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But the deal is already wobbling, as House Speaker Mike Johnson faces intense pressure from Trump and his House allies to demand more sweeping concessions from Democrats and the White House. “I do not think we should do a Border Deal, at all, unless we get EVERYTHING needed to shut down the INVASION of Millions & Millions of people,” Trump posted on social media this week. During Iowa's Republican caucuses last week, which Trump won, immigration was a top issue. They argue that the changes would actually pave the way for Trump to implement his border agenda if he wins the election. Even beyond Trump, Johnson is dealing with far-right House members who are furious over his willingness to work with Democrats to pass legislation.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, “, ” Trump, It's, Trump, Joe Biden, ”, Greg Abbott’s, “ It’s, Sen, Michael Bennet, “ I’m, ” Bennet, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, we’ve, Joaquin Castro, Mitch McConnell, He's, Biden's, Oklahoma Sen, James Lankford, Lankford, Johnson, “ We’re, ” Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, Biden, I’ve, Republican that’s, Jim Himes, Conn, We've, ” Himes, Lisa Mascaro Organizations: WASHINGTON, Trump, White, Republicans, Democratic, Russia, Republican, AP, Texas Gov, Colorado Democrat, Denver Mayor, Texas Democrat, U.S, Oklahoma, Republican Party, Associated Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, Colorado, United States, Texas, Israel, Trump, Iowa

☆ Tuberville finally caves and lifts hold on the vast majority of military promotions
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville announced an end to his hold on hundreds of military promotions. Republicans, Democrats, and military leaders alike have each said he's damaged military readiness. AdvertisementRepublican Sen. Tommy Tuberville announced on Tuesday that he'll lift his hold on promotions for the vast majority of the hundreds of service members. After months of service members getting blocked from receiving promotions, the secretaries of the Navy, Army, and Air Force each spoke out in September against Tuberville. AdvertisementAt the end of November, Tuberville signaled his willingness to end his block except for "woke" service members.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, —, Republican Sen, Tuberville, We've, Roe, Wade, he's, we've, Carlos Del Toro, Tuberville's, Chuck Schumer, it's Organizations: Pentagon, Republicans, Democrats, Service, Republican, Republicans aren't, Department of Defense, Navy, Army, Air Force, Tuberville, Tuberville's Republican Locations: Alabama

☆ Some vulnerable Republicans aren't cashing Marjorie Taylor Greene's $2,000 checks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Marjorie Taylor Greene sent $2,000 checks to 18 of her colleagues' campaigns in March. But spokespeople for two of those vulnerable Republicans — Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin and Rep. Michelle Steel of California — now say that their campaigns didn't end up cashing the checks. Though the March 29 contributions appear in Greene's campaign filings with the Federal Election Commission, they never appeared in Van Orden or Steel's filings. Greene's campaign, which did not respond to Insider's request for comment, has not amended its filings with the Federal Election Commission to reflect that the checks were never cashed. Van Orden represents a swing district, and Democrats are eager to tie more vulnerable Republican candidates to the party's electorally toxic far right.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, —, Derrick Van Orden's, Michelle Steel's, she'd, Derrick Van Orden, Michelle Steel, Van Orden's, Van Orden, Orden, Greene, Jamaal Bowman, Derrick Van, — Kim Bernice Nguyen, Derek Tran —, who's, Steel, MAGA, Tran Organizations: Service, pugnacious Georgia Republican, Republicans — Rep, Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, Federal, Commission, Van Orden, Democratic Rep, —, Derrick Van Orden Press, Georgia Republican, Orange County Register, Democratic Locations: Derrick Van Orden of, California, Van, Washington, Orange

In the meantime, House Republicans have no clear leader heading into next year's election as they cling to a razor-thin majority. The leadership fund will shift its alignment to follow the new House speaker once one is elected. McCarthy visiting a district could often be a major draw, juicing fundraiser proceeds, though that’s a role any new House speaker can grow into. “That’s where McCarthy has crushed it,” said Cam Savage, a longtime Republican strategist who works on House races. “After this week’s chaotic episode, House Republicans have basically upgraded to a Disney fast-pass in their never-ending roller coaster ride to the radical right,” said Viet Shelton, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the party’s House campaign arm.

