Politico: “Four sources with knowledge of their relationship said Trump talks to Meadows more than he does with many of his senior aides. They sometimes spend an hour-plus on the phone together or speak more than once per day.”
Jordan, Meadows Vie to Defend Trump on Key Committees
“An intense behind-the-scenes power struggle over who will become Donald Trump’s top congressional defender is coming to a head as two Freedom Caucus leaders and their allies pressure senior Republicans to give them two top committee posts,” Politico reports.
“Rep. Jim Jordan has formally launched a bid to become the top Republican lawmaker on the House Judiciary Committee, according to two leadership sources, while Rep. Mark Meadows is going for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.”
Meadows Makes Bid to Reveal Secret Memo
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) “plans to ask a federal financial watchdog to audit the office of special counsel Robert Mueller, opening a new front of GOP attack on the secretive probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible ties to President Trump’s campaign,” the Washington Post reports.
“The pending request… appears to be mainly calibrated to force the disclosure of a three-page Justice Department memo spelling out the authorized scope of Mueller’s investigation.”
Lesko Will Join Freedom Caucus
Rep.-elect Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), who narrowly won a special election in Arizona Tuesday night, is expected to join the House Freedom Caucus after she is sworn in, the conservative group’s leader, Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC) told The Hill.
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“I can make the case for losing 27 or 28 seats. What difference does a majority make?”
— Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), quoted by The Hill, arguing that losing control of the House would be painful but would not feel dramatically different.
Bonus Quote of the Day
“It’s easy to be bold when you’re not coming back.”
— Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), quoted by the AP, saying Sen. Bob Corker’s (R-TN) criticism of President Trump is not appropriate.
Bonus Quote of the Day
“I think there’s going to be a rebellion against everybody, not just leadership. If we get to December and we’ve not repealed Obamacare, don’t build the wall… it’s not going to be pretty.”
— Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), quoted by Axios.
Bannon Plots with House Freedom Caucus
Stephen Bannon and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, “plotted for nearly two hours on the agenda for the month ahead, with an emphasis on the Breitbart-Freedom Caucus war against Republican leadership on multiple fronts,” according to Jonathan Swan.
Said a source: “The topics discussed included conservative alternatives to everything the anti-Trump Republican leadership has planned on every major policy matter facing the United States of America in September. Including, Paul Ryan’s and Mitch McConnell’s demonstrated failure to govern, and how to effectively implement the Trump agenda moving forward.”
“Republican leadership already has a brutal month ahead, but the House Freedom Caucus — a collection of around 40 ultra conservative members — is going to fight them every step of the way.”
Kushner Raises Money for Meadows
Playbook: “Jared Kushner quietly escaped to North Carolina last night to raise money at a private fundraiser for Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, according to multiple sources familiar with the event. Meadows and Kushner have discussed Israel — part of Kushner’s portfolio, and a key issue for Meadows — and paid leave, which faces long odds in the Republican Congress. Kushner went in a private capacity.”
“Why does this matter? Easy. Meadows has been a thorn in the side of Republican leaders for years, and is now one of the most powerful men in the Capitol. He has been a key ally of President Donald Trump’s — and an intermediary between conservatives in the House and the White House. Kushner traveling to North Carolina ahead of the long weekend shows the nature of the relationship between Meadows and members of the Trump administration.”
Quote of the Day
“We will always remember how tenacious and loyal Mark and Debbie Meadows were, especially after Oct. 7. They’re definitely members of what we call the ‘Oct. 8th coalition.’”
— Kellyanne Conway, quoted by the Washington Examiner, praising Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) and his wife for standing with Donald Trump after the Access Hollywood tape last October.
Meadows Threatens Shutdown Over Border Wall
House Freedom Caucus chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC) told Brietbart that the federal spending bill — which needs to be passed by the end of September — must fund the construction of President Trump’s border wall or else there will be a government shutdown.
He also claims Trump backs his position: “My conversations with the President have led me to believe that there is nothing less than a full and total commitment on his part to only sign into law a funding bill that actually allows for us to start construction of a border wall on our southern border. He’s committed to do that. We’re committed to supporting him in that position.”
Freedom Caucus Wants to Cancel August Recess
Politico: “The House Freedom Caucus on Tuesday night called on Republican leadership to cancel the August recess to continue work on tax reform and other GOP priorities. The group of several dozen conservative hardliners during their weekly meeting took the official position to work through the break, which is quickly drawing near as Republicans scramble to pass President Donald Trump’s agenda.”
Said Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC): “We need to work through August recess to get everything done. We believe that we need to stay through August to get through tax reform… and get our appropriations done.”
Trump Gets Nowhere with the Freedom Caucus
Playbook: “After President Donald Trump met with Speaker Paul Ryan and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Wednesday night, he had a long conference call with the leaders that included Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), the chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.”
“Multiple people familiar with the call say it lasted until almost midnight. They spoke about what multiple sources describe as fundamental — and intractable — issues with the health-care bill. It left no one optimistic that health care will get done any time soon.”
Meadows Hailed as a Hero Back Home
“House insurgent Mark Meadows embarrassed the White House and forced his fellow Republicans to turn tail on a seven-year pledge to tear down Obamacare,” Politico reports.
“His constituents are throwing him a party.”
“In these small rural towns that double as ground zero for the type of populist, anti-establishment politics that thrust Donald Trump into the presidency and gave Republicans control of Washington, Meadows remains a hero. He demanded full repeal of Obamacare, more than the failed House bill would have attempted. And his star only shines brighter here after he cost House Republicans their first big win on health care — and their first big win as the governing party.”
Trump Singles Out GOP Lawmaker In Meeting
President Trump singled out House Freedom Caucus Chair Mark Meadows (R-NC) by name in a Capitol Hill meeting with House Republicans today, Axios reports.
“Trump asked Meadows to stand and then talked about how Meadows supported his campaign early, adding he expects Meadows to support the Republican Obamacare replacement bill in the end.”
Said Trump: “Mark, I’m gonna come after you.”
Freedom Caucus Chair Still Opposed to Health Care Bill
President Trump’s team is doing its utmost to sell Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) on its Obamacare replacement bill, “but the Freedom Caucus leader ain’t buying it,” Axios reports.
Said Meadows: “After investing hours and hours and hours of trying to find common ground between our moderate members and conservative members, and believing, because of the White House’s engagement in the process, that we could find common ground; I’ve now reached a conclusion that our leadership is going to put forth a bill that does not address any of the concerns in a meaningful way and will dare us to vote against it.”
GOP Lawmaker Urges Rollback of Campus Rape Rule
Incoming Freedom Caucus chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC) recommended that the Trump administration roll back 2011 campus sexual assault guidelines that “deny the often-innocent accused basic due process rights,” USA Today reports.
Meadows says the rule “has pressured colleges to spend hundreds of millions of dollars and to create vast campus bureaucracies” to investigate sexual assault and date rape — “the incidence of which may be overstated.”
Boehner Allies Sought Primary Challenger for Meadows
Republican sources say an ally of Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) has attempted to recruit a primary challenger against the GOP lawmaker who introduced a measure to oust the Speaker, The Hill reports.
Three senior GOP sources said they’ve heard Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) has reached out to Republicans in North Carolina’s 11th District to gauge their interest in launching a primary challenge against Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC).
