Trump Standoff with Thune Risks Entire GOP Agenda

“Donald Trump’s strained personal relationship with Senate Majority Leader John Thune has spilled out into the open as the president’s surprise missives and unattainable demands threaten to torch Republican legislative priorities with less than 100 days until the November midterm elections,” Bloomberg reports.

“The president’s top priority before the Senate leaves for a month-long break is to pass voter restriction legislation that doesn’t have enough support in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to advance most bills. Undeterred, Trump has demanded Thune nuke the Senate’s long-standing filibuster rule and pass the measure with a simple majority.”

“The standoff over the Save America Act has scrambled the party’s agenda for months, with a growing pileup of other legislation and time running short ahead of the midterms. That includes a stopgap spending bill to keep the government open past the end of September, Russia sanctions, a crypto market structure bill and an overhaul of rules governing collegiate sports.”