Thom Tillis

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

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R) on Tuesday circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter warning that some of the reforms being pushed by Senate conservatives would only weaken the next Senate Republican leader and cause the same chaos that is plaguing the House Republican majority. Tillis released his letter in response to a list of procedural [...]

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is seriously considering making a run to become chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) in 2026, sources told The Hill. Two Senate GOP sources told The Hill that Scott started making calls to senators over the weekend about a possible bid to lead Senate Republicans' campaign arm. "It’s his if [...]

Kamala Harris is racing against lost time to flip the red state of North Carolina. Donald Trump is combating a Democratic operation that dwarfs his.

Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage from Florida into the Appalachian mountains and killed more than 225 people across multiple states.

The response to Hurricane Helene's devastating landfall last month has been hampered by a slew of conspiracy theories and rapidly spreading misinformation about federal assistance to hard-hit communities, as an election year tragedy is swept into political discourseMeanwhile, the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol continues to be a defining moment in American politics — and former President Trump's legal battles — more than three years later. Here's what you may have missed when newsmakers hit the airwaves this Sunday, Oct. 6. 1. FEMA administrator: Post-storm conspiracies are "truly dangerous" FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell discusses Hurricane Helene response efforts on ABC's "This Week" on Oct. 6.Conspiracy theories spiraling online in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which left more than 200 people dead across six states, are stoking fear among those affected by the storm and employees on the ground, FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell said Sunday. The conspiracies are spreading as another storm, Hurricane Milton, is forecast to hit Florida in coming days. The big picture: Several false narratives have been amplified by Republican politicians, including former President Trump, who has highlighted baseless "reports" of bias against Republicans affected by the storm in North Carolina and argued his Democratic opponent Vice President Kamala Harris diverted FEMA funds to housing illegal immigrants.Trump claimed at a campaign stop Thursday that the Biden administration "stole" FEMA money "so they could give it to their illegal immigrants that they want to have vote for them."He also contended FEMA is only offering $750 to Helene victims. But that $750 offer is through just one type of relief payment, Serious Needs Assistance, which is upfront aid that can be approved shortly after an application, not the total amount a victim may ultimately receive.Trump isn't solely responsible for the misinformation about FEMA disaster relief funds, which have been shared widely online — including by billionaire Elon Musk, who's backing Trump this election.Zoom out: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters Wednesday that while FEMA is meeting "immediate needs" and can support recovery from the present disaster, it does not have the funds to make it through the rest of hurricane season.But he and other officials have emphasized that the agency does have the resources to cover the current crisis.Total economic losses from Helene could rise to around $35 billion, experts say.Follow the money: As part of a short-term continuing resolution, Congress recently provided $20 billion to the FEMA disaster relief fund. But the agency has been dependent on an unstable source of funding amid stopgap limbo, Mayorkas said.The agency announced Sunday the federal assistance provided to survivors had surpassed $137 million.Reality check: While FEMA does provide immigration-related aid, that funding is separate from disaster relief.The Shelter and Services Program, which supports communities providing humanitarian services to migrants and is administered in partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is an entirely different fund. Congress appropriated a total of $650 million for the program in fiscal year 2024, whereas the separate disaster relief fund totals tens of billions of dollars."FEMA's disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts," the agency said in a statement Thursday on its "Rumor Response" webpage. "Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts."What they're saying: "It's just a shame that people are sitting home on their comfortable couches, while we have thousands of people here on the ground that have left their own families to be able to help those in need," Criswell said on ABC's "This Week" of those amplifying false claims, which she slammed as "frankly ridiculous."The rumors are "a distraction" impeding response efforts, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R) said on CBS News' "Face the Nation," noting many "observations are not even from people on the ground."Asked about the Trump's contention about FEMA funds, Tillis criticized