenuous majority on Capitol Hill.
    Sen. Bill #Cassidy of Louisiana is the newest member of the club.
    Just days after losing his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, Cassidy on Tuesday reversed himself on legislation involving the war in Iran and voted with Democrats to rein in U.S. military action.
    “The way our Constitution is set up, Congress should hold the executive branch accountable,” he told reporters the day before.
    Sen. John #Cornyn of Texas could be next after Trump endorsed Ken Paxton, Cornyn’s rival for the Republican nomination in next week’s runoff.
    Rep. Thomas #Massie of Kentucky is perhaps a founding member of the YOLO caucus — slang for “you only live once,” used to punctuate unbothered or even foolhardy behavior.
    He frustrated Trump since the president’s first term, and his status was solidified after losing his primary on Tuesday to a Trump-backed challenger.
    Massie has enraged Trump by voting against his signature tax and spending bill and by pushing for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
    He hinted there’s more to come before he leaves office.
    “I got seven months left in Congress,” Massie said with a grin during his concession speech as the crowd erupted.
    Other similarly situated Republicans include Sen. Thom #Tillis, who was a fierce critic of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and has more recently turned his attention to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
    There’s also Sen. Lisa #Murkowski of Alaska, who joined Democrats last week in a bid to curb Trump’s war powers in Iran.
    Sens. Susan #Collins of Maine and Mitch #McConnell of Kentucky have voted against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks.
    And in the House, Rep. Don #Bacon of Nebraska has pushed to reclaim congressional power over tariffs.
    “If the legislative branch always votes with the president, we do have a king,” Massie said in his concession speech Tuesday.
    This hardly amounts to a revival of the Never Trump movement that some Republicans unsuccessfully hoped would curb the president’s excesses during his first term or block him from returning to office.
    Many in the party, including Trump’s occasional detractors, have either stood by or been unable to block the president as he launched the war in Iran and presided over an aggressive immigration enforcement operation and the dismantling of the federal workforce.
    Today’s unencumbered Republicans don’t fit into an ideological box.
    But they are united by a sense of emboldening that can be attained in only a few ways in Trump’s Washington.
    Many, like Tillis, McConnell and Bacon, have decided to retire and can cast votes knowing they’ll never again have to face Republican primary voters.
    Others like Collins and Murkowski have more leeway because they represent states that tend to reward political independence.
    And some like Massie banked on the idea that voters could support both Trump and someone who occasionally crossed him.
    It’s a paradox for Trump.
    As he demands total loyalty and pushes out Republican dissenters, he’s left with a growing cohort who, for one reason or another, owe Trump nothing.
    That could be a problem for Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson,
    who are already governing with threadbare majorities.
    Shifting loyalties of even a few Republican lawmakers could dramatically complicate the ability for either chamber to pass substantial legislation ahead of the November midterm elections.
    Thune called Cornyn a “principled conservative” and “very effective senator” on Tuesday.
    “None of us control what the president does,” he said.
    The next tests could come later this week as Thune pushes a funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection designed to pass on a party line basis.
    edition.pagesuite.com/popovers

