Alternet.org

Trump's retribution tour has only just begun — as loyal Republicans face a catch-22

1 hour agoLeft

At the White House congressional picnic on Tuesday evening, as Abba's "Dancing Queen" echoed across a lawn dotted with cornhole games, a ferris wheel, and food stations serving short ribs and apple pie, Donald Trump took time to celebrate a political scalp, according to a new story in The Guardian. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican and persistent critic of the president, had lost his primary race and was conspicuously absent from the festivities. "We won the Massie thing," Trump announced to picnic guests. "He was a bad guy. He deserves to lose."The moment exemplified Trump's ongoing campaign to purge the Republican Party of dissenters, a mission that has accelerated during his second term. Massie became the latest casualty in what observers describe as a revenge tour designed to consolidate Trump's grip on the party and eliminate those he views as insufficiently loyal. Yet this vindictive strategy may carry significant costs, potentially destabilizing the very legislative agenda Trump needs to advance and weakening the Republican coalition heading into November's midterm elections.Massie's defeat in the most expensive congressional primary in history—orchestrated largely through Trump-backed spending against the president's handpicked challenger, former Navy Seal Ed Gallrein—follows a pattern established during Trump's first term. Republicans including Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, and Justin Amash faced similar fates. In Trump's second term, the retribution has intensified. Five Indiana state senators lost their seats after resisting Trump's demands on congressional redistricting. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana fell to a primary challenge after voting to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial.Massie's particular offense included questioning government spending, challenging Trump's war powers assertions, and pushing for transparency regarding files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In his concession speech, Massie signaled defiance, hinting he would intensify his scrutiny during his remaining congressional tenure, particularly regarding the Epstein Files Transparency Act.The strategic problem for Trump is becoming apparent. By decimating the political careers of Republicans whose primary sin was insufficient loyalty rather than substantive policy disagreement, Trump has created a cadre of legislators with nothing to lose. Cassidy, still serving in the Senate, almost immediately threw his support behind a Democratic war powers resolution forcing Trump to end the Iran war, helping push it through after seven previous failures. Similarly, Senator Thom Tillis and former ally Marjorie Taylor Greene have begun breaking ranks, while Trump continues threatening further retribution against Senators Rand Paul and Lauren Boebert for supporting Massie.With razor-thin majorities in both chambers, Trump paradoxically needs the votes of the very people whose political destruction he orchestrated. Conservative analyst Charlie Sykes observed that Trump's victories benefit the Republican Party rather than undermining Democrats, which should concern strategists. Meanwhile, Trump's national approval rating has plummeted to 37%, while Republicans trail Democrats 39% to 50% on generic congressional ballot polling.Trump's recent endorsement of scandal-plagued Ken Paxton over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in Texas exemplifies the dilemma. The expensive Paxton race would drain resources from crucial battleground states, potentially sacrificing Republican prospects in November for personal loyalty considerations. Republicans find themselves trapped: Trump remains powerful in primary contests but may prove catastrophic in general elections where independent voters have decisively turned against him

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Blanche revamps push for Trump’s ballroom after White House shooting

The Hill News

16 minutes ago

Blanche revamps push for Trump’s ballroom after White House shooting

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says the shooting near the White House over the weekend reiterates the need for President Trump’s ballroom. Blanche, in a federal court filing on Sunday, argued the incident “underscores the critical need for top level, state of the art security at the White House, including the Ballroom.” The filing was…

Center

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'Wow': Megyn Kelly sparks firestorm with infidelity allegations about Trump

