Dismal GOP Fundraising Shifts 7 More House Seats

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Cook Political Report: “The newest FEC filings spell danger for Republicans. In the most recent fundraising period, Democrats outraised Republicans in at least 60 GOP-held seats, more than twice the 23 seats Democrats need for a majority. Meanwhile, the reverse is true in just five Democratic-held seats. That’s going to force the NRCC and Congressional Leadership Fund to bail out a lot of cash-strapped GOP candidates come the fall.”

“In light of the most recent FEC filings, we’re updating our ratings in seven districts, all reflecting improved Democratic prospects.”

GOP Candidates Call for End to Mueller Investigation

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“Republican Senate candidates in competitive primary races have begun to call for an end to the special counsel’s investigation of Russian tampering in the 2016 election, breaking from congressional GOP leaders,” the Washington Post reports.

“Candidates in Montana, Indiana, Arizona and Mississippi have gone public since Sunday with their concerns that the investigation by Robert Mueller has gone on too long, expanded too broadly or is motivated by improper partisan interests.”

“All are competing in states President Trump won easily in the 2016 campaign.”

Trump ‘Deeply Rattled’ By FBI Raid on Cohen’s Office

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Washington Post: “Trump was infuriated by the seizure of possibly sensitive correspondence involving work that Cohen — his close friend, consigliere and personal ‘fixer’ — was doing on his behalf and believed Mueller’s team was operating in bad faith.”

“Trump was so upset, in fact, that he had trouble concentrating on plans that were laid out for him that day by his national security team about potential options for targeted missile strikes on Syria… In recent days, Trump has grown increasingly agitated, railing against members of his beleaguered team.”

GOP Senators Wary of Additional Tax Cuts

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“New projections on the size of the federal deficit and the price tag of President Trump’s tax-cut law have left some Republican senators nervous about voting on another tax package before the election,” The Hill reports.

“While the GOP on Tuesday used Tax Day to proclaim the success of last year’s $1.5 trillion tax cut, there is some unease about doubling down on the issue in the coming months. Some in the party want to go on offense and try to make permanent the individual tax cuts that were part of last year’s legislation.”

Said Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN): “I’d say, ‘Hell no. Hell no — double hell no.'”

Grayson Will Make Another Bid for Congress

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Former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) told the Orlando Weekly that he’s running for Congress again, but hasn’t decided from which district.

“Grayson, who has stirred up his fair share of controversy over the years, served one term representing the state’s 10th Congressional District and two representing the 9th Congressional District in Central Florida. Though Grayson has officially filed to run in Florida’s 11th Congressional District, he has doubled down on the fact that it’s just a holding spot for his paperwork as he continues to raise money for his latest campaign.”

Hannity ‘Gets Patched Immediately’ to Trump

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Washington Post: “Trump and Hannity usually speak several times a week, according to people familiar with their relationship. The Fox News host, whose show averages more than 3 million viewers daily, is one of the few people who gets patched immediately to Trump. The two men review news stories and aspects of Hannity’s show, and occasionally debate specifics about whatever the president is considering typing out on Twitter. There have also been times when Trump has assessed the merits of various White House aides with Hannity.”

Said one presidential adviser: “He basically has a desk in the place.”

Trump Backpedals on Reason for Comey Firing

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President Trump contradicted his own comments that the Russia investigation was a key reason he fired FBI director James Comey on Twitter:

Slippery James Comey, the worst FBI Director in history, was not fired because of the phony Russia investigation where, by the way, there was NO COLLUSION (except by the Dems)!

As Trump told NBC News: “In fact, when I decided to just do it I said to myself, ‘you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story. It’s an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won.'”

Top Republicans Call on Greitens to Resign

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“Leaders in Missouri’s GOP-controlled House issued a stinging rebuke of Republican Gov. Eric Greitens on Tuesday evening, calling on the state’s chief executive to resign as scandals continue to consume his administration,” the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Greitens responded on Twitter: “I will not be resigning the Governor’s office. In three weeks, this matter will go to a court of law—where it belongs and where the facts will prove my innocence. Until then, I will do what the people of Missouri sent me here to do: to serve them and work hard on their behalf.”

Trump Trade Official Spent $1 Million on New Furniture

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“President Trump’s trade representative is spending nearly $1 million on new furniture — and blaming the Obama administration,” the New York Post reports.

“U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer spent more than $917,000 to furnish the two trade offices near the White House… That’s a significant increase compared to the last two trade reps.”

Trump Mocks Sketch Released by Stormy Daniels

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President Trump tweeted “about a sketch of a man who a pornographic actress claims threatened her years ago on behalf of Mr. Trump. It was just the second time the president weighed in on the subject after weeks of frenzied news media coverage,” the New York Times reports.

“The president mocked the sketch, which the pornographic actress, Stephanie Clifford (known as Stormy Daniels) released on Tuesday. His tweet accompanied a post from another Twitter user, who said the man looked like Ms. Clifford’s former husband.”

Freedom Caucus Wants Concessions from McCarthy

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“The Freedom Caucus is prepared to exact a price from Kevin McCarthy if he wants to be the next speaker of the House — three years after foiling his first bid for the job,” Politico reports.

“A survey of about 20 of the conservative group’s three dozen members found varying degrees of openness to the California Republican known as a deal-making pragmatist. But nearly all the hard-liners said he’ll have to make concessions to win their support. Without it, they could block his path to the speakership.”