All articles tagged with #gop leadership
Sen. Mitch McConnell has returned to the U.S. Senate after a three-month absence due to a fall and pneumonia. While colleagues report he is mentally sharp and focused on key issues like the filibuster and Ukraine, his physical frailty and inconsistent presence on the floor have raised new concerns about his ability to serve through the end of his term.
84-year-old Senator Mitch McConnell returned to Capitol Hill after a 92-day absence, but his first week has been marked by inconsistent appearances and health concerns. While he participated in key votes, including the farm bill, he was frequently absent from the chamber and avoided media. Colleagues describe him as 'classic Mitch' in private, but his frailty and erratic presence have raised questions about his capacity to serve until January 2027.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not returned to the chamber since a June fall and subsequent hospitalization. As the Senate reconvenes after a five-week recess, his office has provided no concrete timeline for his return, though he is reportedly staying engaged with legislative business from home.
Sen. Mitch McConnell is expected to return to the Senate this week, ending a three-month absence due to health issues. His return is timed to vote on the stalled farm bill in the Agriculture Committee. While his office has not confirmed a specific date, staff have indicated he will be present for a Wednesday vote. The 84-year-old former leader has been recovering at home since a June fall and subsequent hospitalization.
House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson has requested a waiver to bypass term limits and retain his leadership role, citing recent policy wins. The move triggers a scramble among other Republicans, including Austin Scott, while the party faces broader internal tensions over data center costs, rogue Democrat votes, and the Dallas convention.
Senate Republicans recommended Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, to assume most of the late senator’s committee assignments on the Judiciary, Appropriations, Environment and Public Works, and Budget, with interim leadership shifts on Budget and the State Department funding subcommittee. Full Senate approval by unanimous consent is expected, and Darline, appointed by South Carolina’s governor to fill the remainder of Graham’s term, plans to run for a full six-year term.
The White House has told key Republicans to expect a roughly $80 billion supplemental request to fund the Iran war, likely by week’s end, with funds intended to replenish missiles and cover ongoing operations. The move faces Democratic opposition and GOP navigations over timing and scope, as lawmakers weigh how defense spending should fit with other agenda items and broader reconciliation efforts.
Rep. Andrew Ogles deleted his official X post declaring, 'Homosexuality has no place in America. Happy Nuclear Family Month,' after backlash tied to Pride Month; he blamed a staffer and said the employee was reprimanded. House GOP leaders Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise criticized the post, while Rep. Michael Lawler called it idiotic and offensive, reflecting rare GOP disagreement over social-media activity. Ogles has a history of Islamophobic posts that have drawn Democratic criticism but limited leadership action. The incident highlights ongoing tensions within the party over LGBTQ issues.
Republicans return from recess to a stalled midterm agenda dominated by a $72B immigration-enforcement package tied to the Trump-backed Anti-Weaponization Fund; internal GOP feuds, a court block, and possible fund modifications threaten passage, even as Schumer vows to kill the fund. House factions clash over payouts to Capitol attackers, while Iran war-powers votes and a June 12 deadline to reauthorize a government spy authority loom, with hard-liners pushing anti-trans bills and other battles driving the agenda.
Vice President JD Vance downplayed Trump’s chatter about a 2028 GOP ticket with him and Rubio, joking that a televised 'apprentice' contest isn’t appropriate. He’s focused on his current duties, while Rubio remains a high-profile ally and has said he wouldn’t run against Vance. Trump has reportedly polled advisers on top contenders and even floated a Vance–Rubio dream ticket, while Vance has been building fundraising support as GOP finance chair.
Conservatives in the GOP threaten to vote against the procedural rule to renew FISA, risking a lapse on April 20. Johnson can lose only a couple of votes, and leadership is weighing a compromise that could allow a vote on warrant requirements and potentially extend the program through Trump’s term, with some lawmakers pushing to attach the SAVE America Act—negotiations continue as lawmakers seek a path forward.
With a June 1 funding deadline looming, GOP leaders seek to pass a slim, immigration-focused DHS funding bill via reconciliation to restore DHS dollars and end the shutdown, hoping to bypass Democratic hurdles, but face opposition from House conservatives and some Senate Republicans who want broader DHS funding and other GOP priorities. Senate leaders may move quickly on a budget blueprint for the reconciliation bill, while other Capitol watch items include a 702 spy powers extension and resignations of Swalwell and Gonzales.
After liberal Chris Taylor defeated Maria Lazar by more than 20 points in Wisconsin’s state Supreme Court race, GOP insiders are pressing for chair Brian Schimming’s resignation, arguing the party’s fundraising and messaging lag behind Democrats as Wisconsin heads into crucial November elections and a potential 2028 presidential contest.
The Senate-passed Homeland Security funding package triggered swift blowback from House Republicans, forcing Speaker Mike Johnson to rally the party amid internal divisions over the deal and its implications for border policy and government funding.
A report notes that anti-Muslim rhetoric is rising within the Republican Party with limited pushback from its leadership, highlighting examples from lawmakers such as Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Rep. Andy Ogles and raising concerns about the climate for Muslim Americans and other minority groups ahead of elections.