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WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s dramatic victory has scrambled next week’s three-way contest to replace Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, the chamber’s longest-serving leader who is stepping down at the end of the year. One ally of both Scott and Trump, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., urged Trump to endorse Scott, a former Florida governor who cruised to re-election in the Senate on Tuesday night. “If you’ve got any influence with President Trump, ask President Trump to come out publicly and say he wants to work with somebody as accomplished as Rick Scott to accomplish his agenda. Cornyn joined Trump at a rally in Reno, Nevada, last month for Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown, whose race is currently too close to call, according to NBC News projections. "As I told President Trump, I'm interested in getting the band back together again," Cornyn told Fox News host Neil Cavuto on Monday.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Mitch McConnell, McConnell’s, John Thune, Sen, John Cornyn, —, Rick Scott, John, John Barrasso, McConnell, Scott, Trump, ” Scott, “, ” Trump, Ron Johnson, you’ve, President Trump, We’ve, ” Johnson, ”, — it’s, it’s, Mike Lee, Bernie Moreno, Tim Sheehy of Montana, Jim Justice, Thune, ” Thune, he’s, ” Thune’s, Tim Scott, Cornyn, Trump’s, Sam Brown, I'm, Neil Cavuto, MAGA, Ted Cruz Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Republicans, GOP, GOP Conference, Trump, NBC News, McConnell, Fox Business, United States Senate, CNBC, NBC, Fox News, National Republican Senatorial, Senate, Texas Republican Locations: South Dakota, Texas, Florida, Wyoming, Washington, Utah, Bernie Moreno of Ohio, West Virginia, Lago, Reno , Nevada

GOP senators and top aides say the race could go either way. Scott, who is a McConnell critic, has been more willing to fall in line with Trump than Cornyn or Thune over the last several years. Both Thune and Cornyn are closely politically aligned with the longtime GOP leader. Asked if he would like to get more public endorsements from GOP senators, Thune said he is not asking anyone to do that. They also point out his remarkable ascent – he defeated then-Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle in 2004 and is now on a path to possibly becoming GOP leader.

Persons: Mitch McConnell’s, Donald Trump, Sen, John Cornyn, John Thune, McConnell, Trump, Cornyn, Joe Rogan, ” Cornyn, Thune, they’ve, Howard Lutnick, Linda McMahon, Rick Scott, Scott, ” Scott, Laura Loomer, Markwayne Mullin, he’s, “ I’d, ” Mullin, Jonathan Ernst, “ There’s, ”, West Virginia Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, John Barrasso of, Barrasso, Cornyn’s, “, ” Thune, don’t, —, I’ve, MAGA, — Trump, ” Trump, Kristi Noem, Kristi, GOP Sen, Tim Scott of, Anna Moneymaker, Steve Daines, Thune’s, Tom Daschle, Biden, Vance Organizations: CNN, GOP, Senate, Trump, Mar, Trump voters, ”, Republicans, U.S, Capitol, Johns, Republican, Thune, National Republican, Committee, “ Liberal, South Dakota Gov, RINO, U.S . Senate, South Dakota, New, Senate GOP, Democratic Locations: Reno , Nevada, Austin , Texas, Texas, Lago, Washington, Florida, Washington , U.S, West Virginia, John Barrasso of Wyoming, United States, South Dakota, U.S, South, “, Tim Scott of South Carolina, New Hampshire, Washington , DC, Montana, Michigan , Indiana , Nevada