the Biden-Harris administration's border policies but said, "Right now, not yet, is it affecting the flow of resources to Western North Carolina," adding the state has the resources it needs.RNC co-chair Lara Trump, who is from North Carolina, clashed with CNN's Dana Bash over the rumors Sunday, repeatedly pointing to the unrelated migrant crisis when pressed about her father-in-law's comments. "My question is about the misinformation, particularly the notion that they are moving money to migrants ... which FEMA says flatly is not true," Bash said.Lara Trump responded, "You have migrants being housed in luxury hotels in New York City," arguing money could be redirected to disaster aid — but that fund is a separate, congressionally appropriated program."That has nothing to do with the people in your home state right now," Bash replied. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.2. Jan. 6 takes spotlight one month till Election Day House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks during an interview on ABC's "This Week" on Oct. 6.Former President Trump's actions around the Jan. 6 insurrection and repeated false 2020 election claims gained fresh urgency this week.State of play: A judge unsealed special counsel Jack Smith's recent, hefty filing Wednesday containing new evidence in his federal election interference case against Trump that's been on ice due to the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity.Per the filing, when he was told Vice President Mike Pence had to be evacuated from the Capitol, Trump said "So what?"Trump allies and a former federal prosecutor have condemned the release of information so close to Election Day, as early voting has already begun, with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK) calling it "a temper tantrum."What they're saying: "I think this is a ridiculous ploy, of course," Lara Trump told CNN's Dana Bash during "State of the Union," referencing Smith's filing."The January 6 situation has been amplified to a level that I don't think is almost believable to so many people right now," Lara Trump added, shifting the conversation to voters' affordability concerns.Lara Trump said the former president would "of course" accept the results of "a free, fair, and transparent election."Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Ca.), the leading candidate for California's Senate seat, said Smith's filing "reaffirmed ... what we know about Trump" in an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press."When asked about the comparisons to then-FBI Director James Comey's Oct. 2016 announcement of a reopened probe into Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's emails, Schiff claimed the situations were different."Because what you have there was the director of the FBI unilaterally making a decision to talk about an open investigation ... that is a very different circumstance than a court filing made under seal," he told NBC's Kristen Welker.Zoom out: On who won the 2020 election, House speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) refused to say either way when pressed during ABC's "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos.Stephanopoulos referenced Sen. JD Vance's (R-Ohio) similar refusal during the vice presidential debate on Tuesday. When Vance downplayed Trump's role in the Jan. 6 attack, his opponent Gov. Tim Walz accused him of "revisionist history.""It's a gotcha game," Johnson told George Stephanopoulos, accusing "mainstream media" of playing it with Republicans. "You want us to litigate things that happened four years ago when we're talking about future. We're not going to talk about what happened in 2020. We're going to talk about 2024."He sidestepped the question, while affirming he has worked with President Biden for the last four years.3. Foreign misinformation threats deepen Sen. Mark Kelly speaks during an Oct. 6 interview on CBS News' "Face the Nation."Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, warned of "significant" efforts from foreign actors to influence American voters ahead of November's election. By the numbers: Kelly estimated that the odds a political comment or post on social media was made by a foreign actor — even if that poster appears to be a U.S. citizen — are in "the 20 to 30% range."Specifically, Kelly said, the bulk of those posts come from the triple disinformation threat of Russia, China and Iran.Asked if Arizonians had been exposed to targeted information operations, Kelly told CBS News' Margaret Brennan the threat is spread across battleground states that will be key to the outcome of the 2024 election. What he's saying: "It's up to us, the people who serve in Congress and in the White House, to get the information out there that there is a tremendous amount of misinformation in this election and it's not going to stop on November 5," he said. Flashback: Last month, several headlines about Russian disinformation and influence campaigns targeting the Harris campaign, as well as an Iranian effort to hack the Trump campaign, underscored the ongoing risk of foreign interference present throughout modern elections.More from Axios' Sunday coverage:Walz defends Minnesota abortion policy in first interview as VP nomineeOne year after Oct. 7 attacks, Netanyahu is on a winning streakHow Harris is getting Trump-y on immigration

