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☆ Trump’s extreme rhetoric is a mainstay of his 2024 campaign. Much of it could become a reality if he wins another term
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Phil Mattingly | Andrew Seger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

His pledge to direct Justice Department investigations is backed by allies who view his second term as driven by a maximalist theory of a president’s authority. But it also underscores why a second Trump term would be dramatically different. Some in Washington saw them as guardrails for a White House intent on fracturing not one, but all three branches of government. Yet Trump, should he secure a second term, would enter the White House with his most powerful Republican critics on Capitol Hill almost all gone. That would be a position that isn’t backed by his second term policy plans, or his private impulses during his first term in office – or, for that matter, in the decades prior.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, guardrails Trump, Jack Smith, Trump, ” Trump, Biden, ”, Joe Biden, he’s, He’s, Liz Cheney, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, John Kerry, John Bolton, It’s, Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, Ryan, ” McConnell, Mike Johnson, “, aren’t, Trump’s, – “, Hugh Hewitt, ” “, Charlie Rose, Rose, Larry King, Erin Burnett Organizations: CNN, Republican, Department, Capitol, Democrats, Trump, White, GOP, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Democratic, Trump’s Justice, Bolton, Congressional Republicans, Wisconsin Republican, Louisiana Republican, Mar, White House, Justice Department, CNBC Locations: Washington, Wisconsin, Louisiana

☆ Mitch McConnell ramps up his criticism of Chuck Schumer in CNN interview
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Manu Raju | Ted | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In an interview with CNN, McConnell said Schumer’s speech was a direct contradiction of US policy and called on the White House not to go down that road. McConnell rejected calls for conditions on military aid to Israel – something some Democrats have called for in an effort to tamp down civilian deaths. In his speech, Schumer explained his deep misgivings about the toll on innocent people in Gaza. “I am anguished that the Israeli war campaign has killed so many innocent Palestinians,” he said. McConnell blamed the Biden administration for micromanaging the war in Gaza and said Schumer’s calling for “regime change” in the wrong country.

Persons: Mitch McConnell ramped, Chuck Schumer, Israel –, McConnell, can’t, ” McConnell, “ It’s, Schumer, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ” Schumer, –, that’s, ”, “, “ I’m, Biden, “ They’ve, Yair Lapid, ” CNN’s Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN, Capitol, Democratic, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, “, Iran

☆ Schumer calls for new election in Israel and sharply criticizes Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Clare Foran | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday criticized Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, calling for new elections in a speech on the Senate floor on the Israel-Hamas war. “As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7. The world has changed, radically, since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past,” said Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in America. “Five months into this conflict, it is clear that Israelis need to take stock of the situation and ask: must we change course?” he continued. Schumer also said his “heart also breaks at the loss of so many civilian lives in Gaza.”“I am anguished that the Israeli war campaign has killed so many innocent Palestinians,” he continued.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, ”, Schumer, ” Schumer, Biden, “, Mitch McConnell, Israel, ” McConnell, Ted Barrett Organizations: Israel, New, New York Democrat, GOP Locations: Israel, America, New York, Gaza, ”, Washington

☆ Mitch McConnell endorses Donald Trump for president after years of frosty ties
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell announced Wednesday he will support Donald Trump for the presidency, a move that comes more than three years after they have last spoken and after the Kentucky Republican pointedly blamed Trump for the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. “It is abundantly clear that former President Trump has earned the requisite support of Republican voters to be our nominee for President of the United States,” McConnell said in a statement. The public support from McConnell, who announced last week he would step down as GOP leader at the end of the year, also came after his other top Republican senators have endorsed Trump. 2 Republican in the chamber who is running to replace McConnell, endorsed Trump earlier this month. Texas Sen. John Cornyn, another possible McConnell successor, backed Trump after he won the New Hampshire primary.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump, Trump, ” McConnell, ”, –, Nikki Haley –, McConnell, John Thune, Texas Sen, John Cornyn Organizations: Kentucky Republican, Capitol, Republican, South Carolina Gov, Trump, New Locations: United States, Texas, New Hampshire