☆ McConnell says ‘MAGA movement is completely wrong’ and Reagan ‘wouldn’t recognize’ Trump’s GOP
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-23 | by ( Morgan Rimmer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered a scathing assessment of the modern Republican Party in an upcoming biography, saying the “MAGA movement is completely wrong” and that Ronald Reagan “wouldn’t recognize” the party today. The Republican leader eventually voted to acquit Trump during the second impeachment trial, focused on the former president’s involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. However, Tackett reports that McConnell had leaned towards voting to convict at certain points. However, McConnell has endorsed Trump, and met with him back in June of this year during Trump’s meeting with Senate Republicans off the Hill. McConnell also expressed support for special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into Trump’s actions around the 2020 election and the insurrection.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, MAGA, Ronald Reagan “, Trump, Ronald Reagan, ” McConnell, Michael Tackett, Power ”, McConnell, “ Trump, haven’t, ”, “, it’s, acquit Trump, “ I’m, he’s, Elaine Chao, Chao, Coco Chow ”, ” Tackett, Donald Trump, Donald Trump’s, JD Vance, Lindsey Graham, Sen, Rick Scott, Senate Republicans ’, Scott, Rick, Clarence Thomas “, I’m, Thomas, Thomas ’, Jack Smith’s, hasn’t, CNN’s Manu Raju, Ted Barrett Organizations: CNN, Republican Party, Associated Press, Republicans, Republican, Capitol, GOP, Kentucky Republican, Senate, Senate Republicans Locations: ”, China

☆ McConnell privately called Trump a 'despicable human' and unfit for office, new book says
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Frank-Thorp-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Frank Thorp V | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has endorsed Donald Trump for president this year. But in a new book, the powerful Kentucky Republican is quoted after the 2020 election disparaging Trump as a “despicable human being,” “stupid” and “ill-tempered." McConnell did not deny his statements about Trump as quoted in the book, when asked about it Thursday. In late December 2020, a month after Democrat Joe Biden defeated Trump in the presidential election, McConnell skewered Trump for holding up billions of dollars in Covid relief funds. Trump is “stupid as well as being ill-tempered and can’t even figure out where his own best interests lie,” McConnell said at the time.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump, Trump, McConnell, sobbed, Power, Michael Tackett, JD Vance, Lindsey Graham, ” McConnell, Democrat Joe Biden, McConnell skewered Trump Organizations: Kentucky Republican, Capitol, NBC News, The Associated Press, Trump, AP, Democrat, Peach State, Republicans Locations: WASHINGTON, The, Peach

☆ Harris could face Senate GOP roadblock for any Supreme Court pick
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-29 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

For more on the Senate Republican leadership race, watch “Inside Politics with Manu Raju,” this Sunday at 8 a.m. EDT. If Republicans regain control of the Senate, a President Harris would have to rely on the next GOP leader to schedule a vote on a Supreme Court nominee. “It depends,” Texas Sen. John Cornyn said when asked if a Harris Supreme Court pick would get a vote in a Senate that he would lead. “We’ll cross the bridge when we come to it,” Thune said when asked last week if he’d allow a Harris Supreme Court pick to be confirmed. Asked how he would work with a President Harris, Cornyn deadpanned: “We would be the loyal opposition.”

Persons: Manu Raju, ”, Kamala Harris, Harris, Mitch McConnell, Texas Sen, John Cornyn, ” Cornyn, I’m, John Thune, ” Thune, ” Sens, Tom Williams, Antonin Scalia, Barack Obama, Sen, Rick Scott of, McConnell, don’t, Trump, Cornyn Organizations: Republican, , Washington CNN, Senate, GOP, CNN, Harris Supreme, Harris, South Dakota Republican, Republican Senate, ”, Texas Republican, Inc, Getty, Florida — Locations: Washington, Texas, South Dakota, Washington, Rick Scott of Florida, Florida, Republican Senate

That’s why, he said, he invested in AppHarvest, a startup that promised a high-tech future for farming and for the workers of Eastern Kentucky. Despite promising local jobs, the company eventually began contracting migrant workers from Mexico, Guatemala and other countries, numerous former employees told CNN. After about a week on the job, Vance took a meeting with AppHarvest founder Jonathan Webb, as Webb later recounted in a Fox News podcast interview. The company’s health care benefits attracted Morgan, a single father, who told CNN he took a pay cut to join the startup. Such comments ring hollow to some former AppHarvest workers, who argue Vance’s rhetoric as a candidate for vice president doesn’t align with the reality they experienced.