The number of deaths from Hurricane Helene stood at 227 on Saturday and is still climbing, officials say.

Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said more resources are needed in parts of the state hit hardest by Hurricane Helene.

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina tells "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that in evaluating damage from Hurricane Helene in the western part of his state that "the scope of this storm is more like Katrina."

The following is a transcript of an interview with Sen. Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina, on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that aired on Oct. 6, 2024.

This week on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," as the world prepares to mark one year since the Hamas attack on Israel, Margaret Brennan speaks to UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell. Plus, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina joins.

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.

Republicans could pass both a health care overhaul that would replace Obamacare and extend Trump tax breaks in one bill if they win Congress and the White House.

There’s a delicate balancing act unfolding in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District — a battleground district in a battleground state, and one of the few toss-up congressional races across the Southeast.

Many Republicans have sought to distance themselves from the candidate amid the latest controversy.

Republicans nationwide have offered disjointed responses to the controversy swirling around North Carolina's Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, whose campaign for governor is now in free fall. Why it matters: Last week's bombshell CNN report, which uncovered unsavory comments Robinson allegedly made as an active participant on a porn site message board, has rattled his party. Robinson has denied the allegations, but they've still put his fellow Republicans running for office in a tight spot: Denounce Robinson and risk alienating some of the party's base, or stay silent and potentially face criticism. The big picture: Their dilemma has been clear in recent days, as a handful of party leaders and down-ballot candidates have spoken out against him. Others have acknowledged that the comments are problematic without pinning them on Robinson. "I had a [Republican] Council of State candidate text me on Thursday, saying 'I think I'm toast,'" Republican strategist Doug Heye said. "That's what the stakes are." Democrats, meanwhile, have pounced, moving quickly to link Trump and other Republicans to Robinson. Driving the news: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who spoke at a fundraiser for Robinson last month, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, who planned to speak at a fundraiser for him, both withdrew their support this week, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Tennessean reported. Republican Congressman and attorney general candidate Dan Bishop, meanwhile, has given mixed signals on Robinson. He blamed Democrats for the controversy, saying they "rolled out a meticulously timed and coordinated character assassination," the Washington Post reported. At the same time, Bishop said in a post on X Monday that "any decisions about how to proceed in the Governor's race rest solely with Mark and are between him and the people of North Carolina." Others have hedged, condemning the alleged comments without denouncing Robinson. Vice Presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance said the allegations "aren't necessarily reality" and that what Robinson "said or didn't say is ultimately between him and the people of North Carolina." Vance refused to say whether he'd continue to support Robinson, per MSNBC. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on NBC's "Meet the Press": "I think what's going to happen here is he deserves the chance to defend himself, Mark Robinson," Graham said. "The charges are beyond unnerving. If they're true, he is unfit to serve for office."North Carolina's U.S. Sen. Ted Budd has said that the allegations are "disturbing" and "concerning," but that Robinson has denied them and should prove that they're not true. U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, the senior senator from North Carolina, told CNN that Robinson must "provide evidence by Friday refuting the damaging information about his posts on a porn site — or the party needs to 'move on' and focus on Trump and down-ticket races."Brad Briner, the Republican nominee for state treasurer, said on X that Robinson should step aside if he can't put the allegations to rest "in the coming days." (The deadline to withdraw from the race was last week.) Former President Trump and Republican candidate for North Carolina's competitive 1st Congressional District Laurie Buckhout have stayed silent. What we're watching: Robinson is set to speak this weekend at NC Faith & Freedom's Salt & Light Conference, where Ben Carson, the Trump campaign's National Faith Chairman, and Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace will also appear. The latest: Robinson hired a law firm to investigate where and how CNN's "false smears originated," he said in a statement Tuesday. "I am confident that Binnall Law Group will leave no stone unturned and enable us to use every legal means to hold CNN accountable for their lies," Robinson said. Reality check: CNN said that it verified that Robinson made the newly unearthed comments under the username "minisoldr" through both his comments and profile, which offered details that aligned with his personal background, including his name, age, location and marriage details.Politico also reported Monday that the comments allegedly made by Robinson came from an IP address around where he lived at the time. Between the lines: Robinson's campaign still has not announced staff replacements, after eight members of this campaign, including his top adviser, resigned over the weekend."He didn't start off with the A team, but now we're looking at the QRS team," Heye said. Plus, Heye said, "He has no money." The bottom line: Robinson's odds of winning are looking increasingly bleak, and his fellow Republicans' unwillingness to tie themselves to him seems to be evidence that they agree.

After previously supporting him, Gov. Henry McMaster is the latest in a growing list of Republicans abandoning NC's scandal-ridden gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson after reporters unearthed a multitude of controversial statements the Republican once made on a porn site.

North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson says his campaign has hired a law firm to help investigate a CNN report stating he made explicit racial and sexual posts on a pornography website’s message board — something he denies

The GOP presidential nominee's pitches to working-class voters — including capping credit card interest rates — aren't convincing members of his party on Capitol Hill.

North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis issued GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson an ultimatum in a social media post following the bombshell allegations against the candidate.

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson will not appear at former President Donald Trump’s rally in the eastern part of his state after a CNN report about his alleged posts on a pornography website’s message board. That's according to two...

Republicans are scrambling to mitigate the fallout from North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson’s latest scandal, fearful it could cost them more than just the governor’s mansion as the state becomes a critical battleground in the presidential race. CNN’s bombshell report Thursday that Robinson made many inflammatory comments concerning race, gender and sexual preferences has [...]

Donald Trump grapples with the latest scandal engulfing Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson in battleground North Carolina.

