Latest news with #TheMovement
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Cena shockingly makes light of R-Truth's WWE exit
The post John Cena shockingly makes light of R-Truth's WWE exit appeared first on ClutchPoints. When news broke that WWE was going to allow R-Truth's contract to expire and effectively end his run with the company, it hit fans, young and old, hard. Advertisement One of the more entertaining workers to ever step foot in a squared circle, Truth had huge angles, down periods, and a solid chapter of time where he did nothing more than pursue, win, and defend the 24/7 Championship, but through ti all, he kept a smile on his and fans' faces. How, fans wondered, could R-Truth announce his exit from WWE when he'd just worked a WWE Championship match with John Cena on national television? Well, while that decision has remained a heavy topic of conversation, Cena, ever in his heel phase, used it to his advantage, taking the fans' 'We want R-Truth' chants and turning it around, louding telling fans they were hypocrites for requesting the truth when they are filled with nothing but lies. On paper, good effort from Cena to figure out how to turn this chant on its head, as, to paraphrase The Movement in their tweet, the chants were loud as all get out, but choosing to make light of the exit of a man he's worked with for years and years? Even a heel like Cena has to acknowledge that such a response would be viewed in poor taste, even if it was ad-libbed. Advertisement Now granted, any fans in the know will know that Cena and Truth are at least on good terms, if not friends, as the former sent a shoutout to the latter on social media when the news broke, but in professional wrestling, when fans throw you a softball, it's only right for a heel to hit it out of the park, right? For better or worse, Cena did that… even if, in the end, it will only make the chants grow louder at Money in the Bank the following day in Los Angeles. Related: WWE Money in the Bank 2025: March card and bold predictions Related: WWE news: Ric Flair confirms second cancer diagnosis in 3 years
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This small but influential think tank is charting a controversial course for Trump's populism
The Movement is a weekly newsletter tracking the influence and debates steering politics on the right. or in the box below. Controversial think tank American Compass is working to make sure President Trump's economic populism lasts well beyond his term — infuriating segments of the conservative establishment along the way. Oren Cass, the group's founder and chief economist, argues against 'market fundamentalism' while pushing for protectionist tariffs, tax hikes on the rich and a new 'conservative labor movement.' The efforts have angered the conservative free-market establishment. Americans for Tax Reform had interns hand out leaflets outside an American Compass Capitol Hill event last summer comparing it and Cass to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Club for Growth President David McIntosh fumed in a statement last year: 'Self-proclaimed 'conservative' Oren Cass and his American Compass is not, and will never be, viewed as a legitimate voice in Republican policy circles.' Yet American Compass policies look a lot like policies Trump has enacted or considered, and the group has punched above its weight in cultivating powerful GOP allies — including Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both of whom Trump has said could lead the MAGA movement after he is gone. Both Vance and Rubio are speaking at its fifth anniversary gala Tuesday evening. '[Trump] really opened up the space for people to recognize that the old Reagan-style consensus had expired, and certainly has validated that other approaches can be more successful,' Cass told me in an interview. And as for the critics, Cass puts them into two categories. Some, like those at the libertarian Cato Institute and conservative American Enterprise Institute, are 'thoughtful scholars who are working from their principles and have disagreements with us on all sorts of issues.' Others, Cass said, are simply activist groups who are 'not really ideas-oriented' and are 'closer to lobbying firms for some particular policy or point of view.' 'They don't use evidence. They just sort of assert an attack and belittle and try to enforce their point of view that way,' Cass said. 'I guess they're welcome to do it if they want. But I think the proof is in kind of how that's working out for them. It's not working out at all.' Take, for example, Trump and Republicans being willing to even consider tax hikes as part of the 'big, beautiful bill's' tax cuts and spending priorities — even though it did not make it in the final version. Cass, who was policy director for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign, recalled every candidate in a 2011 GOP primary debate declining to support a legislative package that had $10 of spending cuts for every $1 of tax increases. 