Persons: JD Vance, Vance, “ It’s, it’s, ” Vance, AppHarvest, Donald Trump’s, Kentuckians Vance, weren’t, ”, Anthony Morgan, “, Luke Schroeder, AppHarvest’s, JD, Jonathan Webb, Webb, Peter Thiel’s, Thiel, Steve Case, Vance “, Morgan, ” Morgan, ’ ” Anthony Morgan, Shelby Hester, Hester, ” Hester, Grist, Andrew Miller, David Attenborough, Bethany, Gary Broadbent, “ AppHarvest, Mitch McConnell, Hester’s, Mitch Smith, bigwigs, CNN AppHarvest, Martha Stewart, Broadbent, doesn’t Organizations: CNN, Fox, Republican, US Department of Labor, PayPal, AOL, Fox News, AppHarvest, Morehead State University, Workers, Kentucky’s Education, Labor Cabinet, Kentucky Center, Investigative, Kentucky Republican, Securities and Exchange Commission, Retirement Association, Senate, Republican National Convention Locations: AppHarvest, Eastern Kentucky, Kentucky, Mexico, Guatemala, Ohio, Silicon Valley, Morehead, Appalachia, gurneys, Plymouth, Massachusetts, Canada, ”

☆ We’re Taught to Hate Hypocrisy. We Shouldn’t. - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Lydia Polgreen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Don’t Tell My Friends, But… is a seriesin which we asked Times columnistswhateveryone else is wrong about. At worst, it is hypocrisy, a clear felony compared with my misdemeanor hypocrisy. But I understand the appeal of calling out what looks like hypocrisy when we see it, especially now. To give hypocrisy a pass, one might argue, is to slide down a slope toward having no principles at all. In these merciless political times we should focus our minds on the true betrayals that really matter.

Persons: Mitch McConnell’s, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Israel, “, Ocasio, Cortez, Israel —, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emerson, Mitch McConnell, Al Capone Organizations: Nova, Israel, AIPAC Locations: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan

☆ Trump got the perfect birthday present: complete capitulation by the GOP
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Donald Trump got his 78th birthday present a day early — a handshake from his longtime bitter critic, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, encapsulating the Republican Party’s complete submission to its presumptive presidential nominee. They were provoked by the president.” He said Trump was morally and practically responsible for the assault on his beloved Capitol. “There’s tremendous unity in the Republican Party,” the ex-president said. Vance, was asked how some senior Republicans who had condemned Trump after January 6 could meet and applaud him now. “I think it’s a good thing and the Republican Party is in a good place.”Vance is not wrong.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, encapsulating, Republican Party’s, Mike Pence, Keen, Florida GOP Sen, Marco Rubio, Trump, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, McConnell, Doug Mills, Elaine Chao, ”, clasped McConnell’s, Nikki Haley, “, Evelyn Hockstein, Ohio Sen J.D, Vance, ” Vance, Utah Sen, Mitt Romney, Liz Cheney, Paul Ryan, Trump’s deportment, Biden, Joe Biden —, —, Donald Trump’s, It’s, Vladimir Putin, we’re, ” Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Putin, Joe Biden, Antonio Masiello, John Bolton, ” Bolton, Bianna Golodryga, Ronald Reagan, doesn’t Organizations: CNN, Republican, Capitol, Republicans, trouncing Democrats, Florida GOP, The New York Times, Kentucky, Trump, South Carolina Gov, Republican Party, National Republican Senatorial, Reuters, Former Wyoming, Fox News, Lawmakers, GOP, Domenico, Borgo, Former Trump, Zelensky, CNN International Locations: Florida, Texas, adulation, America, Washington, Utah, Italy, Ukraine, Fasano

☆ Greene keeps alive campaign to oust Johnson and warns against new push for Ukraine aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Johnson, presumably, could be helped by Democrats who want Ukraine aid as a price for helping the Louisiana Republican keep his job. Johnson has tried to ease tensions, saying on Fox this week of Greene: “She’s trying to send a message. But as she targets Johnson, Greene predicted her support would “continue to grow” and had “gained momentum”– though she declined to comment when asked which Republicans and how many were behind her effort. “We cannot get anyone more moderate than Mike Johnson,” Greene said. And I’m pretty sure I’m going to move the needle in that race in favor of John McGuire.”CNN’s Morgan Rimmer contributed.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mike Johnson, “, ”, Johnson, Greene, I’m, Vladimir Putin, Hakeem Jeffries, Bob Good, Donald Trump, ” Greene, Kevin McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, McCarthy, Gaetz, Johnson’s, wouldn’t, Mitch McConnell, he’s, Mitch McConnell’s, Nancy Pelosi, John McGuire, she’s grandstanding, Ron DeSantis, Trump, DeSantis, McGuire, ” CNN’s Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN —, CNN, Georgia, Ukraine, Democratic, GOP, Democrats, Louisiana Republican, House Republicans, Russian, Fox, ”, Democrat, Virginia, Republicans, White, Republican, Virginia Republican, Good, Florida Gov, Trump Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Louisiana, Florida, He’s, ”, Good’s