☆ Super Tuesday may underline Trump’s transformation of the GOP
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Ron Brownstein | Analysis Ronald Brownstein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

His performance so far reflects his success at transforming the Republican Party in his image. The most important message from the primaries is the most straightforward: Trump’s coalition is the dominant faction in the GOP. Like McConnell’s announcement, the choices by GOP elected officials in the primary contest signal their acknowledgement of the party’s direction. The share of GOP elected officials who have endorsed Haley isn’t anywhere near as large as her share of the total vote. But a deeper factor also explains the imbalance in support among GOP elected officials.

Persons: Donald Trump, He’s, Ronald Reagan, Nikki Haley, –, Trump, Reagan, Bob Dole, George W, Bush, Mitt Romney, Whit Ayres, Democrat Grover Cleveland, Republican Benjamin Harrison, ” Ayres, Ayres, Grover Cleveland, ” Chris Wilson, Ron DeSantis, “, ”, Gary Langer, he’s, Kyle Kondik, “ It’s, William Mayer, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, Democrat Al Gore, Haley, Dwight Eisenhower, Sen, Robert Taft, Mitch McConnell, Haley isn’t, Chris Sununu, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Liz Cheney, Wilson, Mike Johnson, McConnell, Kevin McCarthy, Jennifer Horn, Biden, William Galston, Galston, ’, ‘, Kristen Soltis Anderson, isn’t, Eisenhower, “ Trump, ” Galston, ” Trump, Missouri GOP Sen, Eric Schmitt, wouldn’t, he’d Organizations: CNN, Republican, Republican Party, South Carolina Gov, GOP, Washington, Trump, Veteran GOP, White, Democrat, Democratic, Florida Gov, ”, ABC, University of Virginia’s Center, Politics, Northeastern University, Republican internationalists, Republicans, Chicago Council, Global Affairs, Trump’s GOP, New Hampshire Gov, South, Brookings Institution, Biden, Republican National Committee, Missouri GOP Locations: Sunday’s, Iowa , New Hampshire, South Carolina, Michigan, George H.W ., Southern, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oakland, Washtenaw, Kent, Ukraine, Trump’s, Missouri

☆ Mitch McConnell to step down from GOP leadership position in the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Clare Foran | Ted | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will step down as GOP leader in November, the Kentucky Republican announced on the Senate floor Wednesday, marking the end of an era on Capitol Hill and setting up a high-stakes race for his successor. He will continue to serve in the US Senate but will allow “the next generation of leadership” to take the helm of the Senate Republican Conference. In 2023, McConnell became the longest-serving Senate party leader in history. McConnell on Wednesday said his decision to step down came following the death of his wife Elaine Chao’s youngest sister, Angela, in a traffic accident earlier this month. Mitch McConnell speaks on the Senate floor on Wednesday.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, ”, McConnell, ” McConnell, “, Chuck Schumer, Republican Sen, Lisa Murkowski, Elaine Chao’s, Angela, they’ve, CNN’s Dana Bash, Kristin Wilson Organizations: Kentucky Republican, Capitol, Senate Republican Conference, Senate, Republican, Kentucky Locations: Washington ,, New York, Alaska