  45. GOP’s YOLO caucus could be trouble for Trump agenda

    In a Republican-led Congress defined by deference to Donald Trump, there’s a small but steadily growing cohort who have found themselves more willing to break with the White House.
    Although the president maintains a firm grip on Republican voters, the expanding club could hinder his agenda on everything from the Iran war to immigration funding at a moment when his party holds a tenuous majority on Capitol Hill.
    Sen. Bill #Cassidy of Louisiana is the newest member of the club.
    Just days after losing his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, Cassidy on Tuesday reversed himself on legislation involving the war in Iran and voted with Democrats to rein in U.S. military action.
    “The way our Constitution is set up, Congress should hold the executive branch accountable,” he told reporters the day before.
    Sen. John #Cornyn of Texas could be next after Trump endorsed Ken Paxton, Cornyn’s rival for the Republican nomination in next week’s runoff.
    Rep. Thomas #Massie of Kentucky is perhaps a founding member of the YOLO caucus — slang for “you only live once,” used to punctuate unbothered or even foolhardy behavior.
    He frustrated Trump since the president’s first term, and his status was solidified after losing his primary on Tuesday to a Trump-backed challenger.
    Massie has enraged Trump by voting against his signature tax and spending bill and by pushing for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
    He hinted there’s more to come before he leaves office.
    “I got seven months left in Congress,” Massie said with a grin during his concession speech as the crowd erupted.
    Other similarly situated Republicans include Sen. Thom #Tillis, who was a fierce critic of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and has more recently turned his attention to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
    There’s also Sen. Lisa #Murkowski of Alaska, who joined Democrats last week in a bid to curb Trump’s war powers in Iran.
    Sens. Susan #Collins of Maine and Mitch #McConnell of Kentucky have voted against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks.
    And in the House, Rep. Don #Bacon of Nebraska has pushed to reclaim congressional power over tariffs.
    “If the legislative branch always votes with the president, we do have a king,” Massie said in his concession speech Tuesday.
    This hardly amounts to a revival of the Never Trump movement that some Republicans unsuccessfully hoped would curb the president’s excesses during his first term or block him from returning to office.
    Many in the party, including Trump’s occasional detractors, have either stood by or been unable to block the president as he launched the war in Iran and presided over an aggressive immigration enforcement operation and the dismantling of the federal workforce.
    Today’s unencumbered Republicans don’t fit into an ideological box.
    But they are united by a sense of emboldening that can be attained in only a few ways in Trump’s Washington.
    Many, like Tillis, McConnell and Bacon, have decided to retire and can cast votes knowing they’ll never again have to face Republican primary voters.
    Others like Collins and Murkowski have more leeway because they represent states that tend to reward political independence.
    And some like Massie banked on the idea that voters could support both Trump and someone who occasionally crossed him.
    It’s a paradox for Trump.
    As he demands total loyalty and pushes out Republican dissenters, he’s left with a growing cohort who, for one reason or another, owe Trump nothing.
    That could be a problem for Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson,
    who are already governing with threadbare majorities.
    Shifting loyalties of even a few Republican lawmakers could dramatically complicate the ability for either chamber to pass substantial legislation ahead of the November midterm elections.
    Thune called Cornyn a “principled conservative” and “very effective senator” on Tuesday.
    “None of us control what the president does,” he said.
    The next tests could come later this week as Thune pushes a funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection designed to pass on a party line basis.
    edition.pagesuite.com/popovers

  46. GOP’s YOLO caucus could be trouble for Trump agenda

    In a Republican-led Congress defined by deference to Donald Trump, there’s a small but steadily growing cohort who have found themselves more willing to break with the White House.
    Although the president maintains a firm grip on Republican voters, the expanding club could hinder his agenda on everything from the Iran war to immigration funding at a moment when his party holds a tenuous majority on Capitol Hill.
    Sen. Bill #Cassidy of Louisiana is the newest member of the club.
    Just days after losing his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, Cassidy on Tuesday reversed himself on legislation involving the war in Iran and voted with Democrats to rein in U.S. military action.
    “The way our Constitution is set up, Congress should hold the executive branch accountable,” he told reporters the day before.
    Sen. John #Cornyn of Texas could be next after Trump endorsed Ken Paxton, Cornyn’s rival for the Republican nomination in next week’s runoff.
    Rep. Thomas #Massie of Kentucky is perhaps a founding member of the YOLO caucus — slang for “you only live once,” used to punctuate unbothered or even foolhardy behavior.
    He frustrated Trump since the president’s first term, and his status was solidified after losing his primary on Tuesday to a Trump-backed challenger.
    Massie has enraged Trump by voting against his signature tax and spending bill and by pushing for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
    He hinted there’s more to come before he leaves office.
    “I got seven months left in Congress,” Massie said with a grin during his concession speech as the crowd erupted.
    Other similarly situated Republicans include Sen. Thom #Tillis, who was a fierce critic of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and has more recently turned his attention to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
    There’s also Sen. Lisa #Murkowski of Alaska, who joined Democrats last week in a bid to curb Trump’s war powers in Iran.
    Sens. Susan #Collins of Maine and Mitch #McConnell of Kentucky have voted against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks.
    And in the House, Rep. Don #Bacon of Nebraska has pushed to reclaim congressional power over tariffs.
    “If the legislative branch always votes with the president, we do have a king,” Massie said in his concession speech Tuesday.
    This hardly amounts to a revival of the Never Trump movement that some Republicans unsuccessfully hoped would curb the president’s excesses during his first term or block him from returning to office.
    Many in the party, including Trump’s occasional detractors, have either stood by or been unable to block the president as he launched the war in Iran and presided over an aggressive immigration enforcement operation and the dismantling of the federal workforce.
    Today’s unencumbered Republicans don’t fit into an ideological box.
    But they are united by a sense of emboldening that can be attained in only a few ways in Trump’s Washington.
    Many, like Tillis, McConnell and Bacon, have decided to retire and can cast votes knowing they’ll never again have to face Republican primary voters.
    Others like Collins and Murkowski have more leeway because they represent states that tend to reward political independence.
    And some like Massie banked on the idea that voters could support both Trump and someone who occasionally crossed him.
    It’s a paradox for Trump.
    As he demands total loyalty and pushes out Republican dissenters, he’s left with a growing cohort who, for one reason or another, owe Trump nothing.
    That could be a problem for Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson,
    who are already governing with threadbare majorities.
    Shifting loyalties of even a few Republican lawmakers could dramatically complicate the ability for either chamber to pass substantial legislation ahead of the November midterm elections.
    Thune called Cornyn a “principled conservative” and “very effective senator” on Tuesday.
    “None of us control what the president does,” he said.
    The next tests could come later this week as Thune pushes a funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection designed to pass on a party line basis.
    edition.pagesuite.com/popovers