☆ Some in Congress don’t like extreme partisanship either
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —There was an interesting and telling exchange recently between Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the Alaska Republican, and CNN’s Manu Raju. In the hallway exchange, Murkowski expressed frustration that former President Donald Trump is her party’s presidential nominee. CNNWhen Raju pushed Murkowski about whether she might leave the Republican Party, she said this: “I am navigating my way through some very interesting political times. Moreno won the Republican nomination in last week’s primary and he did so by aligning himself with Trump. Gallagher follows Rep. Ken Buck, the hardline Colorado Republican who resigned early in frustration over Republican election denialism and because House lawmakers are unable to set aside differences to get much done.

Persons: Sen, Lisa Murkowski, CNN’s Manu Raju, Murkowski, Donald Trump, “, ”, Raju, ’ Murkowski, Trump, ” Sen, Raju, Let’s, Bernie Moreno, Moreno, “ We’ve, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, it’s, Kyrsten, Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, Sinema, Manchin, Jon Tester, Sherrod Brown, CNN RAJU, Mitt Romney, Joe Biden –, Rob Portman, Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker, Mitch McConnell’s, Mike Gallagher, Alejandro Mayorkas, Gallagher, Ken Buck, CNN’s Dana Bash, he’d Organizations: CNN, Alaska Republican, Capitol, Republican Party, Trump, Republican, Capitol Hill, GOP, Republicans, Kentucky Republican, Democratic, Senate, Getty, Democratic Party, Montana Democrat, Sen, Homeland, Colorado Republican Locations: Alaska, Cleveland, Ohio, Sens, Arizona, West Virginia, Montana, Wisconsin

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ Was Trump’s Nomination Always Inevitable?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Charles Homans | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Nikki Haley’s exit from the presidential race this morning all but assures former President Donald Trump of the Republican nomination, in a contest that has been notably lacking in suspense. But that wasn’t always the case. As recently as a year ago, less than half of Republican voters in FiveThirtyEight’s polling average named Trump their preferred candidate. Or were there moments along Trump’s road to victory that could have led to another outcome? They considered several moments that loom large in retrospect, starting in the final days of Trump’s presidency, and discussed how things might have gone differently.

Persons: Nikki Haley’s, Donald Trump, wasn’t, Trump, Trump’s, Mitch McConnell’s Organizations: Republican

☆ 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

Gail Collins: So, Bret — are you gonna miss Mitch McConnell? Bret Stephens: I guess it all depends on who succeeds him. If it’s a fairly traditional Republican, like John Cornyn of Texas or John Thune of South Dakota, I don’t think it will make much of a difference. But lately, McConnell has certainly seemed more civilized than a lot of the other Republican leaders. Bret: A first — Bret is harder on Mitch than Gail is.

Persons: Gail Collins, Bret —, Mitch McConnell, Bret Stephens, John Cornyn of, John Thune of, Rick Scott, Nicholas II, Gail, Trump, McConnell —, Barack, Merrick Garland, McConnell, Bret, Trump’s, Gail :, who’s Organizations: Republican Locations: John Cornyn of Texas, John Thune of South Dakota

☆ Opinion: Why ‘My Way’ won’t go away
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. “That is the way he spoke,” Anka told Ed Masley of the Arizona Republic. It may not go his way, but the failure of Congress to approve more aid to Ukraine likely is giving Putin hope. Whether Congress chooses to provide the continued financial support Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan desperately need will go a long way toward answering this question. “If Biden wants to improve his standing with voters,” wrote Jon Gabriel, “a Brownsville photo won’t cut it.