☆ McConnell defends push for Ukraine aid amid attacks from Trump wing of GOP: ‘Every argument against this is wrong’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“I feel strongly this is in our best interest, America’s best interest and the world’s best interests to do this. Meantime, the House GOP has aligned itself closely with Trump and taken steps that have made some Republican senators uneasy – including impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the problems at the border. But McConnell didn’t think the flap would have much of an impact on Senate races. “I think that every one of these races will hash that out one way or another,” McConnell said. “The age issue is obviously front and center for both candidates,” McConnell said when asked about the matter.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump, McConnell, –, “ It’s, ” McConnell, Trump, Mike Johnson, McConnell harkened, – we’ve, Johnson, “, ” Johnson, I’ve, we’ve, Alejandro Mayorkas, hadn’t, Oklahoma GOP Sen, James Lankford, ”, Tom Suozzi, Biden, Robert Hur’s, ” CNN’s Clare Foran, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: GOP, CNN, Trump, Republican, “, Kentucky Republican, Homeland, Oklahoma GOP, Wall Street, Washington Post, Republicans, Democrats, New, Democrat Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Oklahoma, New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and amid growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad. But a bipartisan deal on border security struck by Republican Sen. James Lankford fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. After the border bill collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone — as Democrats had originally intended. In an unusually raw back-and-forth, GOP senators who support the aid challenged some of the opponents directly on the floor. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that “I reiterated America’s commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.”But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, It’s, ”, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch of, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden's, Schumer, McConnell, “, ” McConnell, Republican Sen, James Lankford, J.D, Vance, Russia's Putin, Putin, Kentucky Sen, Rand Paul, Carolina Sen, Thom Tillis, ” Tillis, ” Sen, Jerry Moran, Moran, Trump, Russia “, Mike Turner, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Turner, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, ” Johnson, Abigail Spanberger, Zelenskyy, ” Spanberger, Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republican Party, Ukraine, Republican, Republicans, Sens, Ukraine —, GOP, U.S . Senate, Trump, Ohio Republican, Kentucky, NATO, House Republicans, House Intelligence, Russia, ”, Senate, Virginia Democrat, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, United States, U.S, Oregon, Peter Welch of Vermont, Russia, Kyiv, China, Gaza, Ohio, Carolina, Europe, America, Virginia

The Senate early Tuesday passed a bill that includes billions of dollars for Ukraine and Israel in their wartime efforts, though its final approval is far from certain amid opposition from House GOP leadership. Twenty-two Republicans voted in favor of the measure, which also includes funds for humanitarian aid in conflict zones like Gaza. Supporters of the package have emphasized the aid is desperately needed as Ukraine continues to battle Russian forces nearly two years after the country’s invasion. Republicans certainly aren’t united behind the standalone foreign aid package, either. Still, Schumer remained optimistic about the package’s future, hoping the bipartisan support in the Senate will pressure the House to act.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, America’s, Chuck Schumer, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell’s, “, ” McConnell, ”, Trump, hadn’t, Sen, Lindsey Graham of, ” Graham, Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, sidestep Johnson, Schumer Organizations: House GOP, “, NATO, ”, United States Senate, GOP, Senate Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, America

WASHINGTON (AP) — As a growing number of Republicans oppose U.S. aid to Ukraine, the Senate's leaders are arguing in strong terms that the money is crucial to pushing back against Russian President Vladimir Putin and maintaining America's global standing. In the Capitol for a rare weekend session, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky issued stark warnings about the consequences of abandoning longtime U.S. allies in Europe. “Today it’s no exaggeration to say that the eyes of the world are on the United States Senate,” McConnell said. He recounted a story he has told before about an unidentified NATO member who confronted him over his threat not to help them. Objections from Republicans adamantly opposed to the aid have delayed quick action, forcing the weekend votes as negotiations continue over potential amendments to the legislation.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, “, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, McConnell, ” Schumer, doesn’t, “ Putin, Schumer Organizations: WASHINGTON, Russian, Capitol, Kentucky, United States Senate, Republican, NATO, GOP, Trump, Senate Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Israel, South Carolina, Russia, U.S, Kyiv, Taiwan, China, Gaza

