A Democratic lawmaker reacted Thursday as Republicans were revolting against President Donald Trump, who threatened to pull the nomination for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) told CNN anchor Erin Burnett that it would be hard to imagine that the demands from Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) could not be met after both lawmakers threatened to withhold support for Blanche over the president's IRS settlement and anti-weaponization fund.
"They are asking forso little. And the fact that thepresident is willing to walkaway from his own Attorney General ... unless he gets the full benefit of this corrupt bargainis striking ... [in] that the American people have nothing todo with it," Schiff said.
"He could care lesswhat that might mean to thepublic," Schiff added. "It is always, alwaysabout Donald Trump and neverabout anything else."
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles made a rare appearance on Capitol Hill Thursday, meeting privately with top Senate Republicans to try to end a stalemate.
President Donald Trump's agenda has stalled in Congress with his SAVE America Act, third budget package, and Todd Blanche's confirmation all hitting roadblocks, Politico reported.
So, Wiles went to have a "candid" chat with Republicans "amid brewing tensions between Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune and as the midterms loom," according to Politico.
Several insiders described the encounter between Trump's top aide and GOP leaders.
"This was her attempt to say to Thune and [Senate GOP Whip John] Barrasso [that] 'A lot is stalled in the Senate. SAVE/reconciliation ... nominations ... what can we do?' a person familiar with the private discussion said via text," a source told Politico under condition of anonymity.
Thune apparently told Wiles, who has been referred to as a "strategist by nature," that he wants to help push Trump's agenda when the Senate has enough votes, another insider said.
"The account of Wiles’ visit was confirmed by a third person familiar with the meeting,"
According to Politico, "a fourth person familiar with the meeting said it was about reconciliation, the SAVE America Act and the filibuster, among other topics, adding that nominees were not a focus of the meeting. The person pointed to the Senate’s overwhelming record of approving the president’s picks, even as Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general hung in the balance Thursday evening."
It's unclear whether Wiles' conversations will help move Trump's agenda forward, and more could be clear by next week, sources said.
"While the president remains focused on the one issue [the SAVE America Act] creating a major bottleneck, she will be instrumental in getting the rest of the administration’s agenda moving again," a source close to the White House told Politico.
A conservative anti-Trump columnist has revealed a chilling theory about the midterm elections and how President Donald Trump and Republicans could incite another coup, an analyst reported Tuesday.
Robert Kuttner, co-founder and co-editor of The American Prospect, discussed how New York Times commentator and attorney David French outlined "a more sinister scenario" in a recent article. As Trump gets closer to the November elections, and a potential Democratic wave on the horizon, Trump has a plan.
"With each passing day, it becomes increasingly clear that Trump has only one strategy for averting that fate: stealing the 2026 midterm election," Kuttner wrote.
Trump sees "the possibility of a new impeachment," and Kuttner suggests his strategy is a move to prevent that.
"French points out that the process for contesting an election to the House is governed by the Federal Contested Elections Act of 1969," Kuttner explained. "Under that act, a losing candidate has 30 days after certification by a state to challenge the certification, and the challenge is ultimately decided by a simple majority vote of the respective chamber."
"French poses a coup scenario, in which 'even if Democrats win a House majority after all the votes are counted this fall, one or more defeated Republican candidates could try to persuade the lame-duck Republican majority not to permit their Democratic opponents to take office while the challenge is pending,'" Kuttner wrote. "The incoming House would subsequently be flipped from majority Democratic to majority Republican. Because the Constitution is clear that each house is the sole judge of its membership, the courts could not intervene."
Kuttner raised a question over French's comments.
"When I emailed French, he also confirmed my reading of the law, but said that he was posing this scenario because the challenge process begins in the old Congress and that Republicans might try to act under 'bad-faith readings of the law,'" Kuttner wrote.
"But if dozens of losing Republican candidates, in a coordinated effort, claimed that they had really won, the usual judicial deference to the political process might well not apply. Courts would likely step in to uphold state certifications, and the duly elected new Congress would be seated," Kuttner explained.
Trump might not get his way — and if he does — it will take a serious effort to stop him, Kuttner argued.
"If this Republic survives, it will take a combination of citizen mobilization and vigilant courts that have increasingly lost patience with Trump’s efforts to govern as a dictator," he added.
A mysterious super PAC with a suspicious name has swooped into a competitive Michigan primary battle — and Democrats have started to take notice.
