Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is facing the very real prospect of losing control of his caucus as his close confidants disappear and his chamber is overrun with MAGA fanatics.
According to a report from Axios, what awaits Thune after the midterm election will likely be a "nightmare."
The "worst scenario" is becoming increasingly plausible if Republicans retain Senate control while Democrats flip the House, leaving Thune trapped between an emboldened President Donald Trump with nothing to lose and a hostile lower chamber ready to impeach the president, with the Axios report stating, "Getting anything done will be close to impossible.”
Trump will have carte blanche in his final two years. The president's demands—pass the SAVE America Act, nuke the filibuster, confirm controversial nominees—will intensify without Trump facing any electoral consequences. Thune will be forced to choose between capitulating or defying a president with zero interest in compromise.
Adding to Thune's woes will be the departure of many of his close allies.
"Moderate voices like Sens. John Cornyn (Texas), Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Bill Cassidy (La.) will be gone after being forced out by Trump," the report notes. "Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) also faces a tough reelection fight. Thune chose four senators to be in his original leadership inner circle: Steve Daines (Mont.), Markwayne Mullin (Okla.), Cornyn and Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.). They'll all likely be gone next year."
According to the report, the Senate could see more "intra-party" fighting, similar to what House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA)A) has been dealing with.
"He could face more pressure to vote on partisan bills, push through controversial nominees or do away with the filibuster, Axios is report before adding, "And it will make nuts-and-bolts legislation, like funding the government, anything but routine."