☆ McConnell’s GOP critics grow louder as party descends into feud over Ukraine and immigration
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Manu Raju | Lauren Fox | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Mitch McConnell had long prided himself on maintaining GOP unity during his 17-year tenure as Senate GOP leader. Now they’ve spilled into public view as the Kentucky Republican heads into what could be his final year as leader. “We did what Donald Trump wanted.”With McConnell’s backing, the Senate is now taking a different approach. “Sen Cruz talks every day with his colleagues, and his conversations with fellow senators are confidential,” the Cruz spokesperson said. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama and close Trump ally, said that “everybody” has concerns about McConnell’s handling of the talks.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, That’s, Donald Trump, McConnell, “, Mitch, ”, Sen, Kevin Cramer, “ Mitch, he’s, Cramer, Larry Hogan, ” McConnell, Trump, Alex Brandon, …, I’ve, Josh Hawley, Republican Sen, Rand Paul, what’s, McConnell’s, GOP Sen, James Lankford of, –, Trump –, “ Donald Trump, Mitt Romney, John Cornyn of, John Thune of, John Barrasso of, ” Sen, Ron Johnson of, “ He’s, Florida Sen, Rick Scott, ” “, Ted Cruz, “ McConnell, Chip Somodevilla, Cruz, nodded, “ Cruz, “ Sen Cruz, Mike Rounds, Rounds, ” McConnell’s, Tucker Carlson, ” Romney, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville, ” CNN’s Morgan Rimmer Organizations: GOP, Kentucky Republican, North Dakota Republican, Republican, Democratic, Senate, 436th Aerial Port Squadron, Dover Air Force Base, Missouri Republican, Republicans, Lankford, Committee, Texas Republican, CNN, Trump, Capitol Locations: Ukraine, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, Missouri, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Utah, Israel, Taiwan, Sens, John Cornyn of Texas, John Thune of South Dakota, John Barrasso of Wyoming, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Florida, Texas, Washington ,, South Dakota, Alabama

Senators conducted a late-night vote Friday, advancing to next steps as they spin through objections from a core group of Republicans. More closely aligned with Donald Trump, the GOP's presidential front-runner, the Republican senators aren't putting a priority on stopping Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion. Attendance slipped Friday night as senators advanced the bill, 64-19, with 14 Republicans joining Democrats to move it forward. "The failure of the United States Congress, if it occurs, not to support Ukraine, is close to criminal neglect,” Biden said. In a key vote Thursday, 17 Republican senators agreed to start debate on the bill — but 31 voted against it.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, aren't, Vladimir Putin's, Chuck Schumer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden, ” Biden, Olaf Scholz, Trump, ” Sen, Mike Lee, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, ” McConnell, Sen, Dan Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Senators groused, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Bernie Sanders, Sanders, Netanyahu, “, ”, Chris Van Hollen, Mike Johnson Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Senate, Republican, New York Democrat, Republicans, Democrats, Ukraine, White, United States Congress, GOP, Capitol, Senators, European Union Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Israel, U.S, Europe, Taiwan, China, Gaza, Central, United States, Utah, Alaska, Rafah, “, Vermont, Maryland, Washington

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a bipartisan border deal that took months of negotiations, leaving billions of dollars in proposed foreign aid in limbo. It’s unclear what shape the final foreign aid bill could take and whether House Republicans will support it. “There are other parts of this supplemental that are extremely important as well: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan,” McConnell said. “First Republicans said they would only do Ukraine and Israel, humanitarian aid with border. The Biden administration this week indicated its support for a standalone foreign aid bill – a position they’ve held for months.

Persons: Biden, Chuck Schumer, Sen, Rand Paul of Kentucky, ” Paul, “, ” Sen, Brian Schatz, ”, Alejandro Mayorkas, Mike Johnson, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, ” Schumer, Andrew Bates, John Kirby Organizations: Republican, Democratic, Hawaii, The Washington Post, GOP, Homeland, Republicans, “, White House Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Russia, Taiwan, Gaza

Senate Republicans blocked a major bipartisan border deal and foreign aid package with assistance for Ukraine and Israel in a key vote on Wednesday amid a torrent of attacks on the bill by former President Donald Trump and top House Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to force a procedural vote on an emergency aid package for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan — and drop the border deal. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Alex Padilla of California have both forcefully attacked the border deal. Schumer has harshly criticized Senate Republicans for opposing the package, accusing them of following Trump’s marching orders. “And instead of standing up to Donald Trump, Senate Republicans are ready to kill our best chance at fixing the border.”“They want amendments?