Persons: CNN — “, ”, Frank Sinatra, “, Alexey Navalny, Paul Anka, Sinatra, …, Anka, ” Anka, Ed Masley, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Odessa Rae, Trump, Joe Biden, Jack Smith, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Julian Zelizer, Putin, Emmanuel Macron, Mark T, Esper, Russia resurges, ” Esper, Nick Anderson, Dahlia Lithwick, Steve Vladeck, Walt Handlesman, Biden, Nikki Haley, “ Biden, specter, ” David Axelrod, Haley, ” Dana Summers, Joe Biden John Halpin, Sophia Nelson, Catherine Russell, Russell, Ofri Bibas Levy, Yarden, Kibbutz Nir, Shiri Bibas, Ariel, ” Levy, Shiri, Kfir, Frida Ghitis, Drew Sheneman, Roe, ” Cupp, Katie Britt, Elena Sheppard, I’d, Betsy Ross, ” Sheppard, Dorothea Dix, Lucy Delaney, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sheppard, Kristen Kelly, Serene Williams, Clay Jones, Jon Gabriel, Gabriel, Eric Adams, Laken Riley, Raul A, Reyes, ” Don’t, David Horsey, Agency Van Jones, Ariel Dorfman, Dean Obeidallah, Shane Gillis, Noah Berlatsky, —, Kellie Carter Jackson, Lev Golinkin, Josephine Apraku, Germany Jill Filipovic, Jodie Turner, Smith, Michael Bociurkiw, Anna Arutunyan, Kirk Tanner, Jeff Yang, ” Wendy’s, ” Yang Organizations: CNN, FBI, Liberty Ball, Russia ”, Twitter, Capitol, Republicans, Senate, GOP, Trump, Republican Party, West, Tribune Content Agency Trump, Michigan Trump, Democratic, Agency, Tribune Content Agency, UNICEF, Hamas, CNN Republicans, Union, Biden, New York City, Immigration, Customs Enforcement, University of Georgia, Congressional, Stanford Locations: Moscow, Miami, Arizona Republic, Russian, Russia, Odessa, Ukraine, Michigan, “, United States, Israel, Taiwan, Washington ,, Gaza, Tribune Content Agency Gaza, Rafah, ”, Alabama, Biden’s State, Brownsville, New York, Venezuela, Germany

☆ McConnell’s Early Decision to Step Aside Fuels G.O.P. Fight to Succeed Him
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A contest that had been simmering in the background was suddenly thrust front and center this week by Mr. McConnell’s earlier-than-expected announcement that he would not seek to remain his party’s leader. The contenders immediately began wooing their colleagues for the chance to become the first new face of their party in the Senate in almost two decades. “It is a lot of runway,” Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican, said about the months remaining before the party’s first seriously contested leadership race since Mr. McConnell took over in 2007. The true electorate is not even known yet, since those voting for next year’s leader will include anyone who wins a seat in November — and exclude anyone who loses.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, McConnell’s, John Thune of, McConnell Organizations: Capitol Locations: John Thune of South Dakota

☆ Late Night Speculates About Mitch McConnell’s Next Career Move
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Trish Bendix | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Leaving So Soon? On Wednesday, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said he would step down this year from his long-held position as leader of the Senate Republicans. “McConnell just turned 82, so that can only mean one thing: He’s running for president,” said Jimmy Fallon.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Kentucky, “ McConnell, ”, Jimmy Fallon Organizations: Netflix, Republicans

☆ Opinion: Mitch McConnell’s unconditional surrender
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Julian Zelizer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Mitch McConnell has bowed to political reality and announced that he is relinquishing his role as leader of Senate Republicans. (Chao served as transportation secretary under former President Donald Trump, before quitting the post following the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.) The anti-Trump coalition within the Republican Party is small and hanging on by a thread, and there is little chance of that changing in the short term. Now, one of Haley’s most generous benefactors, the conservative political action committee Americans for Prosperity, funded by the Koch network, has withdrawn its funds. And now, like other Trump opponents, Romney finds himself heading for the exit at the end of his current term.