Donald Trump is facing calls from his allies and staff to pull his endorsement from scandal-plagued Mark Robinson in North Carolina, according to four people familiar with the discussions.

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson will not appear at former President Donald Trump’s rally in the eastern part of his state after a CNN report about his alleged posts on a pornography website’s message board

Republicans on Tuesday blocked a bill that would have created a right to access IVF treatments and mandated that insurance plans cover the practice, deriding the vote as a political ploy. Senators voted against advancing the bill, 51-44, marking the second time Democrats have sought to put Republicans on the record on the contentious issue. [...]

Senate Democrats are trying to put Republicans in a bind as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) plans to hold another vote on in vitro fertilization access this week, a move that comes after former President Trump’s call for insurance companies to cover such treatments divided his supporters. Democrats have felt the wind at their [...]

Loomer, a conservative commentator, attended an anniversary ceremony with Trump at Ground Zero and posted about a 9/11 conspiracy theory days later.

The former president refused on Friday to weigh in on recent racist and conspiratorial comments from the right-wing provocateur who traveled with him earlier this week to the debate and several 9/11 memorial events.

Trump allies, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., blasted Loomer this week over her racist tweets about Vice President Kamala Harris.

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Friday refused to disavow far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, whose presence on the campaign trail this week has drawn criticism from fervent Trump supporters as well as the White...

Former President Trump shrugged off a question about his association with far-right activist Laura Loomer as some of his Republican allies sound the alarm about her influence, saying Friday that she brings "a spirit" to his campaign. Trump was asked about Republican concerns with Loomer's proximity to the former president in recent days during an [...]

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."

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

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.

Last November, Arizona Republican State Senator John Kavanagh was fuming in front of a television. Hundreds of miles away, more than 70 people had stopped their cars on the Bay Bridge between San Francisco and Oakland. They turned off their engines, stepped out of their vehicles, and a few of them even purposefully threw their car […]