Persons: Donald Trump, – James Lankford of, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Schumer, Mike Johnson, McConnell, Johnson, – Lankford, Sen, Kyrsten, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, Sinema, Lankford, Democratic Sens, Bob Menendez, Alex Padilla, Menendez, ” Padilla, “, ” Schumer, ” McConnell, CNN’s Kristin Wilson Organizations: House Republicans, Republicans, White, Republican, Senate GOP, Trump, Democratic, Israel, West Bank, Bob Menendez of New, Senate Republicans, CNN Locations: Ukraine, Israel, – James Lankford of Oklahoma, Trump, Taiwan, Arizona, Connecticut, Russia, Gaza, Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, California, America

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan Senate deal intended to curb illegal crossings at the U.S. border with Mexico faced almost certain defeat Tuesday as Senate Republicans signaled their opposition, stranding President Joe Biden with no clear way to advance aid for Ukraine through Congress. He offered to delay a key test vote on the package until Thursday, but dared them to vote against border security — an issue they have long championed. He made no mention of the need for border security — a piece of the supplemental package that he last year insisted on including. The longtime Republican leader has not been able to convince his conference to warm to the compromises on border security after Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, has excoriated it. Even GOP senators who had been supportive of the border policies under discussion came out against the bill on Tuesday.

Persons: Joe Biden, Sen, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, —, Donald Trump —, Schumer, “, Leader McConnell, ” Schumer, Vladimir Putin's, McConnell, Biden, ” McConnell, Mayorkas, Thom Tillis, Mike Johnson, ”, Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar, MAGA Organizations: WASHINGTON, Senate, Republicans, Democratic, Republican, United States Senate, Russia, Kentucky Republican, Trump, North Carolina Republican, House Democratic Locations: U.S, Mexico, Ukraine, Israel, Asia, Gaza, New York, Europe, Russia, Kentucky, East

☆ Trump and his GOP allies kneecap a border compromise they should have loved
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Bill would mean a huge change in the lawThe border compromise would represent a dramatic change of immigration law on lines many Republicans have long supported. 2 won only GOP support when it passed the House and all those who voted for it knew there was never a chance it could get through a Democratic Senate and White House. “Any national security package has to begin with the security of our own border,” Johnson said in December. “Only a fool, or a Radical Left Democrat, would vote for this horrendous Border Bill,” the ex-president wrote on Truth Social on Monday. “This is the chaos when Donald Trump is back in charge of the Republican Party,” Murphy told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Oklahoma’s James Lankford, ”, Dan Bongino, Mississippi Sen, Roger Wicker, Mitch McConnell’s, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Alejandro Mayorkas, thrall, Kevin McCarthy, “, ” McCarthy, Lankford, McCarthy, CNN’s Manu Raju, Biden, didn’t, Biden’s, he’d, Barack Obama, George W, Bush, ” McConnell, Bill, Tim Burchett, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ” Johnson, he’s, –, it’s, harangue Biden, ” Trump, imperil Biden’s, Trump . Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, Donald Trump, ” Murphy, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Organizations: CNN, Donald Trump’s Republican Party, White, Trump, Republicans, GOP, Republican, Homeland, Border Patrol, Democratic, California Republican, Senate Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, Congress, Customs, Department of Homeland Security, ” Tennessee, Radical Left Democrat, Democrats, Republican Party, Trump . Connecticut Locations: Washington, Mississippi, California, Oklahoma, Mexico, H.R, Ukraine, Trump .

