“These nonsense polls that are out there telling us how the the president has never had a lower approval rating — what last week showed everybody once again is Donald Trump is the leader of the Republican Party. Donald Trump still holds the strength. There’s never been anybody like him.”
— House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), on CNBC.
NOTUS: “Rep. Tom Kean Jr. appears to have taken at least two official actions during his weekslong and largely unexplained absence from Congress — both to the benefit of his staff.”
“Despite not casting a vote since early March, the New Jersey Republican signed a pair of congressional “gift travel” disclosures affirming that his chief of staff, Dan Scharfenberger, was authorized to take trips paid for by special interest groups.”
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) took questions from reporters:
NORMAN: January 6th was an issue that was made up in the first place.
REPORTER: Made up?
NORMAN: That was a staged thing from day one.
REPORTER: The riot was staged? Your Republican colleagues barricaded themselves in their chamber. You think they were acting?
Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. (R-NJ) told the New Jersey Globe that he is nearing a return to work and intends to discuss publicly the health issue that has sidelined him since March.
He also confirmed that he will seek re-election to a third term this year.
Wall Street Journal: “House Republican leaders yanked a planned vote to restrict President Trump’s ability to conduct military strikes against Iran, after it became clear that the resolution, forced to the floor by Democrats, would likely pass.”
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) said he supports the Department of Justice’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund — and isn’t ruling out seeking money from the account for himself, Politico reports.
“You don’t have to be a rubber stamp for the president to support him and to align with him and also follow his agenda.”
— Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), quoted by NewsNation.
Politico: “A bipartisan House effort is afoot to kill the $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund created by the Justice Department that could pay allies of President Donald Trump, according to three people granted anonymity to discuss the effort ahead of a formal announcement.”
“House Republican moderates aren’t mourning after Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie — a frequent thorn in President Donald Trump’s side — lost his primary, and they say his defeat won’t make them any less likely to break with the White House,” NOTUS reports.
“Republican centrists insist the intraparty revenge campaign against Massie won’t stop them from speaking out, and potentially voting against, the president’s agenda — even ahead of midterm elections.”
Politico: “House GOP leaders are canceling a vote on an Iran war powers resolution they had previously scheduled tor Wednesday, according to three people granted anonymity to share private scheduling updates.”
“Due to GOP absences and defections, the measure likely would have been approved if the vote were held today. Rather than take that risk, Republicans are now expected to hold the vote Thursday.”
“Speaker Mike Johnson refused to rule out whether individuals convicted as part of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol would be eligible to receive money from the Trump administration’s new ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ — or say whether he would oppose a scenario where they would qualify,” Politico reports.
Meanwhile the New York Times reports two police officers “who defended the Capitol against a pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, 2021, sued the Trump administration to try to block the creation of a nearly $1.8 billion fund that they say will be used to reward the rioters and right-wing militia groups who tried to stop Congress from certifying the election results that day.”
“This is Donald Trump’s Republican Party. The rest of us get the privilege of living in it.”
— Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), on X.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) sucked up to President Trump, just hours after Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) was defeated in a Republican primary and Trump threatened to oppose Boebert’s re-election as well.
Said Boebert: “My friend & Co-Chair gave his all in Kentucky! Trump is my President! Jesus is Lord! I look forward to a lifetime filled with joy, purpose, and gratitude. May God continue to bless America and the freedoms that make this nation the greatest.”
Vice President JD Vance confirmed the Justice Department is investigating Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) for alleged immigration fraud, the New York Post reports.
“House Republicans will try again to extend daylight saving time, seeking to end the nation’s semiannual clock changes — and deliver on a priority for President Donald Trump,” the Washington Post reports.
Punchbowl News: “Democratic voters around the country are clamoring for new party leadership. Older Democratic lawmakers are facing political and electoral pressure like never before.”
“But there’s little chance the House Democratic Caucus will impose term limits on their committee leaders next Congress, showing that the anti-octogenarian movement stops at the walls of the Capitol.”
“It also presents an uncomfortable reality for younger House Democrats despondent at the prospect of potentially waiting years or even decades to snag senior posts on panels. And it’s yet another example of how the desire for generational change among Democrats is running up against a caucus that’s resistant to reform.”
New York Post: “Rep. Max Miller has been accused of attempting to bait his estranged wife’s attorney, Andrew Zashin, into a fight during a shocking courthouse encounter earlier this month.”
Playbook: “Trump has already set his sights on the next member on his must-go list: Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO). She responded defiantly to Trump’s calls to primary her after she appeared alongside Massie, declaring herself a true MAGA warrior who can win in November.”
Taegan 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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