'The tax debate has been a great illustration of the way that things have been shifting there. There was absolutely a time when people thought, 'Oh, you just can't say you would consider raising taxes, that's somehow not allowed,'' Cass said. Club for Growth's McIntosh, though, cast the rejection of the tax increase idea as a failure for American Compass: 'Despite his best efforts, Oren Cass and his far-left benefactors failed to enact a top rate tax increase,' McIntosh said in a statement to me. Now that it's 5 years old, the American Compass staff of around 10 recently moved from a converted yoga studio into a real office space. Today it is releasing 'The New Conservatives,' a book of essays and 'manifestos' detailing the group's orthodoxy-breaking positions. And earlier this year, it launched a new commentary magazine, Commonplace. Its budget only recently passed $2 million, Cass writes — a tiny fraction of the tens or hundreds of millions that other conservative Washington think tanks have to work with. But he told me that American Compass does not strive to be 'the biggest organization with the biggest marble building in Washington.' 'We kind of like being the special forces team,' Cass said. 'I would like to continue playing that role.' And while Cass certainly wants to see success during the Trump administration and support his populist instincts, he says the group tries to keep 'at least half our focus' on where conservatism and economic policy is going over the next 10 or 20 years. A core part of that endeavor is American Compass's membership group of more than 250 policy professionals, which include dozens of staffers who are working in the Trump administration, along with Capitol Hill staffers of all levels, according to Cass. 'People at the top of a party come and go, but in many ways, more importantly, as an entire new generation of people rises to be the core of the movement,' Cass said. Poking around in conservative circles and beyond, I found incredibly mixed opinions about the young think tank. But people with power are clearly listening — even if they're not fully embracing its populism. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) texted me this assessment of American Compass: 'I think they understand the line between corporate cronyism and free enterprise … the need to build our institutions. And civil society. I agree with that — even if I don't agree with some reflexive populist policies.' , a weekly newsletter looking at the influences and debates on the right in Washington. I'm Emily Brooks, House leadership reporter at The Hill. Tell me your thoughts about American Compass and the 'New Right': ebrooks@ Not already on the list? A House Freedom Caucus-affiliated nonprofit has flown under the radar since it formed — but is now making a splash as it pushes for Trump's tax cut and spending bill. The Freedom Caucus Foundation, classified as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, debuted its first ad that ran on Fox News and on digital last week giving credit to the hard-line conservatives for pushing the bill in a more conservative direction. 'The House Freedom Caucus bargained hard, took the arrows, ignored the insults and didn't back down — improving President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' to put deficit reduction first,' the ad said. It noted the group's push for at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts; bumping up the start date for Medicaid work requirements from 2026 to 2029; accelerating rollback of green energy tax credits; and barring Medicaid funds from being spent on gender-affirming care, among other provisions. Trump shared the video on Truth Social, praising the message: 'Congratulations to ALL on a job well done. Proud of you! Hopefully the Senate will be there with you!' Allison Weisenberger, who heads the Freedom Caucus Foundation, told me the video has been viewed 10 million times. 'We look forward to continuing to educate millions of Americans on the Freedom Agenda,' she said. The ad is also notable in showing the expanding web of organizations supporting the hard-line conservative group and its brand. The Freedom Caucus already has an affiliated PAC, called the House Freedom Fund, which is a good source for figuring out the candidates likely to be the caucus's next members. And it has launched the State Freedom Caucus Network, which focuses on building hard-line conservative factions in state legislatures. The Freedom Caucus is not alone in having allied outside groups. The Main Street Caucus of 'pragmatic' House Republicans, for instance, is allied with the Republican Main Street Partnership, an outside 501(c)4 activist group; Republican Main Street Partnership PAC; and Defending Main Street Super PAC. President Trump's fissure with the Federalist Society reached a new low point late last week when he went after Leonard Leo, a key architect of the group and Trump's judicial picks in his first term. 