Sen. Todd Young speaks to reporters before a Republican Senate policy luncheon at the US Capitol Building on September 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. Samuel Corum/Getty ImagesStatus of border talks remains unclearFrustration reigned inside the Senate GOP on Thursday amid lingering confusion over the status of a border deal. Pressed on whether it was realistic to pass a border deal with Trump opposing it, Young said: “It may be possible. This is about security for our own country and so let’s keep pushing to get this border deal,” she said. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, one of the Democrats involved in the border talks, expressed frustration about Trump seeking to inject chaos into the situation.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, doesn’t, Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Biden, ”, GOP Sen, Mitt Romney, ’ ”, ’ ” GOP Sen, Todd Young, “, James Lankford, ” Young, Sen, Anna Moneymaker, Underscoring, Thom Tillis, North Carolina –, –, Tillis, ” Tillis, McConnell –, “ We’re, ” McConnell, ” Sen, John Thune, we’ll, ” Thune, Samuel Corum, Young, you’ve, Ron Johnson of, ” Johnson, “ James Lankford, It’s McConnell, Republican Sen, Lisa Murkowski, “ I’m, Murkowski, Chris Murphy of, Donald Trump –, ” Murphy Organizations: Republicans, Trump, GOP, Capitol, ’ ” GOP, Republican, Building, CNN, Getty Locations: Ukraine, Utah, Indiana, Washington , DC, North Carolina, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, “, Alaska, Chris Murphy of Connecticut

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan Senate deal to pair border enforcement measures and Ukraine aid faced potential collapse on Thursday as Senate Republicans grew increasingly wary of an election-year compromise that Donald Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, seems likely to oppose. At stake is a plan that both President Joe Biden and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have worked for months to broker in hopes of cajoling Congress to approve wartime aid for Ukraine. “We’re at a critical moment, and we’ve got to drive hard to get this done," said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the second-ranked Senate Republican. With Republicans continuously raise the issue on the campaign trail, the border will likely remain central to elections this year. They have argued that presidents already have enough authority to implement hardline border measures and Trump should have his say.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, “ We're, ” McConnell, Ukraine's, McConnell's, Oklahoma Sen, James Lankford, he’s, ” Lankford, “ That’s, haggling, Olivia Dalton, Biden, ” Dalton, “, we’ve, Dakota Sen, John Thune, we’ll, Trump, Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, didn’t, ” Murphy, ”, Sen, John Cornyn, Rick Scott, ” Sen, J.D, Vance, unquote ‘ MAGA, unquote ‘ MAGA Republicans ’, Mike Rounds, Kevin Freking, Seung Min Kim Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republicans, Republican, Trump, Senate, White, Air Force, Democratic, Senate Republicans, Texas Republican, Florida Republican, Ohio Republican, unquote ‘ MAGA Republicans, South Dakota Republican, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, The U.S, Israel, Oklahoma, Dakota, Europe, Congress, Connecticut, Trump, Texas, Florida, Ohio

☆ Senate GOP offers cautious embrace of Trump amid fears over his electability
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Manu Raju | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On Tuesday night, the Texas Republican endorsed Trump and called for GOP unity after the New Hampshire primary. “Twenty percent of GOP voters will not vote for him,” the Republican member said. “Independent voters think Biden is weak, but they hate Trump. And that’s exactly what Trump’s going to do,” Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, told CNN. “And I think President Trump, in many people’s minds, is the answer to that status quo,” he said.

Persons: Sen, John Cornyn, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Trump’s electability, ” Cornyn, “, he’s, ”, John Thune, CNN’s, Nikki Haley, Haley, Biden, Republican holdouts, Trump’s, GOP Sen, Deb Fischer, Brandon Williams, Joe Biden, ” Sen, Thom Tillis, They’re, Lindsey Graham of, Mike Rounds, Fischer, President Trump, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, ” McConnell, I’ve, I’ll, Susan Collins of, ” Collins, she’d, Collins, “ I’m, Donald Trump, J.D, Vance of, Haley’s, What’s, ” Vance, Mitt Romney, Markwayne Mullin, CNN’s Ted Barrett, Sam Fossum, Kristin Wilson, Haley Talbot, Lauren Fox Organizations: Texas Republican, New, CNN, Republicans, GOP, Republican, Trump, South Carolina Gov, House Republican, “, Nebraska, North Carolina Republican, South Dakota Republican, Nebraska Republican Locations: New Hampshire, Iowa, New York, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Vance of Ohio, Utah, Washington, ” Washington, Oklahoma