Insiders have flagged that "Michigan Sunrise PAC," a group that popped up out of nowhere just days ago, has already dropped nearly $600,000 boosting progressive candidate William Lawrence in the crowded scramble to challenge incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Barrett this fall and take control of the 7th Congressional District, The Down Ballot reported on Monday.
Operatives on both sides suspect Republicans secretly want Lawrence, who has been viewed as the weakest general-election candidate among Democrats, to win the nomination in the swing district. Lawrence is a co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, a climate advocacy organization.
The PAC's ads take aim at rival Matt Maasdam over old Florida voter registration records while touting Lawrence's star power, including a nod from Bernie Sanders. Maasdam is a former Navy SEAL. Third contender Bridget Brink gets no mention at all.
"The more moderate Brink and Maasdam have spent a good deal of time attacking one another on the airwaves, potentially leaving an opening for Lawrence to win the nomination," according to The Down Ballot. "It’s that opening that Republicans may now be looking to exploit."
The new group banks through a tiny South Dakota financial institution also used by Republican officials — a detail that has raised eyebrows among political watchdogs.
"The name of the PAC, of course, is very similar to that of the organization Lawrence helped create, but the two appear unconnected," The Down Ballot reported. "Rather, the Sunrise Movement has its own PAC, called Sunrise PAC. While the Sunrise Movement has endorsed Lawrence, its PAC has not reported spending any money on this race."
The top House GOP super PAC stayed quiet when Axios’ Andrew Solender asked for comment.
If confirmed, this would be the 18th time this election cycle that Republicans have allegedly meddled in a Democratic primary, the Down Ballot reported.
A Republican lawmaker's comments about ICE ramping up deportations of Haitian immigrants stunned the internet on Monday.
Rep. Michael Rulli (R-OH) reacted to the federal agency's plan, praising the move during an interview with Fox News.
"Let's get them out of here. Let's get 'em all out of here, and let's start from the beginning," Rulli said.
Social media users reacted to the remarks and called him out.
Journalist Aaron Rupar, who captured the clip and shared it, responded to Rulli's statements.
"There are a lot of cartoon villain House Republicans, but Rep. Michael Rulli is right up there on the list," Rupar wrote on X.
Others were concerned about the message this was sending.
"Start from the beginning of what? The beginning of racism? Alright folks! We'll start all white and go from there! Welcome back to the 1700's!" Liberal political commentator Chris Robinson wrote on X.
"Rep. Michael Rulli should be deported with them," X user Barb, who self-describes as a Democrat and political junkie, wrote on X.
Democratic strategist Jon Cooper had another idea.
"Actually, Rulli should be deported INSTEAD of them," Cooper wrote on X.
"Abhorrent and despicable," archaeologist Jeffrey A. Becker wrote on Bluesky.
Rep. Michael Rulli on reports that ICE is preparing to mass deport of Haitians from Ohio: "Let's get them out of here. Let's get 'em all out of here, and let's start from the beginning." pic.twitter.com/pNt50ux6VX — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 27, 2026
Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) was caught on camera physically accosting a political operative who tried to confront him about his past remarks.
"Congressman Nunn, do you still think that rural hospital closures are a myth?" the operative asked, as he was walking past with another man.
"I'm with a constituent. Come on," said Nunn irritably, trying to wave the operative away.
"No response, sir?" asked the operative, starting to follow him.
"No, I said I'm with a constituent," said Nunn, turning to face the operative's phone camera. "You should protect their privacy." He then moved to slap the phone out of the operative's hand, causing the scene to shift out of focus.
According to Iowa reporter Laura R. Belin, the man Nunn was walking with was actually a reporter, and not a constituent as he told the operative.
Nunn, who is a top target for Democrats in the November midterms, previously said in a local news interview in March that "I think the myth here is that rural hospitals are going to close down" as a result of President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" Medicaid cuts, and "That’s not the case."
Republicans heading home for their summer recess will now have to explain to their hometown voters what they have been doing in Washington, D.C. — and they are not happy about that.
According to a Politico report, GOP lawmakers who spoke with the outlet after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) sent everyone home early are fully aware that they will be facing voters' wrath after getting little done despite their majorities in both chambers.
GOP members are heading back to their districts knowing they have a messaging nightmare on their hands. The issues voters care most about — rising gas prices, inflation, healthcare costs — have consumed the nation's attention while Congress accomplished little.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise attempted to project confidence, but his words revealed underlying anxiety.