'I was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real 'sleazebag' named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions.' The comments came after the U.S. Court of International Trade — with a panel of three judges, one appointed by Trump — blocked the bulk of Trump's tariffs. An appeals court lifted the order later. Leo responded in a statement to my colleague Zach Schonfeld: 'I'm very grateful for President Trump transforming the Federal Courts, and it was a privilege being involved. There's more work to be done, for sure, but the Federal Judiciary is better than it's ever been in modern history, and that will be President Trump's most important legacy.'Tuesday, June 3: American Compass hosts 'The New World Gala' featuring Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the National Building Museum, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 5: The American Enterprise Institute hosts a conversation with Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) on 'Emerging Technologies and Strategic Competition,' 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 17: The Federalist Society DC Young Lawyers Chapter hosts a reception with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Americans for Prosperity launched a $4 million June ad buy to boost support for extending the Trump tax cuts as the Senate takes up the 'big, beautiful bill,' urging swift passage. The ads are airing on digital, cable and TV, and they feature testimonials from small business owners, retirees, and veterans praising tax cuts. And in a nod to senators squeamish about the bill's deficit impact, one ad pushes for further elimination of Biden-era green tax credits. Tributes rolled in across MAGA World and beyond for Bernard Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner who oversaw the response to 9/11, following his death last week. Trump pardoned Kerik in 2020 for tax evasion and making false statements that he pleaded guilty to in 2009. Richard Grenell, Matt Schlapp, Alina Habba, Lee Greenwood, and Rudy Giuliani were among those who posted memorials. Students for Life Action announced the 12 Republican senators it is targeting as it advocates for keeping the 'Defund Planned Parenthood' provision in the GOP's megabill. The senators range from the organization's friends to its sometime foes, running the gamut of scores on its 'pro-life generation report card,' who may not support the bill: Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia (B-); Susan Collins of Maine (F); Ron Johnson of Wisconsin (B); Mike Lee of Utah (A); Mitch McConnell of Kentucky (B+); Lisa Murkowski of Alaska (F); Rand Paul of Kentucky (B-); Rick Scott of Florida (A+); Dan Sullivan of Alaska (C); Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota (A); Thom Tillis of North Carolina (B+); and Todd Young of Indiana (C). WIRED's Jake Lahut: Trumpworld Is Getting Tired of Laura Loomer. They Hope the President Is Too New York Times's Robert Draper: How Butterworth's Became the New Scene in Trump's Washington Washington Post's Paul Kane: These Kentucky Republicans attempt an unlikely bulwark to Trump RealClearPolitics's Susan Crabtree: CA High School Could Test Trump's 'Anti-Indoctrination Order' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
7 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
This small but influential think tank is charting a controversial course for Trump's populism
The Movement is a weekly newsletter tracking the influence and debates steering politics on the right. Sign up here or in the box below. Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here Controversial think tank American Compass is working to make sure President Trump's economic populism lasts well beyond his term — infuriating segments of the conservative establishment along the way. Oren Cass, the group's founder and chief economist, argues against 'market fundamentalism' while pushing for protectionist tariffs, tax hikes on the rich and a new 'conservative labor movement.' The efforts have angered the conservative free-market establishment. Americans for Tax Reform had interns hand out leaflets outside an American Compass Capitol Hill event last summer comparing it and Cass to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Club for Growth President David McIntosh fumed in a statement last year: 'Self-proclaimed 'conservative' Oren Cass and his American Compass is not, and will never be, viewed as a legitimate voice in Republican policy circles.' Yet American Compass policies look a lot like policies Trump has enacted or considered, and the group has punched above its weight in cultivating powerful GOP allies — including Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both of whom Trump has said could lead the MAGA movement after he is gone. Both Vance and Rubio are speaking at its fifth anniversary gala Tuesday evening. '[Trump] really opened up the space for people to recognize that the old Reagan-style consensus had expired, and certainly has validated that other approaches can be more successful,' Cass told me in an interview. And as for the critics, Cass puts them into two categories. Some, like those at the libertarian Cato Institute and conservative American Enterprise Institute, are 'thoughtful scholars who are working from their principles and have disagreements with us on all sorts of issues.' Others, Cass said, are simply activist groups who are 'not really ideas-oriented' and are 'closer to lobbying firms for some particular policy or point of view.' 'They don't use evidence. They just sort of assert an attack and belittle and try to enforce their point of view that way,' Cass said. 