The dynamic is particularly unpleasant for House Republicans, many of whom would much prefer the hard-line border security bill they passed last year on a party-line vote, known as H.R. Donald Trump, Donald Trump, Donald Trump," she said while campaigning in New Hampshire last week. Even GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who has taken pains to support Trump, has called for House Republicans to back the border deal. “To those who think that if President Trump wins, which I hope he does, that we can get a better deal – you won’t,” Graham recently told reporters. So if you think you’re going to get a better deal next time, in ’25, if President Trump’s president, Democrats will be expecting a pathway to citizenship for that,” he said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, he’d, ”, It’s, Chip Roy, “, Roy, ’, Andy Biggs, Trump, Joe Biden, that’s, Christopher Devine, Devine, Senate – Arizona's Kari Lake, Pennsylvania's Mehmet Oz, Georgia's Herschel Walker –, parroted, Nikki Haley, Who, Sen, Lankford, Mitch McConnell, James Lankford, ” McConnell, GOP Sen, Lindsey Graham of, ” Graham, Trump’s, Mike Johnson, – Organizations: Republicans ’, Senate, GOP, Republican, Florida Gov, House Republicans, Texas Republican, Arizona Republican, White, Republican Party, Democrat, House, Republicans, University of Dayton, Trump, Virginia, South Carolina Gov, United States Senate Locations: Ukraine, Israel, There’s, Texas, New Jersey, Washington, Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana, state's, Down, Wisconsin, Trump's, Florida, New Hampshire, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, ’

A core group of negotiators have been laboring for nearly two months over changes to U.S. border and immigration policy and hoped to unveil the legislation later this week. However, the emergency funding package has been delayed months in Congress after Republicans insisted that border policy changes also be included in the package. It remains to be seen whether the border policy changes, which have been negotiated in private with top White House officials, will be enough to satisfy most Republican senators. The group has mostly reached agreements on policy changes, but on Monday was working with Senate appropriators to determine funding levels for the programs. Democrats have bemoaned the Republican decision to tie Ukraine aid with border policy changes.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Mitch McConnell's, ” McConnell, Joe Biden, Biden, Chuck Schumer, “ It's, ”, Sen, Kyrsten Sinema, appropriators, Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, “, you’re, ” Biden, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Schumer, ” Schumer Organizations: WASHINGTON, Ukraine, Republican, Senate, Republicans, “, Democratic, White House, Biden, Democrats Locations: Washington, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois

Cheney writes most members knew “it was a farce” and “another public display of fealty to Donald Trump.”“Among them was Republican Congressman Mark Green of Tennessee,” Cheney writes. “Leader McConnell, who had made a career out of savvy political calculation and behind-the-scenes maneuvering, got this one wrong,” Cheney writes. In the book, Cheney also condemns right-wing media for amplifying the disinformation coming from Trump and his allies. “Several months later, I heard the show had been in the final stages of production when it was shut down,” Cheney writes. Cheney writes that Pelosi’s team “pulled together a list of the 10 worst things I had ever said about her.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Liz Cheney, “ enablers, ”, Donald Trump, Cheney, ” Cheney, Kevin McCarthy, Trump, he’d, Mike Johnson, “, Liz Cheney's, Brown, hypocrites –, Steven Cheung, ‘, Jesus, McCarthy, ” McCarthy, “ McCarthy, Jim Jordan, ” Jordan, Jordan, Russell Dye, Johnson, “ Johnson, ’ ”, Mark Green of, Green, sheepishly, ’, ’ Cheney, craven, fundraise, Kevin, “ They’re, Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise, Renée Zellweger, it’s, Mike Pence, Pence, Paul Ryan, Ryan, Cheney’s, Dick Cheney, Liz Cheneys, cautioning, ’ ” Cheney, Roberto Schmidt, Hakeem Jeffries, George W . Bush, “ Liz, Courage, I’m, Nancy Pelosi, Liz ’, ruefully, Trump –, Mike Kelly, “ She’s, Mike Turner, Liz, Drew Angerer, Ronald Reagan, Reagan, George W, Bush, McConnell, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, Fox, Tucker Carlson, Pelosi, “ Trump, Jan, CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Annie Grayer, Oliver Darcy Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican Party, CNN, Wyoming Republican, Trump, White, GOP, Republican, California Republican, Fox News, “, Capitol, ”, Orange Jesus, Mar, Save America PAC, AFP, Getty, Democratic, Republicans, House Republican Conference, Caucus, U.S . Capitol, Jan, Senate Republicans, Fox Corp, Fox, Democrat, Independent Locations: Wyoming, California, Mark Green of Tennessee, Mar, Trump, Washington , DC, Ohio, WASHINGTON, DC, Washington ,, Trump’s, Congress, America