Persons: Julian Zelizer, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Elaine Chao, Chao, Donald Trump, ”, It’s, he’s, invectives, MAGA, Trump, Merrick Garland, Barack Obama’s, — McConnell, SCOTUS, Roe, Wade, Dobbs, Lindsey Graham, Sen, Dick Durbin, —, that’s, Gingrich’s, Nikki Haley, Haley, couldn’t, Koch, Mitt Romney, Romney, convicting Trump, Trump’s, Romney’s Organizations: CNN, Princeton University, The New York Times, America, Republicans, Julian Zelizer CNN, Trump, Ukraine, GOP, Republican Party, Republican, NATO, Tea Party, MAGA, UN, Prosperity, Old Party Locations: Washington, life’s, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Kentucky, South Carolina, Utah

☆ A Biden-Trump Border Showdown, and Mitch McConnell’s Exit
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( New York Times Audio | Ian Stewart | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The New York Times Audio app is home to journalism and storytelling, and provides news, depth and serendipity. If you haven’t already, download it here — available to Times news subscribers on iOS — and sign up for our weekly newsletter. The Headlines brings you the biggest stories of the day from the Times journalists who are covering them, all in about five minutes.

Organizations: New York Times, Times

Donald J. Trump and Mitch McConnell haven’t said a word to each other since December 2020. Assuming it happens, Mr. McConnell’s endorsement of Mr. Trump would have enormous symbolic value to the former president, giving him the embrace of the last holdout of Republican power whose rejection of him represents the final patch of unconquered territory in Mr. Trump’s march to the party’s 2024 presidential nomination. The support of Mr. McConnell, the Republican senator from Kentucky and the chamber’s minority leader, would also carry huge value in signaling to an entire class of donors and Trump-resistant Republican elites that it’s acceptable to get behind the party’s expected nominee — no matter their misgivings. This is no small thing, given that Mr. Trump has been forced to spend more than $50 million already on legal bills, and the groups supporting him are expected to be vastly outspent by President Biden’s operation. The secretive conversations between the Trump and McConnell camps have been happening between key advisers to both men who have known and worked with each other for more than 20 years: Chris LaCivita, a top campaign adviser to Mr. Trump, and Josh Holmes, a confidant and longtime political strategist for Mr. McConnell.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Mitch McConnell haven’t, Trump’s, McConnell, —, Biden’s, Chris LaCivita, Josh Holmes Organizations: Republican, Trump Locations: Kentucky

☆ No. 2 Senate Republican endorses Trump for president
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Lauren Fox | Sam Fossum | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —GOP Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, is endorsing former President Donald Trump as the party’s nominee, his office confirmed to CNN. The backing from the South Dakota Republican, who has been critical of Trump, is the latest indication of the former president’s grip on the party as he barrels toward the nomination. Thune, who is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s top deputy and is seen as a potential successor to the Kentucky Republican, had backed Sen. Tim Scott for president before the South Carolina senator dropped out of the race in November. “All that has repercussions for Senate races, too.

Persons: GOP Sen, John Thune, Donald Trump, Trump’s, Thune, Mitch McConnell’s, Sen, Tim Scott, “ I’ve, ” Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican, South Dakota Republican, Trump, Fox News, Kentucky Republican, South, eventual GOP Locations: Saturday’s South Carolina, South Carolina

☆ 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

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

☆ Prevailing on Ukraine Funding, McConnell Took Political Hits
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Mitch McConnell put his standing on the line in aggressively pursuing military assistance for Ukraine over deep Republican resistance, and he achieved the outcome he wanted: a strong Senate vote to bolster embattled U.S. allies at a critical moment. “History settles every account,” Mr. McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the minority leader, said in a statement issued early Tuesday, minutes after the Senate voted 70 to 29 for a $95 billion foreign aid package. “And today, on the value of American leadership and strength, history will record that the Senate did not blink.”But his hard-fought legislative victory came at a cost. The bitter Senate fight over the aid package — money that Mr. McConnell framed as essential to preserving Western power — exposed serious divisions among Senate Republicans not just over Ukraine and border security policy but over his leadership. The fallout underscored Mr. McConnell’s waning influence over his party’s rank and file and raised new questions about his future.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, ” Mr, McConnell Organizations: Republican, Senate, Republicans Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Kentucky

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