John Cornyn

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) has tried to mend his relationship with former President Trump, but newly reported comments reveal how deeply his personal animosity toward Trump ran after the 2020 election and signal the challenges GOP senators could have in working with Trump if he is elected again. Many Republican senators who have [...]

During an Oct. 7 appearance on “Fox and Friends,” 2024 Republican vice presidential nominee and Ohio Sen. JD Vance claimed “that the Biden-Harris administration has turned [the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)] effectively into an agency that helps to settle, helps to deal with illegal immigration.” Vance said FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene “[is] like [...]

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) — an ally of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — hit back at conservatives' demands for a new brand of leadership once McConnell steps down in a letter to colleagues Tuesday morning.Why it matters: The leader race between Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), John Cornyn (R-Tex.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) is heating up, with the general election three weeks away. Some conservative senators are hoping to leverage a tight race for big changes in how the chamber operates. Sen. Mike Lee's (R-Utah) proposals, which he outlined in a letter to colleagues last week, include assurances of more amendment votes and delaying the timeline for picking McConnell's replacement.And Lee has taken new public shots at McConnell's leadership approach.Tills responded Tuesday, saying he believes Lee's concerns are "sincere," but that delaying the leadership election is a bad idea. He said Lee's proposals would "substantially weaken the republican leader."Between the lines: The only leadership candidate to clearly embrace the changes conservatives are pushing is Scott — who Senators and Hill sources have said doesn't have much of a shot.What they're saying: Tillis then made a dig at Republican House chaos. "We are witnessing the downside of a weak-leader model in the House today," he wrote."Two Speakers during a single congress and self-imposed gridlock on legislation hardly seems like a model we want to adopt in the Senate.""I believe delaying the election and creating more hurdles for the republican leader to navigate are unwise, and they will impede our work on behalf of the American people," Tillis said.The other side: "Why would a Republican senator continue to support a system where legislation can be presented for passage without the approval of the majority of the conference? Or one that denies our ability to do our jobs as representatives of our states," Lee responded in a statement to Axios.Catch up quick: This isn't the first back-and-forth between Tillis and Lee over the leadership race. Back in June, Lee and other conservatives were pushing for a new leadership structure — including imposing term limits. Tillis blasted those ideas in a letter, which then prompted a response from Lee.McConnell has also been adamantly against term limits.E

As abortion and other reproductive rights loom over the election, Cruz has largely been unwilling to clarify his stances.

Democratic congressman polling closer to Sen. Ted Cruz and independent race rankers are noticing

Senators are privately (and publicly) saying they hope Donald Trump stays out of the internal election to replace Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader.Why it matters: None of them know — or it's a damn good secret — whether the former president will make an endorsement. But senators and advisors fear a Trump intervention could turn the secret ballot leader election into a public feud."I said, 'Sir, if I was you, I would stay out of the race, because there's no win for you in this,'" Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) told us about a recent call with Trump."I hope not," said Sen. Thom Tillis, when asked if he thinks Trump will weigh in. "I think outside influence could be problematic.""He's offered some views on it to me," Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told us. "It's safe to say he has a pretty consistent prediction of who he thinks it'll be." Hawley said he did not know if Trump would weigh in.Between the lines: This the first real competitive Senate GOP leadership race of the Trump-era, and his endorsement carries a lot of weight with a growing segment of the conference.McConnell has had a tumultuous relationship with the former president.The top two candidates — Sens. John Thune and John Cornyn — each have had rocky relationships with Trump. However, they have worked to make amends.After Jan. 6, Thune denounced Trump and initially endorsed Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) for president. Cornyn has said the GOP needed to move on from Trump.Senate sources do not talk about Sen. Rick Scott's (R-Fla.) bid as seriously as Thune's or Cornyn's, though he has a good relationship with Trump. "Sen. Scott is focused on dramatically changing the way the Senate operates and creating a member-driven process," according to spokesperson McKinley Lewis.Sources often describe Thune as the likely favorite, though they say not to discount how much Cornyn's long history of hard-dollar fundraising for Senate campaigns means to people.Cornyn told us it's been a few weeks since he spoke with Trump about the leadership race. But he visited Mar-a-Lago a couple months ago "to talk about planning for the future," adding they've been "visiting with some of the transition folks."Mullin said Trump "likes" Thune despite their rocky past. The Oklahoma Republican has publicly backed Thune.Some sources suspect there could be a late entry: NRSC Chair Steve Daines (R-Mont.) is the most-floated name.The bottom line: There's not a lot of incentive for senators benefiting from both Thune and Cornyn's aggressive fundraising efforts to commit too early."If one of them felt that they really had a majority, I think they would not be shy about saying that, but I don't think anybody does," Hawley said.

Democrats slammed the timing of the event, which was held at a lakefront home on Lake Virginia.