Senate Democrats are discussing the possibility of attaching conditions to future Israel military aid amid humanitarian concerns in Gaza resulting from the country’s aggressive prosecution of its war against Hamas. “I do think that Israel needs to be more careful in the way it is conducting these operations,” Murphy added. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania told reporters he doesn’t support restrictions, saying that Hamas has to be “eliminated,” necessitating that there be no conditions on military aid to Israel. Senate Republicans were likewise largely opposed to conditions on aid to Israel, like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who called the idea “ridiculous.”“Our relationship with Israel is the closest national security relationship we have with any country in the world,” McConnell said. “We all support Israel.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Chuck Schumer, ”, Sen, Chris Coons, Bernie Sanders, Netanyahu’s, ” Sanders, Chris Murphy, ” Murphy, Joe Biden, Richard Blumenthal, who’s, ” Blumenthal, John Fetterman of, “, ” Fetterman, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, Israel –, “ We’ve, ” Sen, Peter Welch, we’re Organizations: CNN, Senate Republicans, Vermont Democrat, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, Chris Coons of Delaware, Vermont, Connecticut, U.S, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has not said whether he supports the proposal released Monday by Republican Sens. But he told The Associated Press in an interview Monday that he has been discussing the entire package of aid with the White House, including border policies. McConnell, who has strongly pushed for the Ukraine aid, said he thinks “every single Republican in the Senate and the House” believes that the influx of migrants is a major problem. But finding agreement on the border will be difficult, and could easily hold up further Ukraine aid, as immigration has been one of the most intractable issues in Congress for decades. It would detain families at the border and require migrants to make the asylum claim at an official port of entry.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, Republican Sens, Lindsey Graham of, Jim Lankford, ” McConnell, McConnell, ”, “, Israel, Mike Johnson, Biden, Dick Durbin, Kerri Talbot, Donald Trump, Colleen Long Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republicans, Republican, Associated Press, White, Democratic, House, Israel, Illinois Democrat, GOP, Immigration, Biden Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, United States, Israel, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Oklahoma, U.S ., Russia, Illinois, Afghanistan

☆ Analysis: Israel aid drama is the latest failure of American governance
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

House GOP leaders said they plan to hold a vote on the package on Thursday but such is the uncertainty in the party’s chaotic majority that no timetable is ever certain. But House GOP Whip Tom Emmer and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise both said they expect to pass the package later in the day. For years, a vote on aid to Israel might have been one of the least controversial measures to come up in the House all year. But Johnson defended his decision on Thursday to link Israel aid to cuts in IRS funding. But the last few weeks have shown there’s a vast difference between what a GOP speaker wants to do and what he can do.

Persons: Tom Emmer, Steve Scalise, Mike Johnson’s, Johnson, “, that’s, Joe Biden, McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, –, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, ” —, McConnell, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Ukraine’s, Oklahoma Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, —, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Jessica Rosenberg, ” Biden Organizations: CNN, GOP, Internal Revenue Service, Johnson’s, Hamas, Louisiana Republican, Democratic, White, Senate, Republican Party, Wednesday, Fox News, Putin, Oklahoma, House Republicans, Republican, United Locations: Israel, America, Washington, Ukraine, China, Russia, Louisiana, United States, Kremlin, Kyiv, Carolina, Gaza, Minnesota, Michigan

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