'I guess they're welcome to do it if they want. But I think the proof is in kind of how that's working out for them. It's not working out at all.' Take, for example, Trump and Republicans being willing to even consider tax hikes as part of the 'big, beautiful bill's' tax cuts and spending priorities — even though it did not make it in the final version. Cass, who was policy director for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign, recalled every candidate in a 2011 GOP primary debate declining to support a legislative package that had $10 of spending cuts for every $1 of tax increases. 'The tax debate has been a great illustration of the way that things have been shifting there. There was absolutely a time when people thought, 'Oh, you just can't say you would consider raising taxes, that's somehow not allowed,'' Cass said. Club for Growth's McIntosh, though, cast the rejection of the tax increase idea as a failure for American Compass: 'Despite his best efforts, Oren Cass and his far-left benefactors failed to enact a top rate tax increase,' McIntosh said in a statement to me. Now that it's 5 years old, the American Compass staff of around 10 recently moved from a converted yoga studio into a real office space. Today it is releasing 'The New Conservatives,' a book of essays and 'manifestos' detailing the group's orthodoxy-breaking positions. And earlier this year, it launched a new commentary magazine, Commonplace. Its budget only recently passed $2 million, Cass writes — a tiny fraction of the tens or hundreds of millions that other conservative Washington think tanks have to work with. But he told me that American Compass does not strive to be 'the biggest organization with the biggest marble building in Washington.' 'We kind of like being the special forces team,' Cass said. 'I would like to continue playing that role.' And while Cass certainly wants to see success during the Trump administration and support his populist instincts, he says the group tries to keep 'at least half our focus' on where conservatism and economic policy is going over the next 10 or 20 years. A core part of that endeavor is American Compass's membership group of more than 250 policy professionals, which include dozens of staffers who are working in the Trump administration, along with Capitol Hill staffers of all levels, according to Cass. 'People at the top of a party come and go, but in many ways, more importantly, as an entire new generation of people rises to be the core of the movement,' Cass said. Poking around in conservative circles and beyond, I found incredibly mixed opinions about the young think tank. But people with power are clearly listening — even if they're not fully embracing its populism. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) texted me this assessment of American Compass: 'I think they understand the line between corporate cronyism and free enterprise … the need to build our institutions. And civil society. I agree with that — even if I don't agree with some reflexive populist policies.' Welcome to The Movement, a weekly newsletter looking at the influences and debates on the right in Washington. I'm Emily Brooks, House leadership reporter at The Hill. Tell me your thoughts about American Compass and the 'New Right': ebrooks@ Not already on the list? Subscribe here A House Freedom Caucus-affiliated nonprofit has flown under the radar since it formed — but is now making a splash as it pushes for Trump's tax cut and spending bill. The Freedom Caucus Foundation, classified as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, debuted its first ad that ran on Fox News and on digital last week giving credit to the hard-line conservatives for pushing the bill in a more conservative direction. 'The House Freedom Caucus bargained hard, took the arrows, ignored the insults and didn't back down — improving President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' to put deficit reduction first,' the ad said. It noted the group's push for at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts; bumping up the start date for Medicaid work requirements from 2026 to 2029; accelerating rollback of green energy tax credits; and barring Medicaid funds from being spent on gender-affirming care, among other provisions. Trump shared the video on Truth Social, praising the message: 'Congratulations to ALL on a job well done. Proud of you! Hopefully the Senate will be there with you!' Allison Weisenberger, who heads the Freedom Caucus Foundation, told me the video has been viewed 10 million times. 'We look forward to continuing to educate millions of Americans on the Freedom Agenda,' she said. The ad is also notable in showing the expanding web of organizations supporting the hard-line conservative group and its brand. The Freedom Caucus already has an affiliated PAC, called the House Freedom Fund, which is a good source for figuring out the candidates likely to be the caucus's next members. And it has launched the State Freedom Caucus Network, which focuses on building hard-line conservative factions in state legislatures. The Freedom Caucus is not alone in having allied outside groups. The Main Street Caucus of 'pragmatic' House Republicans, for instance, is allied with the Republican Main Street Partnership, an outside 501(c)4 activist group; Republican Main Street Partnership PAC; and Defending Main Street Super PAC. President Trump's fissure with the Federalist Society reached a new low point late last week when he went after Leonard Leo, a key architect of the group and Trump's judicial picks in his first term. 