Senate Republicans are pushing new measures to curb CCP influence across several fronts.

New information regarding the first assassination attempt on Trump was uncovered by a Senate investigation and revealed in a preliminary report.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., pictured at a news conference on Tuesday, is preparing for his last post-election wrap-up as leader.

Joe Manchin said he won't endorse anyone in the presidential election after Vice President Harris voiced support for eliminating the filibuster to protect abortion.

Sen. Cornyn is highlighting his fundraising ability as he and others battle to fill Minority Leader McConnell's shoes in the next Congress.

The House unanimously passed a bill to boost Secret Service protection for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris after apparent assassination attempts.

House and Senate lawmakers are moving to safeguard the U.S. government from the effects of the growing technology "gray market."

As Kamala Harris pivots to the center in the final weeks of the 2024 presidential election, the agenda she’s using to convey a pragmatic streak includes various unanswered questions.

Former President George W. Bush will not offer an endorsement in the 2024 election, forgoing public support of his party's nominee for the third consecutive election.

Senate Democrats are feeling more confident about their chances of keeping the Senate majority with Vice President Harris leading the ticket, arguing her momentum could lift them despite a nightmare battleground map. The GOP has long been the favorite to take the Senate this fall because Democrats are defending more difficult-to-hold seats. Republicans need only [...]

Sea turtle strandings have ticked up at an alarming rate in New England, but now the reptiles are close to receiving a lifeline from Congress to help them stay in the water.

Top Senate Republicans are breaking with former President Trump over his plan to impose across-the-board tariffs on goods coming into the U.S.Why it matters: The comments from senators, including two vying to replace Mitch McConnell as GOP leader, signal the potential for a fresh round of Republican infighting over trade and the economy if Trump wins on Nov. 5.The big picture: When asked if they supported the blanket 10% tariff on imports that Trump has floated, Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) both showed significant daylight with their party's standard-bearer. "There are ways that you can selectively use [tariffs] as a tool to achieve economic policy outcomes, but just uniform, across-the-board tariffs is not something I have been for in the past," said Thune, who is considered the frontrunner to replace McConnell. Cornyn, who is also running for GOP leader, described across-the-board tariffs as potentially "problematic."Between the lines: Some senators suggested the former president ultimately could be convinced to soften his actual plan, with many expressing concerns about the inflationary effects of universal 10% tariffs.Cornyn said he thinks Trump is "demonstrating he believes that tariffs should be used to rebalance unfair trading relationships" for countries like China, an approach he generally supports.Trump, who imposed sweeping tariffs on China, the European Union and other countries during his first term, is eyeing a new global trade war with proposed levies of 60% or more on Chinese goods.Senators' answers at times were reminiscent of conversations during Trump's first run for president — that he should be taken seriously, not literally.Zoom in: "I don't know if across-the-board, truly means across-the-board," Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) told Axios, saying she needs to explore the idea more and talk with Trump's advisers."I know what he's stumping on, but I don't believe as a matter of policy that's exactly how we'd implement it," Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), a former Senate Commerce committee chair, told Axios he's listening, but "not convinced that's the best approach."Wicker added the former president is "gonna listen to people within his circle of advisers, and that includes people on both sides of that issue," noting Larry Kudlow, in particular, who has warned about inflationary impacts of Trump policies in the past.Zoom out: Republicans have made it a cornerstone of their campaigns this year to slam President Biden for policies they argue spurred red-hot inflation.Now, Republican lawmakers are in the tricky position of heading home to meet constituents over the August recess with a candidate at the top of the ticket eyeing trade policies economists believe could trigger a new rise in consumer prices."I think ultimately tariffs result in higher prices for consumers," Cornyn said. The other side: "By cutting regulations and taxes and using the leverage of the United States to negotiate better trade deals around the world, President Trump built the strongest economy in American history," Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios in a statement.Leavitt went on to criticize Vice President Harris' "out of control spending" as part of the Biden administration, which she said "created the worst inflation crisis in generations."What they're saying: NRSC Chair Steve Daines (R-Mont.) told Axios during an event at the Republican National Convention that he'd be "more inclined to do targeted type tariffs ... versus something that's just universal."Tillis also warned that "if all we did was across-the-board tariffs, it would have an inflationary impact" — though he said it was fine for Trump to send the message that tariffs can be used as a weapon, including against U.S. adversaries.What to watch: Trump's choice of Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate is another signal that he intends to move the Republican Party further away from its traditional free trade policies. Vance told CBS's Face the Nation in May that he supports "broad-based tariffs, especially on goods coming in from China," adding the U.S. needs "to protect American industries from all of the competition."

WASHINGTON — Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican nominee for vice president, may not be fond of “childless cat ladies,” but he’s almost certain to skip a vote this week on legislation to expand the child tax credit.

