GOP senator

President Trump confronted Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana during a meeting with Republican senators, criticising his vote on a war powers resolution. The exchange exposed tensions within the party over Congress's authority to authorise military action, with lawmakers increasingly willing to break ranks on the issue despite pressure from the White House.

Texas Senator Ken Paxton was reportedly overheard saying that Donald Trump's GOP midterm convention hurt him politically, according to an ABC News report. The remark is drawing attention because Paxton has generally been a close Trump ally, and the comment suggests tension ahead of the midterm campaign season in Texas.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two federal indictments against Donald Trump in 2023, testified again before Congress on Tuesday, this time before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Coverage highlights a confident performance from Smith and an awkward moment for Republican questioners, with commentators framing the hearing as a test of the investigations into the now-president.

Republican Senator Eric Schmitt pressed former special counsel Jack Smith during congressional testimony, suggesting Smith attended a 2024 basketball game in Atlanta and may have met Fani Willis, the prosecutor who pursued a case against Donald Trump in Georgia. The line of questioning drew attention as Smith defended himself, and the exchange quickly became a talking point in coverage of the hearing.

Senator Jon Ossoff appeared on MSNBC's The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, where he argued that Republicans will continue doing exactly what they have been doing. His remarks are being shared among followers of US politics, with some citing the senator's assessment of the GOP's direction as a notable take on the current political standoff in Washington.

Texas Senator John Cornyn sits down with the Wall Street Journal's Kim Strassel for a podcast interview covering special counsel Jack Smith, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and the Republican Party's prospects in the upcoming midterm elections. The conversation touches on key legal and political figures shaping GOP strategy heading into the vote.

A Republican senator has blocked a Senate resolution that criticized taxpayer-funded advertising supporting President Trump. The resolution would have formally condemned the use of public money for the ads, but a single senator's objection was enough to stop it from advancing. Critics see the move as shielding the president from accountability over spending, while supporters view the resolution as politically motivated.

A Republican-backed voter ID bill has failed to advance in the Senate after falling short of the votes needed to move forward. Reporting describes the floor effort as an attempt to give Republicans facing difficult reelection races a campaign issue, as polls show voters growing uneasy with the party's alignment with Trump on issues including AI, Iran, tariffs and election policy.

Senator Marsha Blackburn has filed a lawsuit against former special counsel Jack Smith over the obtaining of her phone records. The case centres on records gathered as part of Smith's investigations into Donald Trump, which Republicans have criticised as improper surveillance of lawmakers. The lawsuit escalates GOP efforts to scrutinise Smith's methods while Smith faces his own congressional inquiries.

Senate Democrats have blocked a Republican-backed data centers bill, derailing the GOP's effort to advance affordability legislation ahead of the midterm elections. The failed vote prevents Senate Republicans from showcasing action on cost-of-living concerns, an issue expected to feature heavily in the campaign. The setback highlights deepening partisan divisions in the Senate over energy, technology and economic policy.

CNN Politics reports that Republicans are directing substantial funding into the Texas Senate race, a contest that might otherwise be considered safe for the party. The spending suggests GOP strategists see the seat as genuinely competitive this cycle, and are investing to defend or secure it. The report examines what the influx of money signals about the party's read on their chances in Texas.

Republicans are scaling back expectations in North Carolina's Senate race and redirecting resources to other states, according to Spectrum News. Growing doubts within the party about their chances there are prompting a strategic shift in the battle for Senate control, with campaigns and donors concentrating on contests viewed as more winnable.

Senator John Cornyn of Texas sat down with the Wall Street Journal's Opinion Potomac Watch podcast to discuss special counsel Jack Smith, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and the Republican Party's prospects in the upcoming midterm elections. The interview touches on ongoing legal and political controversies involving both figures and how they may shape GOP campaigns.

Republican prospects are dimming in the key Senate races in Georgia and North Carolina, prompting the party to redirect resources toward other states in the battle for Senate control. With two traditionally competitive states slipping from reach, the GOP's path to a majority is narrowing, sharpening attention on where the party will concentrate its campaign efforts in the final stretch.