Persons: — Kevin McCarthy, he’s, McCarthy, ”, Kelly Armstrong, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ryan, Republican John Boehner, Donald Trump, “, Dan Conston, “ That’s, Cam Savage, ” McCarthy, he’ll, Joe Biden, Viet Shelton, “ It’s, Marty Obst, aren't, Nancy Mace, Katie Arrington, Mace, ” Arrington, Trump, Kevin Freking, Meg Kinnard, James Pollard Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Republicans, National Republican Congressional Committee, Congressional, Fund, GOP, House, Trump, House Democrats, House Republicans, Disney, Democratic Congressional, Committee, Washington, Associated Press Locations: Dallas, McCarthy’s, California, Viet, South Carolina, Washington, Columbia , South Carolina

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Newly acquitted of impeachment charges, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is back on the job and getting back to the usual. Political Cartoons View All 1163 ImagesEven the very act of impeachment in Texas could get a second look after Republican Lt. Gov. On the other side are Republicans in the Texas House, where Paxton was overwhelmingly impeached and suspended from office in May. “The Ken Paxton Victory is sooo BIG. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at: https://apnews.com/hub/ken-paxton

Persons: —, Ken Paxton, Biden, Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, Paxton, Gov, Dan Patrick, “, Dade Phelan, ”, Carlson, “ I've, ” Paxton, George P, Bush, George W, Trump, Ken Paxton Victory, ” Trump, Sen, Angela Paxton, Nate Paul, Nathan Johnson, Johnson, ” Johnson, Paul, Dan Cogdell, we’ll, Jake Bleiberg, paxton Organizations: Fox News, Sunday, Republican, GOP, Texas Capitol, Trump, Texas House, Senate, FBI, Republicans, Democratic, Associated Locations: AUSTIN, Texas, U.S, San Antonio, Glen Ridge , New Jersey

☆ Republicans are already delegitimizing the DOJ's newly-appointed special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

US Attorney David Weiss, who's investigating Hunter Biden, has been appointed special counsel. "David Weiss can't be trusted," wrote the Twitter account for House Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. A whistleblower from the IRS previously claimed in June that the Department had hampered Weiss' worked and denied his request to be named special counsel, claims that Weiss firmly rejected. Nonetheless, the special counsel appointment could complicate things for House Republicans. Additionally, Republicans including Jordan have previously called for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden.

Persons: David Weiss, who's, Hunter Biden, They're, Weiss, General Merrick Garland, Joe Biden's, Garland, Donald Trump, Jim Jordan of Organizations: Service, Republicans, Committee, Rep, Biden, GOP Locations: Wall, Silicon, Delaware, House, Jim Jordan of Ohio

☆ It's not just JD Vance: Republican senators are open to criminalizing gender-affirming care for minors
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Sen. JD Vance introduced a bill to criminalize providing certain treatments to transgender minors. Other Republican senators told Insider that they're open to the idea as well. Asked about potentially harmful effects on transgender people who are already receiving care, Vance conceded that the bill is largely a messaging device for now. "But it doesn't have any effect on the capacity of people to receive this care if they're adults. While the bill has the support of 46 mostly hard-right House Republicans, Vance just has one official co-sponsor in the Senate: Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.

Persons: Sen, JD Vance, Vance, Vance isn't, Marjorie Taylor Greene, that's, Joseph Zeballos, Tommy Tuberville, aren't, Marco Rubio, Ron Johnson, Josh Hawley, who's, Ted Cruz of, he's Organizations: Service, Ohio, Senate, Republicans, Human Rights, House Republicans Locations: Wall, Silicon, Georgia, Alabama, America, Marco Rubio of Florida, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Ted Cruz of Texas

☆ Hunter Biden to plead guilty in criminal gun and tax case
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hunter Biden agreed to plead guilty to two criminal charges for failing to pay taxes. The gun charge will likely be dismissed if Biden seeks treatment for substance abuse. In a court filing Tuesday, prosecutors in the US Attorney's office in Delaware said the son of President Joe Biden has agreed to plead guilty to two criminal counts for failing to pay income tax. Hunter Biden reportedly failed to pay around $1.2 million in taxes in 2017 and 2018, but his attorneys say he has since paid the IRS the money in full. House Republicans, armed with their razor-thin majority, have also zeroed in on Hunter Biden through multiple probes.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's, Biden, —, Joe Biden, Prosecutors, David Weiss, Donald Trump's, Weiss, Biden's, Donald Trump, Sen, Chuck Grassley, aren't, James Comer, Hunter, Ian Sams Organizations: Justice, Service, Justice Department, Washington Post, Department, House Republicans, Hunter Locations: Delaware

Former US President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Bedminster, New Jersey, on June 13, 2023. That sort of comment is further than where many of Trump's rivals for the GOP presidential nomination will go publicly. Still, even out in the open, there are indications that they believe this federal indictment is far more serious than the last one. But the Trump indictment took over, with participants expressing deep concern about backlash and the party's fracturing beyond repair. On one hand, if Trump's GOP rivals blast him, they risk further alienating his committed GOP supporters.

