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Just dropped · Trial Balloon · Ep. 195

Shake Up

A new episode of Trial Balloon just dropped for Political Wire members. Log in or become a member

Trial Balloon · Ep. 195: Shake Up

‘I Don’t Think Anyone Takes Them Seriously’

July 17, 2025 · 9:39 am ET · Leave a Comment

CNN: “House Freedom Caucus members argue their objections to – and eventual reversals on – Trump’s sweeping tax and spending cuts bill were just part of the process: they push legislation to comport with their ultra-conservative worldview, compromising on some points but not others as they look to what lies ahead.”

“But their strategy of going public with concerns, only to set them aside under pressure, has affected how some in the party say they’ll approach negotiations with the group in the future. Their power as a voting bloc, some members say, is waning as Republicans attempt to navigate their razor-thin majorities through a government funding fight and push to slash more federal spending.”

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Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

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