'I was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real 'sleazebag' named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions.' The comments came after the U.S. Court of International Trade — with a panel of three judges, one appointed by Trump — blocked the bulk of Trump's tariffs. An appeals court lifted the order later. Leo responded in a statement to my colleague Zach Schonfeld: 'I'm very grateful for President Trump transforming the Federal Courts, and it was a privilege being involved. There's more work to be done, for sure, but the Federal Judiciary is better than it's ever been in modern history, and that will be President Trump's most important legacy.' Further reading: Inside the split between MAGA and the Federalist Society, by Politico's Hailey Fuchs and Daniel Barnes
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's souring on Putin raises questions about MAGA base
The Movement is a weekly newsletter tracking the influence and debates steering politics on the right. or in the box below. President Trump's souring on Russian President Vladimir Putin — saying he has 'gone absolutely CRAZY' and is 'playing with fire' — is raising questions about whether Trump's Ukraine-skeptical MAGA base will shift along with him. The bitter tension in the GOP over how the U.S. should respond to Russia's war against Ukraine has been a defining dynamic of the Trump era, and those with anti-interventionist sensibilities have long thought Trump's instincts would lead him to pull back. But now that peace talks Trump has tried to broker between Moscow and Kyiv have faltered — with Trump most recently decrying Putin's strikes on Ukraine over the weekend — those hoping for a more aggressive stance toward Russia are cheering what they see as an apparent shift. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is signaling he's ready to go with a bill imposing harsh sanctions on Russia that has more than 80 co-sponsors. Given Moscow's reticence over peace talks, momentum seems to be growing for taking a more aggressive posture backing sanctions. The Wall Street Journal editorial board called for a Senate GOP revolt on sanctions, but that might not even be necessary: Trump said Sunday he would 'absolutely' consider the move. That shift marks a 'new peak of disappointment' for retired Army Col. Douglas Macgregor — a favorite analyst of Tucker Carlson who had a brief stint as a Pentagon adviser in the first Trump administration. Macgregor, a staunch anti-interventionist, advocates for dropping Russian sanctions completely rather than imposing more, and argues the U.S. national strategic interests do not conflict with Russia's. 'I think people are beginning to wonder what's really going on because of the contradictions of his statements,' Macgregor told me in an interview, referring to Trump. He added: 'It looks like President Trump has done a 180-degree turn. He's moved from a position that was viewed as reasonable with potential goodness for everyone concerned, to a position that is indistinguishable from Lindsey Graham.' But the biggest Ukraine critics on Capitol Hill aren't expressing that same type of disappointment with Trump as they respond to his frustration with Putin. Trump, after all, kept up with his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky even as he criticized Putin, saying the Ukrainian leader 'is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does' and that 'everything out of his mouth causes problems.' Asked about Trump's description of Putin as 'crazy' and the prospect of more sanctions on Russia, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) — one of Zelensky's most vocal critics in Congress — echoed Trump's 'both sides' message, referencing Russia's assertions that Ukrainian drones targeted Putin's helicopter. 'Ukraine just launched dozens of drones at Putin's helicopter, trying to assassinate him, and Russia continues to attack Ukraine. Both sides are at war with one another, and I personally think that is crazy,' Greene told me in a statement. 'With President Trump, both countries could be pursuing a peace deal that would lead to historic trade deals. That would be overwhelmingly incredible for the people of their countries. But instead, they are both crazy and pursue war. Shame on both of these countries and shame on any politician that wants to continue to engage America in more meddling actions in more foreign wars.' Greene expressed her desire for U.S. disengagement: 'I along with most Americans want nothing to do with either of these countries while they are at war with one another. And I'll extend that to any country that wants to engage in war with others. The people of the world want peace and prosperity and that's what I support.' Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), the Ukrainian-born congresswoman who has also been critical of Zelensky, gave Trump some backup in a statement responding to my question about Trump's Putin statements: 'President Trump inherited a very difficult and extremely mismanaged situation, but I would not be testing his and the United States limits if I would be Putin.' And Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), another big 'America First' congressman, told me in a statement that he's trusting the plan: 'In his first term, President Trump proved that he is a president of peace. He and his team are working around the clock to bring an end to senseless violence around the world. With Putin's and Zelensky's refusal to negotiate, I trust that our President will do what's necessary to protect America's interests first.' Some Trump allies are more openly grappling with where they go from here, given the president hasn't been able to secure a peace deal yet, as conservative commentator Charlie Kirk said on his radio show Tuesday. 'The big fear here is, how can you broker peace if one of the sides do not want peace?' Kirk said. 'And if Russia really does not want to have peace, and they're willing to keep on throwing hundreds of thousands of their own young men as just a meat grinder, then the question is what do we actually do, and reconciling that with what the question of, what is the domestic appetite in America?' , a weekly newsletter looking at the influences and debates on the right in Washington. I'm , House leadership reporter at The Hill. Tell me what's on your radar: ebrooks@ Follow me on X: @emilybrooksnews. Not already on the list? Anti-abortion activists are mounting a major push for Senate Republicans to keep a provision to 'defund' Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act.' A group of 27 prominent anti-abortion activists, led by Live Action's Lila Rose, wrote to Senate GOP leaders after the House passed the bill last week, saying the provision 'must be kept and passed.' Students for Life Action will release a list of 12 Republican senators it is targeting in a push to keep the provision, the Washington Examiner reported. And Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, wrote in a RealClearPolicy op-ed: 'Have courage, Senate Republicans.' Katie Daniel, SBA Pro-Life America's director of legal affairs and policy council, told me there has been enthusiasm particularly from Republican first-termers on the measure to defund Planned Parenthood. While federal law already prohibits federal funds from directly being used on abortion services, the bill would expand that to prohibit funds from flowing to any services provided by family planning centers that perform abortions, such as Planned Parenthood. The provision, if it stays, would mark one of the biggest wins for the anti-abortion movement on the federal level since the Dobbs decision — one that conservative lawmakers have sought for nearly two decades, with then-Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) first spearheading the push to 'defund' Planned Parenthood stretching back to 2007. (Planned Parenthood Action Fund says it is a 'targeted attack that puts nearly 200 Planned Parenthood health centers at risk of closure.') Asked last week whether Trump is committed to keeping the provision, with Daily Wire reporter Mary Margaret Olohan mentioning Planned Parenthood's distribution of hormones to transgender individuals, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 'The president has maintained a very clear commitment to ensuring that this administration and the American peoples' tax dollars are not funding the chemical castration and mutilation of children.' by in the Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will no longer recommend routine COVID-19 shots for healthy children and pregnant women. That marks a major milestone for the 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) movement — and one that is largely being greeted with open arms by Republicans. 'I voted for this! MAHA = MAGA,' Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) commented. The change comes on the heels of a White House MAHA report that blamed ultra-processed foods, chemical exposure, use of prescription drugs and lack of exercise for chronic disease in children. () While the move is somewhat expected given Kennedy's much-documented vaccine skepticism, it's also notable given that one of the signature achievements of Trump's first term was Operation Warp Speed, which sought accelerated development and approval of COVID-19 vaccines. : , by my colleague . Thursday, May 29: The Cato Institute hosts a half-day conference on the state of parental rights, with speakers including Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.). Thursday, May 29: Former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway and Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts will debate New York Times columnist Ezra Klein and former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes on whether America is in a golden age, for a in Toronto, starting at 7 p.m. EDT. FBI DEPUTY DIRECTOR DAN BONGINO is now promising he and FBI Director Kash Patel 'will be releasing more information which will further clarify answers' from a recent interview on Fox News's 'Sunday Morning Futures.' In the interview with host Maria Bartiromo, Bongino and Patel asserted that convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein did, in fact, die by suicide — enraging conspiracy theorists who demanded