Persons: Donald Trump, aren't, Ron DeSantis, Trump, I'm, Trumper, George Washington, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Joe Biden, Hunter, Mick Mulvaney, Mulvaney, MAGA, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Sen, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Scott, Haley, Pence, what's, Chris Christie, Christie, Hal Lambert, Larry Steinhouse, — Hallie Jackson, Henry J, Gomez, Jonathan Allen Organizations: Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, GOP, Florida Gov, Justice Department, Trump, Republican, Republicans, NBC News, White, Department, Courier, Street, Former New Jersey Gov, CNN, DOJ, Reuters, CBS, NBC Locations: Bedminster , New Jersey, New York, Florida, Georgia, Lago, Palm Beach , Florida, Charleston , South Carolina, Trump, Pennsylvania

☆ Ron DeSantis and the Florida GOP want to make it harder for public-sector unions to collect dues — with exceptions for police and firemen
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Ethan Dodd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Florida senate passed a bill that would make it harder for public sector unions to collect dues and recertify. While it will impact Democratic-leaning teachers' unions, along with most other public-sector unions, Republican-supporting police and firefighters' unions will be exempt. By making it harder for public employees to pay their union dues, the law makes it harder for teachers' unions to reach the new 60% threshold and recertify. "The governor's staff apparently called around to see the membership of public unions, specifically teachers," Spar said. Of the 100 local teachers unions Spar represents, 70-75 of those locals would need to hold an election to recertify, he said.

☆ Senate Republicans say the increasingly nasty Trump-DeSantis sparring is how you get to the best possible 2024 candidate and they expect a no-holds-barred fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In fact, some said that's exactly what the party needs to produce a winning presidential candidate the next time around. "Heck, I hope 10 or 15 people run," Tuberville told Insider at the US Capitol, urging other White House hopefuls to "put out what you need to, go raise money, and put your best foot forward." When asked how DeSantis might hit back at the scandal-plagued former president, Rubio said that's for 2024 contenders to figure out. A follow-up question about his possibly entering the race compelled Rubio to say that he was not running for president. "There's an old statement, 'What Peter says about Paul tells you more about Peter than it does about Paul," he told Insider in the Senate subway tunnels.

☆ House Republicans are reportedly getting ready for the US to default as the debt ceiling draws closer
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

House Republicans are reportedly preparing for how to prioritize debt in the case of a default. Currently, the country is creeping ever closer to a catastrophic debt ceiling default over the summer. But neither party is negotiating, as Democrats demand Republicans' plan to prevent default. If the debt ceiling is not raised, it could be financially catastrophic, Yellen has said. The debt ceiling X Date is fast approaching.

☆ The Biden administration just made it easier for Trump to keep a key promise on prescription drugs if he wins in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The Biden administration presented a plan on Wednesday to let the government negotiate drug prices. Trump, who once accused Big Pharma of "getting away with murder," could be president when drug prices fall. Gutting the prescription drug provision would come at a cost to the federal government. President Trump signed a series of four executive orders aimed at lowering prices that for prescription drugs in the United States. "There has been no bigger champion of lowering prescription costs and putting Americans first than President Trump," Steven Cheung, Trump's 2024 campaign spokesman, told Insider.

☆ Steve Bannon says Trump needs to get off Truth Social and focus on policy battles: 'You've got to get better'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

He said his former boss needs to "get off the Truth," referring to the social media platform Truth Social. "It's just not good enough right now," Bannon said, adding that Trump should focus more on policy battles. "You've got to get off the Truth," Trump's ex-adviser said, seemingly referring to Truth Social, per Newsweek. In a statement to Newsweek, Bannon said that Trump should "go all-in to defeat" by focusing on several conservative priorities. Trump founded Truth Social in October 2021 after he was banned from Facebook and Twitter following the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

☆ Donald Trump praises Kanye West and once again fails to condemn him for hateful anti-semitic outbursts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump on Tuesday praised Ye for saying "all those great things about me on Tucker Carlson." "He made statements, rough statements, on Jewish," Trump said. "It was very interesting to hear him on Tucker Carlson because you know, you never hear him in long sentences, right?" More examples of antisemitism emerged in leaked footage from his Tucker Carlson interview. I did watch the Tucker Carlson interview and he was really nice to me.

☆ Kevin McCarthy called his chance of becoming House Speaker a 'silver lining' of the GOP's election lies, book says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

McCarthy partly acknowledged the trouble with Trump's refusal to accept losing the 2020 election. He told a confidant that the "silver lining" is that he has "a pretty good chance of being Speaker in two years." "'The silver lining,' Kevin McCarthy said, 'is that I have a pretty good chance of being Speaker in two years,'" Draper wrote. Trump and his supporters do, in fact, continue to deny the 2020 election results and perpetuate the lie that it was stolen. McCarthy says he's confident Republicans will win control of the House in this fall's elections.

☆ Millions of retirees are about to get a $140 monthly raise from Social Security to help deal with how expensive everything has gotten
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

That adjustment will put over $140 more a month in retirees' social security checks. Social security checks are tied to cost-of-living hikes from the third quarter of one year to another. "Medicare premiums are going down and Social Security benefits are going up in 2023, which will give seniors more peace of mind and breathing room,"Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi said in a release. "Seniors deserve increases in their Social Security checks to keep up with risings costs — this year, and every year. Democrats are fighting to protect and expand Social Security, funded by the wealthy paying their fair share," Warren tweeted on Thursday.

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