  47. GOP’s YOLO caucus could be trouble for Trump agenda

    In a Republican-led Congress defined by deference to Donald Trump, there’s a small but steadily growing cohort who have found themselves more willing to break with the White House.
    Although the president maintains a firm grip on Republican voters, the expanding club could hinder his agenda on everything from the Iran war to immigration funding at a moment when his party holds a tenuous majority on Capitol Hill.
    Sen. Bill #Cassidy of Louisiana is the newest member of the club.
    Just days after losing his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, Cassidy on Tuesday reversed himself on legislation involving the war in Iran and voted with Democrats to rein in U.S. military action.
    “The way our Constitution is set up, Congress should hold the executive branch accountable,” he told reporters the day before.
    Sen. John #Cornyn of Texas could be next after Trump endorsed Ken Paxton, Cornyn’s rival for the Republican nomination in next week’s runoff.
    Rep. Thomas #Massie of Kentucky is perhaps a founding member of the YOLO caucus — slang for “you only live once,” used to punctuate unbothered or even foolhardy behavior.
    He frustrated Trump since the president’s first term, and his status was solidified after losing his primary on Tuesday to a Trump-backed challenger.
    Massie has enraged Trump by voting against his signature tax and spending bill and by pushing for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
    He hinted there’s more to come before he leaves office.
    “I got seven months left in Congress,” Massie said with a grin during his concession speech as the crowd erupted.
    Other similarly situated Republicans include Sen. Thom #Tillis, who was a fierce critic of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and has more recently turned his attention to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
    There’s also Sen. Lisa #Murkowski of Alaska, who joined Democrats last week in a bid to curb Trump’s war powers in Iran.
    Sens. Susan #Collins of Maine and Mitch #McConnell of Kentucky have voted against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks.
    And in the House, Rep. Don #Bacon of Nebraska has pushed to reclaim congressional power over tariffs.
    “If the legislative branch always votes with the president, we do have a king,” Massie said in his concession speech Tuesday.
    This hardly amounts to a revival of the Never Trump movement that some Republicans unsuccessfully hoped would curb the president’s excesses during his first term or block him from returning to office.
    Many in the party, including Trump’s occasional detractors, have either stood by or been unable to block the president as he launched the war in Iran and presided over an aggressive immigration enforcement operation and the dismantling of the federal workforce.
    Today’s unencumbered Republicans don’t fit into an ideological box.
    But they are united by a sense of emboldening that can be attained in only a few ways in Trump’s Washington.
    Many, like Tillis, McConnell and Bacon, have decided to retire and can cast votes knowing they’ll never again have to face Republican primary voters.
    Others like Collins and Murkowski have more leeway because they represent states that tend to reward political independence.
    And some like Massie banked on the idea that voters could support both Trump and someone who occasionally crossed him.
    It’s a paradox for Trump.
    As he demands total loyalty and pushes out Republican dissenters, he’s left with a growing cohort who, for one reason or another, owe Trump nothing.
    That could be a problem for Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson,
    who are already governing with threadbare majorities.
    Shifting loyalties of even a few Republican lawmakers could dramatically complicate the ability for either chamber to pass substantial legislation ahead of the November midterm elections.
    Thune called Cornyn a “principled conservative” and “very effective senator” on Tuesday.
    “None of us control what the president does,” he said.
    The next tests could come later this week as Thune pushes a funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection designed to pass on a party line basis.
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