Raw Story

51 minutes ago

'Wow': Megyn Kelly sparks firestorm with infidelity allegations about Trump

Megyn Kelly's bombshell claims about Donald Trump's marriage history and the resurfaced allegation from his first wife landed like a grenade across social media over the holiday weekend, drawing furious responses from Trump loyalists, conservative critics, and longtime Kelly skeptics alike.Kelly made the claims on Friday's episode of the Hodgetwins Podcast, saying flatly that "Trump has cheated on every wife he's had" and resurfacing a rape allegation made by his first wife Ivana Trump during their 1990 divorce proceedings — an allegation Ivana later retracted, saying she did not want her words taken "in a literal or criminal sense." Kelly added that she could not personally confirm the accusation, but said of Trump's current marriage to Melania: "If you think Trump's been faithful to Melania, that's great. You've got bigger issues than I can solve here."The reactions came quickly.The sharpest attack came from far-right activist Laura Loomer, who wasted no time going for the jugular. "Megyn Kelly has always been an opportunistic snake," Loomer wrote. "It was a big mistake for Trump's campaign staff to allow that h----- on stage at his rallies."Another pointed criticism came from a different direction entirely. Conservative commentator Jonah Goldberg, a prominent Never Trumper and co-founder of The Dispatch, argued that Kelly's newfound candor was too little, too late. "I love how MAGA apologists who ignored or even celebrated Trump's character flaws now suddenly discover them and pretend to be brave truth tellers," Goldberg wrote. "When it would have cost them, they happily promoted the cult. Now they're like 'oh my God it's a cult! Why can't you see it?!'"RedState writer Bonchie made a related but distinct point. "Seeing Megyn, who spent the last several years proclaiming herself some kind of MAGA queen, now pushing 2016 talking points is hilarious," he wrote. "I mean, if this was an issue for you, why wasn't it an issue a year ago?"It was a question others were asking too. Journalist Eric Michael Garcia noted the obvious tension in Kelly's timing. "Again, Megyn Kelly knew all of this before she endorsed him in 2024 and still endorsed him," he wrote.Journalist and broadcaster Mehdi Hasan responded with a string of clapping emojis, letting the situation speak for itself.Actor Henry Winkler, best known for playing Fonzie on Happy Days, offered perhaps the most economical reaction of all: "Wow."

Far Left

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Trump enemy’s new electoral filing just made the 2028 race a lot more interesting

Alternet.org

1 hour ago

Trump enemy’s new electoral filing just made the 2028 race a lot more interesting

Last week in the Kentucky GOP primary, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) was beaten by MAGA-certified challenger Ed Gallrein in a race that many say re-verified President Donald Trump’s grip on the Republican party, proving once again that his endorsement can make or break candidates depending on their loyalty to him personally. Now Massie — who has drawn Trump’s ire over the course of the past 18 months for his willingness to break with the White House agenda — has filed to run in 2028 for the House seat he just lost, adding new significance to the election that will also choose a new president.In the runup to Massie’s defeat last week, the Kentucky race swelled to become the most expensive primary in history. Trump and his political allies flooded the election with money after the Representative voted against a handful of Trump policies, pushed for the release of the Epstein files, and opposed the war with Iran. The race caused fractures not only throughout the Republican party but within diehard MAGA circles, with former Trump allies like Tucker Carlson and ex-Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene backing Massie, and the Administration along with powerful pro-Israel lobbies coordinating efforts to oppose him. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth raised eyebrows by stumping for Gallrein in the final days of the race, breaking Pentagon neutrality norms. And Representative Lauren Boebert attempted to voice support for both Massie and Trump, prompting a predictable attack from the latter, who immediately suggested she be primaried.The president has frequently used his primary endorsement as a cudgel for keeping Republicans in line, and has proven that he still has a grip on the party, with his candidates consistently beating targeted incumbents on both state and national levels. But many warn that Trump’s short-term wins could mean defeat for the Republicans in the November general election. While the president’s endorsement may be effective within the GOP, that is likely no longer the case in a broader election where candidates depend on independent swing voters. Trump’s approval among swing voters has plunged to historic lows over issues like the war with Iran, the spiraling economy, and many other factors. As a result, voters have expressed an overwhelming desire for Democratic candidates in generic ballots, which has Republicans worried they may lose their majorities in the House and maybe even the Senate. While Massie will leave office at the end of this term, his filing for 2028 suggests he recognizes that while Trump may have power over the party for now, enthusiasm for the president is waning fast.

Left

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NEW: Trump Calls for All Arab Mediators and Iran to Sign Abraham Accords as Mandate for Peace Deal After Pressure From Lindsey Graham

The Gateway Pundit

1 hour ago

NEW: Trump Calls for All Arab Mediators and Iran to Sign Abraham Accords as Mandate for Peace Deal After Pressure From Lindsey Graham

President Trump announced on Monday that he wants every country involved in US-Iran negotiations to sign on to the Abraham Accords as a mandatory term of a peace agreement. Trump famously brokered the agreement to normalize diplomatic, economic, and security relations between Israel and Arab nations in his first term. The post NEW: Trump Calls for All Arab Mediators and Iran to Sign Abraham Accords as Mandate for Peace Deal After Pressure From Lindsey Graham appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Far Right

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The Vietnam vets who are fighting Trump in court