Vice President Harris’s quick pivot to her White House bid has prompted an about-face on multiple key issues that could affect outcomes in battleground states, handing former President Trump and Republicans a prime attack line. In the roughly one week since Harris replaced President Biden as the probable Democratic nominee, her campaign has moved to [...]

Kelly’s stature as a senator who held hawkish positions on migration before it was popular in the party has caused some Harris allies to see him as an ideal running mate.

Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) has introduced legislation to streamline the declassification of government documents, increasing transparency and information-sharing across government agencies. “Our current classification system is not just costly, outdated, and inefficient—it’s a growing crisis that undermines both our national security and government transparency,” Mr. Peters, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs [...]

A few surprises -- but no clear motive -- were disclosed by the Secret Service and FBI directors at a Senate hearing Tuesday.

Vice President Harris will be notably absent from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, a move that some Republicans called "petty." But the move could have the potential to show some daylight between her and President Biden when it comes to the Israeli leader. Harris, now rapidly [...]

There’s been widespread reaction from political figures across the country and here in North Texas after President Biden’s announcement that he was ending his reelection bid for the White House.NBC spoke with Texas lawmakers from both parties about what the historic decision would mean for November’s election.Following the sudden announcement on Sunday afternoon, some Texas politicians said they were still adjusting to the fallout.“I was stunned,” said U.S. Rep. Chris Turner, D-Texas. “Obviously, there’s been a lot of chatter about this possibility over the last several weeks.”The responses on social media came quickly, including U.S. Senate candidate Colin Allred, who said, “I thank President Joe Biden for his service and willingness to put country before self.”“There’s a sense of sadness about it because I think President Biden has been an outstanding president. He leaves a legacy that is going to be felt for decades by the American people,” said Turner.Following Biden’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the party’s presidential candidate, multiple Texas Democrats threw their support behind Harris to win the bid – even while some showed concern.“I hope the geniuses that pushed the most consequential president of our lifetime out have a plan,” said U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Texas. “Joe wasn’t the problem, Dems were.”“I know one thing: I will only work for Kamala Harris,” Crockett’s statement continued. “If it’s anyone other than her, enjoy campaign season.”“But it’s really a pivotal moment,” said U.S. Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Texas. “It shows this transfer of trust and leadership to a new generation, and I’m very excited about a potential Vice President Kamala Harris as our next president.”As Democrats hoped the move would energize their base for November, Texas Republicans criticized the development.“Let’s put this in perspective: the Democrat party just forced their nominee for President of the United States off the ballot,” said U.S. Rep. David Spiller, R-Texas. “So they just basically nullified the 14 million voters or votes of 14 million people in their party for whom he was their selection for President of the United States.”Both of Texas’s senators weighed in on Biden’s announcement.U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) posted a picture of former President Richard Nixon – who famously departed the White House – with no caption minutes after the decision.And U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) wrote, “If Dems think trading Biden for his failed border czar is going to change anything, they’re dreaming...and if President Biden is not competent to run for reelection, he should step down from the presidency.”Some Republican state lawmakers agreed, believing they were set up for success in November.“I don’t know that it affects too much in Texas, President Trump is going to win Texas,” said Spiller. “Down the line, Senator Cruz is going to win reelection, and hopefully, many of my house members, the Republicans, will be back.”news47 mins agoKamala Harris sees surge in big money support after Biden drops out of racenews3 hours agoKamala Harris has Biden's endorsement as Democratic nominee. Here are her next stepsDonald Trump2 hours agoTrump reacts to Biden dropping out, calling him the ‘worst president'

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., says the Secret Service provided little information to senators and did not take more than four questions, with no follow ups, at a briefing.

In six months time Donald Trump's shares in Truth Social could be worth billions or possibly "zero". New York Times Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Suzanne Craig appeared on MSNBC's "The Last Word" to discuss the potential windfall Trump received when his social media company went public this week."It's a very volatile and high-risk stock, so it could be anywhere from worth a lot more in six months to almost zero in six months, we don't know," she said.ALSO READ: ‘Don't have enough’: Wealthy Trump allies balk at helping Donald pay legal billsThe social media platform traded under the ticker "DJT" on Tuesday; and by the second day shares rose from $8.23, or 14.2% on Tuesday, to $66.22 on Wednesday.The gains boost Trump's Media & Technology Group, of which he owns 58%, up to a market value of $9.4 billion.On paper that comes out to $5.2 billion.The potential cash bonanza lands at a critical time for Trump while he's been scrambling to find liquid assets to pay off what was originally a $464 million bond in his civil fraud judgment against him and his eponymous company The Trump Organization. That amount was reduced to $175 million by a five-member judge panel, giving Trump a cushion to pay up in 10 days. As far as how he'll be able to meet the sum in time, Craig remains dubious. "We don't know where he's going to get the money from," she said. "He said that he's going to put up cash, but you can get cash from a lot of places."She discussed the possibility that he could try to leverage his newfound stock riches into some loan, but that it's more speculation at this point."Who knows what [the shares] are going to be worth in six months," she said. "There is speculation he'll get a loan off those shares, I don't know who would lend him money on those, because you don't know what it's going to be worth down the road."Watch the video below or at this link.