"All of these issues will come up. I mean, Iran will absolutely come up," he acknowledged Thursday. "Cost of living comes up. Safety and security, border security comes up. All of them come up, you know, and that's why it's important to remind people that we're addressing those issues."
As Politico reported, Republicans aren't addressing these issues effectively, and voters know it. The Iran war continues bleeding American resources and driving up fuel prices and the economy remains a "disaster" for working families.
"The timing of the war powers vote right as members were leaving town — where among the four Republicans defecting was Rep. Tom Barrett, a vulnerable incumbent fighting to hold onto his competitive Michigan seat — had an unsettling effect among some House GOP lawmakers already spooked by poll numbers appearing to favor Democrats for a takeover in 2027," according to the report.
“We have a hell of a lot of work to do, that’s clear,” one House Republican who was granted anonymity told Politico.
CNN conservative pundit Scott Jennings was teased on-air Thursday for suggesting that Sen. Mitch McConnell would likely release a new statement sometime by Monday.
During a segment with CNN anchor Kasie Hunt, Jennings was asked if he had heard anything new from McConnell. Jennings claimed earlier this month that he had a 17-minute phone call with McConnell, whom he has known since he was a teenager and previously worked for. The MAGA commentator has faced growing criticism over his comments, including a network statement that the company would not vouch for Jennings' comments — and that they don't represent the organization's reporting.
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have expressed concern about McConnell's absence since he went missing from Congress 39 days ago for undisclosed medical treatment. Two weeks ago, his team released an image of him with his wife Elaine Chao, but that hasn't quelled the skepticism and questions surrounding his unknown condition.
"I know he continues to do his rehab activities," Jennings said. "I know he's still following doctor's orders, and my assumption is sometime between now and Monday, they'll probably issue another update on how he's coming along. I don't know if they've made any decisions about whether he's going to be cleared to come back to work or not, but I would be surprised if we don't hear from them again by the weekend or by Monday."
Jennings argued that he thinks McConnell should "routinely" update his constituents on his health and "keep people apprised of the issues that he's looking in on, of the work that he's doing with his staff, and just be transparent about the things that he can do, even while he's convalescing and recovering."
"Truthfully, I think a little transparency on the front end here would have saved him a whole lot of grief," Jennings added. "But that didn't happen. And they are where they are now. But I think regular updates on things are good to do, and that'd be my advice."
Hunt commented, "I think last time that you and I spoke about this very topic, you said the exact same thing. You were like, 'Ask me on Monday.'"
Jennings joked that "the oracle of Kentucky" was right.
Fellow CNN panelist and commentator Xochitl Hinojosa had a direct question for Jennings: "At what point do you think that maybe he should resign from his seat?"
Jennings seemed surprised by the question.
"Give up his seat because he is not able to do the job of a U.S. senator," Hinojosa said.
A legal expert told CNN on Thursday that President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers' attempts to prosecute former special counsel Jack Smith could backfire.
David Aronberg, former state attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida, responded to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, who has requested the Department of Justice consider criminal charges against Smith. Jordan has alleged that Smith misled Congress about the phone records obtained from members of Congress during the 2020 election investigation.
Smith, who formerly prosecuted Trump, now faces possible prosecution himself. The DOJ has said it will investigate all evidence of criminal conduct.
Trump has weighed in on Jordan's request, posting "Justice at last?" on his Truth Social platform.
Aronberg argued that Smith did not lie to Congress.
"They're trying to twist Jack Smith's words to make it look like he lied, but he did not," Aronberg said. "What we're seeing here is a political game, not a serious matter for the courts."
"If you want to blame Jack Smith for not proactively offering more information to anticipate what the senators and members of the House were thinking at the time, then so be it," Aronberg added. "But it's not a crime. And so this is political retribution, but it's not going anywhere. We saw what happened with Letitia James and James Comey already. This is going to result in more egg on the faces of prosecutors if they decide to."
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) claimed on Wednesday that she was betrayed by her own Republican Party staffers in a "backroom deal."
Boebert didn't mince words against the GOP and told TMZ that she missed a vote on the National Defense Authorization Act. She said that "unnamed GOP staffers lied to her" about when the annual defense policy bill would be voted on — but that wasn't the only problem she was facing.
She also mentioned how her face was still settling after her Botox treatment and that she was "talking out of the side of her mouth like a damn politician" because of it.
"LB says she objected to a 'tech swap' between the U.S. and Israel and wanted the provision stripped from the bill," according to TMZ. "She claims she was still negotiating as voting continued and Republican staffers told her they’d keep the vote open for her."
