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GOP Lawmakers Told Trump Voters Support Vaccines

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“Polling showing that a majority of President Donald Trump’s voters support vaccines was shared with several Republicans lawmakers’ staffers in a closed-door meeting Wednesday,” NBC News reports.

The poll was conducted by veteran Republican pollsters Tony Fabrizio and Bob Ward and concluded “that there is broad unity across party lines supporting vaccines such as measles (MMR), shingles, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (TDAP), and Hepatitis B.”

For members: Why Does Trump Let Kennedy Push a Fringe Agenda?

Trump Praises RFK Jr.’s Performance

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“Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tumultuous tenure atop the US Health and Human Services Department is starting to wear on some prominent Republicans,” CNN reports.

“But so far, President Donald Trump is not one of them.”

Said Trump: “I heard he did very well today.”

He added: “It’s not your standard talk. I would say that, and that has to do with medical and vaccines. But if you look at what’s going on in the world with health, and look at this country also with regard to health — I like the fact that he’s different.”

Axios: Takeaways from RFK Jr.’s fiery Senate appearance.

GOP Support Erodes for Releasing Epstein Files

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“Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is defying House Speaker Mike Johnson’s warnings and pressing forward with his discharge petition to force the release of Jeffrey Epstein records, even as some of his initial Republican backers are fading away,” Axios reports.

“Just days ago, the discharge petition’s success almost looked inevitable. But Republican leadership, White House pressure, and the release of Epstein-related files from the House Oversight Committee have blunted the petition’s momentum.”


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Democrats Still Pine for Janet Mills

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“Democrats have the choice between oysters and craft beer in the Maine Senate race. Many of them are still pining for more traditional fare,” Semafor reports.

“Over the past two weeks, oyster farmer Graham Platner and brewer Dan Kleban barged into the state’s Democratic primary. But senior Democrats are still hoping to enlist Gov. Janet Mills to challenge longtime Sen. Susan Collins — including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.”

“Schumer has twice tried to topple Collins with well-funded challengers, and he’s laser-focused on flipping Maine next year to regain the title of majority leader. While Platner’s launch blitz impressed several Democratic senators and won the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democrats also like Kleban’s profile, they’re still hoping for Mills.”

Trump to Rename Pentagon to Department of War

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“President Donald Trump is expected to rename the Defense Department to the Department of War through an executive order Friday, a move that the administration has said more accurately reflects the mission of the men and women serving in uniform today,” the Washington Post reports.

“But it was not clear if the president could unilaterally rename the department, which was created by Congress in 1789, as each iteration of its name has come about through legislation.“

Mamdani Challenges Trump to a Debate

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New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is challenging President Trump to face off in a televised debate — calling out the White House for trying to get involved in the heated race, the New York Post reports.

Said Mamdani: “Let’s cut out the middle man. Why should I debate Donald Trump’s puppet when I could debate Donald Trump himself?”

Exchange of the Day

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Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. at a hearing:

CASSIDY: Do you agree with me that President Trump deserves a Nobel Prize for Operation Warp Speed?

KENNEDY: Absolutely.

CASSIDY: But you just told Sen. Bennet that the Covid vaccine killed more people than Covid.

3 Cabinet Officials Have More Than One Primary Residence

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“The White House has targeted opponents, including a Fed governor, for having more than one primary residence on their loan papers,” ProPublica reports.

“In one case, a Trump cabinet secretary got two such mortgages in quick succession.”

“Underscoring how common the practice is, ProPublica found that at least three of Trump’s Cabinet members call multiple homes their primary residences on mortgages.”

Trump Claims Power to Kill Suspected Drug Smugglers

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“By ordering the U.S. military to summarily kill a group of people aboard what he said was a drug-smuggling boat, President Trump used the military in a way that had no clear legal precedent or basis,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Trump is claiming the power to shift maritime counterdrug efforts from law enforcement rules to wartime rules. The police arrest criminal suspects for prosecution and cannot instead simply gun suspects down, except in rare circumstances where they pose an imminent threat to someone.”

“By contrast, in armed conflicts, troops can lawfully kill enemy combatants on sight.”

“Because killing people is so extreme — and doing it without due process risks killing the wrong people by mistake — the question of which rules apply is not simply a matter of policy choice.”

Northwestern President Steps Down Amid Trump Pressure

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“Northwestern University President Michael Schill said Thursday he was resigning, marking the latest university leader to step down during a tumultuous period in higher education,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Like many of its peers, Northwestern has faced pressure from the Trump administration over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests on campus following the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel.”

“The Midwestern university has had $790 million in federal research money frozen, affecting hundreds of scientific projects, including clinical trials with patients on lifesaving medicine.”

Trump May Ban Transgender People from Owning Guns

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“In the wake of the Minneapolis Catholic church shooting, senior Justice Department officials are weighing proposals to limit transgender people’s right to possess firearms,” CNN reports.

“Such a move would represent a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration’s fight against the rights of transgender Americans.”

RFK Jr. Gets Warning Shot from Key Republican

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Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, raised eyebrows when he suggested some of Kennedy’s vaccine views were jeopardizing public safety and eroding medical progress, Axios reports.

Said Barrasso:  “I’ve grown deeply concerned.”

He added: “There are real concerns that safe, proven vaccines like measles, Hepatitis B and others could be in jeopardy, and that would put Americans at risk and reverse decades of progress.”

“Barrasso does not usually break from his party, and as a leadership member, could be reflecting broader concerns within the GOP caucus.”

MSNBC: Senators tear into RFK Jr. over vaccine restrictions in explosive hearing.

Senate Republicans Like Their Chances in Iowa

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“The Senate Republican campaign arm sent a memo to donors touting Rep. Ashley Hinson’s potential strength in the Iowa Senate race, while stopping short of fully endorsing her to replace outgoing Sen. Joni Ernst,” NOTUS reports.

“Senate Democrats have been looking for ways to expand their difficult 2026 map to take back the majority, eyeing red states like Iowa and Alaska as potential places to do so.”

About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

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