Ken Paxton was nearly removed from office for corruption last year, but survived his impeachment trial.

In 2020, surveys showed Biden consistently leading Trump nationally and in swing states, often by wide margins. But this time, the polls show Biden in a more precarious position.

On Tuesday, nine years after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was indicted for securities fraud, and just a few weeks before he was finally set to go on trial, prosecutors struck a deal with the powerful Republican to call the whole thing off. Under the terms of the pre-trial agreement, as reported by Texas Tribune, […]

Donald Trump may be a stable genius, but Judge Juan Manuel Merchan is proving to be the stable hand who might be the former president's perfect foil. That'a according to to Miriam “Mimi” Rocah, a seasoned prosecutor with hours logged in both New York and Westchester counties, who appeared Monday on CNN's "Out Front" to laud the New York City jurist overseeing Trump's criminal hush money case. As proof, Rocah pointed to Merchan's handling of Trump's lawyers accusations, levied against prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney's office, of misconduct. "That's so serious, for any lawyer, but especially prosecutors," Rocah said. "That, according to the judge, was not warranted."Merchan played the cornerman for the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over accusations linked documents handed over by the Manhattan federal prosecutor's office, Rocah argued. While Trump's attorneys demanded delay or even dismissal over the alleged "widespread misconduct" of failing to quickly pass the documents, along, Bragg's office said they did their due diligence. ALSO READ: Here's why conservative elites are bailing on Trump nowTrump's attorneys may have pointed fingers at the prosecutors in Trump's hush money case — in which the former president has pleaded not guilty to falsifying business records to hide alleged payments made to Stormy Daniels — but Merchan gave them a hat tip, Rocah noted. Specifically, Merchan refused to delay the case and set a court date of April 15. "This judge, who really calls balls and strikes, said 'In fact, I think the D.A.'s office here seems to have gone above and beyond,'" Rocah said. "They've not only fulfilled their obligations under the law, but they went beyond that."Rocah took Merchan's admonishment of Trump's attorneys as a sign that he'll push back when the case comes to trial. "That is part of a judge's job," Rocah said "to police, if you will, the rhetoric and accusations that get thrown around in heated cases."Watch the video below or click here.

Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Senate Republicans hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. ET on March 21, calling on Democrats to pass the Laken Riley Act. Including: Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), John Kennedy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas). The U.S. House of Representatives approved the Laken Riley Act […]

The top two concerns for Republican conference members are term limits and an approachable leader as the Senate GOP considers what they want in a McConnell successor.

'Lobbying for both the Chinese and American defense industrial base risks significant conflicts of interest,' the US senator said.

Oklahoma representative announces he is running for a key position in the GOP conference.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra testifies during a Senate Finance Committee hearing last week. On Wednesday, he appeared before two House panels to discuss President Joe Biden's fiscal 2025 budget.

“It’s not what I would say," Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told reporters when asked about Donald Trump's latest comments about Jewish people.

'I hope they will reconsider.'

Senators challenged the official’s claims that his department lacks the authority to ensure the children’s continued safety outside of HHS custody.

Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, arrives to testify during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in January.

Get live updates on a bill the House is expected to vote on today that could prompt a ban on social media platform TikTok if certain criteria isn't met by ByteDance.

Democrats are going on the attack after former President Trump raised the possibility of cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Trump said in a Monday interview there’s “a lot” that can be done on entitlements “in terms of cutting,” a comment President Biden immediately seized on. The Biden campaign quickly released a new ad, contrasting [...]

Democrats are going on the attack after former President Trump raised the possibility of cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Trump said in a Monday interview there’s “a lot” that can be done on entitlements “in terms of cutting,” a comment President Biden immediately seized on. The Biden campaign quickly released a new ad, contrasting [...]

Democrats are going on the attack after former President Trump raised the possibility of cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Trump said in a Monday interview there’s “a lot” that can be done on entitlements “in terms of cutting,” a comment President Biden immediately seized on. The Biden campaign quickly released a new ad, contrasting [...]

Democrats are going on the attack after former President Trump raised the possibility of cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Trump said in a Monday interview there’s “a lot” that can be done on entitlements “in terms of cutting,” a comment President Biden immediately seized on. The Biden campaign quickly released a new ad, contrasting [...]

‘Allowing TikTok to remain under the CCP's control puts our election systems at risk,’ Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi says.