Raw Story

1 hour ago

The Vietnam vets who are fighting Trump in court

Shaun Byrnes did two tours in Vietnam. He had hoped to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery when his time came. Now he's not so sure — and Donald Trump is the reason why.Byrnes, 83, is one of several Vietnam veterans who have filed suit to stop construction of a 250-foot triumphal arch that Trump wants to build between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. The structure, which resembles Paris's Arc de Triomphe and has been dubbed the "Arc de Trump," would stand more than double the height of the Lincoln Memorial."It's disrespectful to those that I served with who didn't come back," Byrnes, a Navy veteran, told CBS News in a Sunday report. "And then, of course, to all those who are lying in Arlington National Cemetery."Byrnes and his fellow plaintiff Jon Gundersen, 81, a retired Army Special Forces officer, argue the project has been rushed through without proper congressional approval and would destroy a carefully considered sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and the Robert E. Lee Memorial — a symbolic connection meant to convey national unity after the Civil War.But their objection runs deeper than architecture. Both men spent decades in the military and State Department, including postings to Moscow and newly independent Eastern Bloc countries after the Soviet collapse. They say they know what this kind of monument means."We know how authoritarian dictatorships work," Gundersen said. "There's no rule of law, there's no consent of the governed, and there's monuments for the leaders there."Trump himself, when asked by a CBS News reporter who the arch is for, pointed to himself. "Me," he said.That answer didn't surprise the veterans. But it hardened their resolve. The lawsuit, led by the Public Citizen Litigation Group, argues the administration lacks legal authority to proceed. The Justice Department has moved to dismiss it, claiming the plaintiffs lack standing. Last month a federal judge denied a motion to temporarily halt construction, though the project has not yet broken ground.Last week, the U.S. Commission for Fine Arts approved the arch despite what its own secretary described as overwhelming public opposition — "100% of the comments were against the project," he told the panel. An urban planning commission stacked with Trump allies could sign off on the project as early as June.Gundersen dismissed Trump's claim that the arch would be paid for by private donations rather than taxpayer money. "Even if you took private donations, is that how we want to build monuments? To the oligarchs who give money for favors?"For Byrnes, the suit is ultimately about the fellow fighters who never made it home from Vietnam — and what they deserve."It's more about the duty I feel towards my colleagues and friends who did not come home," he said, "to stand up against this project, regardless of who's in charge."

Far Left

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Trump says Gulf States should recognize Israel as part of deal to end Iran war

Washington Examiner

1 hour ago

Trump says Gulf States should recognize Israel as part of deal to end Iran war

President Donald Trump said he is “mandatorily requesting” that several Gulf States join the Abraham Accords, a landmark agreement between Israel and multiple Arab nations to establish relations, as a part of a broader deal with Iran to end the conflict. The Trump administration is negotiating an end to the war in Iran, but there […]

Center Right

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These 'very scary numbers for Republicans' have GOP lawmakers quietly panicking: analyst

Raw Story

1 hour ago

These 'very scary numbers for Republicans' have GOP lawmakers quietly panicking: analyst

A new Gallup poll showing economic confidence at its lowest point in nearly four years is sending alarm bells through Republican ranks ahead of the midterms, according to MS NOW's Ali Vitali — and the numbers are bad enough that even the party's most loyal voters are starting to ask questions.Just 16 percent of Americans now rate the economy as excellent or good, according to the poll. Forty-nine percent say it is poor. And 76 percent say economic conditions are getting worse — the highest reading since 2023. Only 20 percent say conditions are improving."Very scary numbers for Republicans," said Morning Joe host Jonathan Lemire, who noted that midterm elections are historically decided on economic issues.Vitali agreed, but said the public optimism coming from Republican leadership masks a very different private conversation. "We are never going to hear the speaker say, gosh, yeah, things really do look bad for us," she said. "Once he starts doing that, the whole ball game is over." But she added that private Republican sentiment tells a different story entirely — one of genuine concern and handwringing.The economic anxiety is being compounded, Vitali said, by the Iran war's direct impact on household budgets, particularly at the gas pump. The average price of gas nationally now stands at around $4.52 per gallon, up from $3.19 a year ago.Making matters worse for Republicans is what Vitali described as a perception problem that could prove fatal in November: voters know Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress, and they are going to hold them accountable for kitchen table issues regardless of what the party says caused them.That accountability is made sharper by what happened when Republicans left Washington last week for a weeklong recess without passing their signature reconciliation bill — a measure that was supposed to be straightforward immigration legislation but collapsed under the weight of Trump's demands, including $1 billion for a White House ballroom and $1.8 billion in potential slush fund payments to January 6th rioters."They haven't done a ton with their majorities," Vitali said, noting voters are noticing.The bigger question, she said, is whether key constituencies that swung Republican in 2024 — particularly Hispanic voters in states like Texas — are permanent members of the coalition or swing voters who can be won back. Democrats are already betting on the latter.

Far Left

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Salon.com

1 hour ago

Trump’s big beautiful income tax dodge

The president's settlement with the Justice Department means he could never face IRS audits again

Left

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