more information. Assuming Bongino is talking about more Epstein info, I'll be keeping an eye out to see if release of Epstein-related information goes better for the FBI duo than it did for Attorney General Pam Bondi. POPULIST WINNERS AND LOSERS ON MEGABILL: Politico's Megan Messerly explored whether the new populists on the right won with the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' as passed by the House. The verdict: 'For all the nods the GOP has made to its new populist base, its biggest policy swing remains weighted toward helping higher earners and businesses pay fewer taxes' — though it does have some items like an increase to the child tax credit and $1,000 Trump savings accounts for new babies. TRUMP PARDON FAIRY: The Trump administration announced a wave of eyebrow-raising clemency grants and pardons Tuesday: For Virginia Sheriff Scott Jenkins, who was convicted of bribery; Paul Walczak, who was convicted on tax crimes and whose mother attended a major fundraiser for Trump; and for Todd and Julie Chrisley, the reality TV stars convicted for bank fraud and tax evasion. Politico's Ian Ward: Doug Wilson Has Spent Decades Pushing for a Christian Theocracy. In Trump's DC, the New Right Is Listening. The Hill's Julia Mueller: Republicans face a future without Elon Musk's money Vanity Fair's Erin Vanderhoof: Turning Point USA's Alex Clark Says the GOP Wins Because Women Are 'Not Attracted to the David Hoggs of the World' Bloomberg's Riley Griffin and Kurt Wagner: Mark Zuckerberg Loves MAGA Now. Will MAGA Ever Love Him Back? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump's souring on Putin raises questions about MAGA base
The Movement is a weekly newsletter tracking the influence and debates steering politics on the right. Sign up here or in the box below. Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here President Trump's souring on Russian President Vladimir Putin — saying he has 'gone absolutely CRAZY' and is 'playing with fire' — is raising questions about whether Trump's Ukraine-skeptical MAGA base will shift along with him. The bitter tension in the GOP over how the U.S. should respond to Russia's war against Ukraine has been a defining dynamic of the Trump era, and those with anti-interventionist sensibilities have long thought Trump's instincts would lead him to pull back. But now that peace talks Trump has tried to broker between Moscow and Kyiv have faltered — with Trump most recently decrying Putin's strikes on Ukraine over the weekend — those hoping for a more aggressive stance toward Russia are cheering what they see as an apparent shift. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is signaling he's ready to go with a bill imposing harsh sanctions on Russia that has more than 80 co-sponsors. Given Moscow's reticence over peace talks, momentum seems to be growing for taking a more aggressive posture backing sanctions. The Wall Street Journal editorial board called for a Senate GOP revolt on sanctions, but that might not even be necessary: Trump said on Sunday he would 'absolutely' consider the move. That shift marks a 'new peak of disappointment' for retired Army Col. Douglas Macgregor — a favorite analyst of Tucker Carlson who had a brief stint as a Pentagon advisor in the first Trump administration. Macgregor, a staunch anti-interventionist, advocates for dropping Russian sanctions completely rather than imposing more, and argues the U.S. national strategic interests do not conflict with Russia's. 'I think people are beginning to wonder what's really going on because of the contradictions of his statements,' Macgregor told me in an interview, referring to Trump. He added: 'It looks like President Trump has done a 180-degree turn. He's moved from a position that was viewed as reasonable with potential goodness for everyone concerned, to a position that is indistinguishable from Lindsey Graham.' But the biggest Ukraine critics on Capitol Hill aren't expressing that same type of disappointment with Trump as they respond to his frustration with Putin. Trump, after all, kept up with his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky even as he criticized Putin, saying the Ukrainian leader 'is doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does' and that 'everything out of his mouth causes problems.' Asked about Trump's description of Putin as 'crazy' and the prospect of more sanctions on Russia, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) — one of Zelensky's most vocal critics in Congress — echoed Trump's 'both sides' message, referencing Russia's assertions that Ukrainian drones targeted Putin's helicopter. 'Ukraine just launched dozens of drones at Putin's helicopter, trying to assassinate him, and Russia continues to attack Ukraine. Both sides are at war with one another, and I personally think that is crazy,' Greene told me in a statement. 'With President Trump, both countries could be pursuing a peace deal that would lead to historic trade deals. That would be overwhelmingly incredible for the people of their countries. But instead, they are both crazy and pursue war. Shame on both of these countries and shame on any politician that wants to continue to engage America in more meddling actions in more foreign wars.' Greene expressed her desire for U.S. disengagement: 'I along with most Americans want nothing to do with either of these countries while they are at war with one another. And I'll extend that to any country that wants to engage in war with others. The people of the world want peace and prosperity and that's what I support.' Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), the Ukrainian-born congresswoman who has also been critical of Zelensky, gave Trump some backup in a statement responding to my question about Trump's Putin statements: 'President Trump inherited a very difficult and extremely mismanaged situation, but I would not be testing his and the United States limits if I would be Putin.' And Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), another big 'America First' congressman, told me in a statement that he's trusting the plan: 'In his first term, President Trump proved that he is a president of peace. He and his team are working around the clock to bring an end to senseless violence around the world. With Putin's and Zelensky's refusal to negotiate, I trust that our President will do what's necessary to protect America's interests first.' Some Trump allies are more openly grappling with where they go from here given the president hasn't been able to secure a peace deal yet, as conservative commentator Charlie Kirk said on his radio show on Tuesday. 'The big fear here is how can you broker peace if one of the sides do not want peace?' Kirk said. 'And if Russia really does not want to have peace, and they're willing to keep on throwing hundreds of thousands of their own young men as just a meat grinder, then the question is what do we actually do, and reconciling that with what the question of, what is the domestic appetite in America?' Welcome to The Movement, a weekly newsletter looking at the influences and debates on the right in Washington. I'm Emily Brooks, House leadership reporter at The Hill. Tell me what's on your radar: ebrooks@ Follow me on X: @emilybrooksnews. Not already on the list? Subscribe here Anti-abortion activists are mounting a major push for Senate Republicans to keep a provision to 'defund' Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act.' A group of 27 prominent anti-abortion activists, led by Live Action's Lila Rose, wrote to Senate GOP leaders after the House passed the bill last week, saying that the provision 'must be kept and passed.' Students for Life Action will release a list of 12 Republican senators it is targeting as they push to keep the provision, the Washington Examiner reported. And Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, wrote in a Real Clear Policy op-ed: 'Have courage, Senate Republicans.' Katie Daniel, SBA Pro-Life America's director of legal affairs and policy council, told me there has been enthusiasm particularly from Republican freshman on the measure to defund Planned Parenthood. While federal law already prohibits federal funds from directly being used on abortion services, the bill would expand that to prohibit funds from flowing to any services provided by family planning centers that perform abortions, such as Planned Parenthood. The provision, if it stays, would mark one of the biggest wins for the anti-abortion movement on the federal level since the Dobbs decision — one that conservative lawmakers have sought for nearly two decades, with then-Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) first spearheading the push to 'defund' Planned Parenthood stretching back to 2007. (Planned Parenthood Action Fund says it is a 'targeted attack that puts nearly 200 Planned Parenthood health centers at risk of closure.') Asked last week whether Trump is committed to keeping the provision, with Daily Wire reporter Mary Margaret Olohan mentioning Planned Parenthood's distribution of hormones to transgender individuals, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 'The president has maintained a very clear commitment to ensuring that this administration and the American peoples' tax dollars are not funding the chemical castration and mutilation of children.' Further reading: Senate faces push to defund Planned Parenthood after House vote, by Mabinty Quarshie in the Washington Examiner. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will no longer recommend routine COVID-19 shots for healthy children and pregnant women. That marks a major milestone for the 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) movement — and one that is largely being greeted with open arms by Republicans. 'I voted for this! MAHA = MAGA,' commented Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio). The change comes on the heels of a White House MAHA report that blamed ultra-processed foods, chemical exposure, use of prescription drugs and lack of exercise for chronic disease in children. (The New York Times) While the move is somewhat expected given Kennedy's much-documented vaccine skepticism, it's also notable given that one of the signature achievements of Trump's first term was Operation Warp Speed, which sought accelerated development and approval of COVID vaccines. Further reading: RFK Jr. ends COVID-19 vaccine recommendation for healthy children, pregnant women, by my colleague Nathaniel Weixel.