WASHINGTON — Some of former President Donald Trump’s fiercest allies in Congress may be multi-millionaires, but that doesn’t mean they’re opening up their wallets for the reality TV star turned contestant for America's most indicted. “There’s only so much money,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) told Raw Story. With creditors demanding a $454 million bond as his appeals slowly wind through the courts, Trump’s personal deficits have been the talk of the Capitol in recent days. “Hopefully, I never get into that problem myself,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) told Raw Story while riding an elevator in the Capitol. ALSO READ: A criminologist explains why half of America does not care about Trump's crimes“You’re not planning to cut him a check?” Raw Story asked. “No. I don't have enough. Mine would be just a blip,” Tuberville — who’s been estimated to have a net worth of around $20 million — said. “But if I could help, I’d help, maybe.” Most Republicans on Capitol Hill now parrot the former president’s rhetoric, dismissing Trump’s legal problems as “lawfare” — think lawsuits instead of bullets — by the left and presenting him as a modern day martyr. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) ranks among the wealthy Trump supporters in Congress who tell Raw Story they aren't able — or willing — to send former President Donald Trump a financial life line. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)“Listen, I’m sympathetic with the lawfare that is being waged against him. Actually quite sympathetic. This is the price he's paying for being involved in politics and running for the office again,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) told Raw Story. “You could argue it's grossly unfair for him to have to pick up the full tab, so I personally don't have a problem with him explicitly asking for support.” “Are you gonna donate?” Raw Story asked the former CEO worth an estimated $78 million. “I've paid my price,” Johnson — who the Select Jan. 6 Committee implicated in helping carry out Wisconsin Republicans’ fake elector scheme in 2021 — said through a smile and chuckle. While Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) is estimated to be worth more than $300 million — making him the wealthiest sitting U.S. senator — Trump shouldn’t come shaking his tin cup around the former chief executive of the Sunshine State. “I’m optimistic he’ll figure it out. He's a pretty resourceful guy,” Scott (R-FL) told reporters just off the Senate floor Thursday. “Would you donate?” Raw Story asked. “He's a resourceful guy,” Scott answered with a laugh before heading into the chamber to vote.Personal and political money troubles collideTrump hasn’t directly asked his Senate allies to chip in to help him pay his civil penalties, fines and lawyers, which now top half a billion dollars — including interest, which Forbes reports is ticking up at $111,984 a day.But the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee finds himself in a potentially cataclysmic financial mess that mixes both his personal fortune and the finances of his presidential campaign.During the past two years, Trump’s political operation has spent upward of $80 million on legal fees — an astounding sum for anyone, let alone a presidential candidate. Every dollar Trump’s political machine spends on his four separate criminal cases and various civil court matters is a dollar not spent on attacking Democrats or boosting Republicans.ALSO READ: 11 ways Trump doesn’t become presidentConversations in conservative circles have often focused on fundraising for Trump’s legal defense instead of beating President Joe Biden, which has some Republicans fearing the GOP will suffer up and down the ballot come November. And while it’s still early in this general election and Trump’s poll numbers have looked decent, his fundraising has been anemic. Similarly, Biden’s poll numbers are lagging, even as his campaign coffers are overflowing. Biden’s warchest is currently triple that of Trump's. The latest Federal Election Commission filings show Biden’s campaign and joint fundraising committee are sitting on $155 million compared to the $41.9 million cash on hand at Trump’s disposal. Such figures don't include money raised by committees the candidates don't directly control, such as supportive super PACs. President Joe Biden, seen departing the White House on March 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C., enjoys a campaign cash advantage over Trump at present. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)Trump may have had a good fundraising month in February, netting upward of $20 million in tandem with his joint fundraising committee, but he still found himself outraised by $3 million by former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) before she dropped out of the GOP presidential primary — withholding both her endorsement and her dollars. “I think we just have to look at the hard math. Democrats are hitting on all cylinders in terms of fundraising, so we've already got a structural challenge where we're not raising as much as them,” Sen. Tillis of North Carolina said as he entered an elevator in the Capitol. “These races are big races. They cost a lot of money. You gotta mobilize voters, so I'm sure it's a concern for them, too.”Besides begging for longshot loans, selling off assets and engaging in other creative monetary maneuvers, the former president is now leaning on the sale of $399 gold sneakers and a GoFundMe with an eye-popping $355 million goal. It’s still unclear if Trump can wiggle out of the straight jacket ensnaring him through the newly announced merger between his fledgling social media company, Truth Social, and Digital World Acquisition Corporation. While the deal could eventually net Trump some $3 billion, his hands are currently tied by an agreement constraining him from selling his shares for the next six months — when the earliest of 2024 early votes are slated to be cast. Instead of focusing on his reelection, Fox News hosts, such as Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin, have been pushing their massive audiences to donate to Trump’s legal fund. They’re not the only ones thinking about Donald’s debt these days.'Trump’s a movement'Per his usual, Trump has his fierce defenders who say everything’s fine. “Trump’s a movement. It’s not just the candidate. He’s a movement,” Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) — who served as Trump’s first Interior secretary until scandals ended his tenure in the executive branch — told Raw Story. “I'm not worried.” “You gonna cut a check for his legal fund?” Raw Story inquired. “I’ll support my president,” Zinke — who’s estimated to own assets topping $30 million — said. Other rich Republicans also aren’t entirely slamming the door shut on providing future legal aid to Trump. ALSO READ: Bipartisan lawmakers demand action after Raw Story mail crime investigation“I am confident the [former] president will be able to figure out how to manage his campaign and finances to be successful,” Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) told Raw Story while walking through the Capitol. “You have plans to donate to Trump?” “We’ll see,” said Ricketts, who’s estimated his net worth around $50 million and comes from a family of billionaires who, for example, own the Chicago Cubs.While he may not be as wealthy as his Senate counterparts, Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) has made millions through his gun store and firing range, which means he can’t give Trump in-kind donations because it’s illegal for the former president to even “receive” a firearm or ammunition while under felony indictments.ALSO READ: A neuroscientist reveals how Trump and Biden's cognitive impairments are differentBudd’s not looking to arm Trump for warfare though. “Oh my goodness, it's complete lawfare,” Budd (R-NC) told Raw Story on his way to a Senate vote. The freshman senator dismisses fears from some in the GOP that Trump’s legal fundraising is handicapping the party ahead of November. “No. Completely separate,” Budd said. Many in the GOP are banking on Biden foiling his own reelection bid. They expect the grassroots to be there for Trump — no matter the mind-numbing sums he’s scrambling to raise — just as they’ve been there for him in past fundraising appeals.“I think that his support that he has at the grassroots will give him the money he needs,” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) told Raw Story. “And I think that there's a big anti-Biden movement. A downturn in money's not going to make a big difference.” Other Republicans are indifferent or awkwardly distancing themselves from the troubled Trump — and the entire GOP through him, the party’s defendant-in-chief — brand. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) wouldn't answer Raw Story's question about whether she still considers herself a Republican. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)“I haven’t thought about it at all,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) told Raw Story. “What about the RNC losing 60 staffers?” “I didn't know about that either,” Collins said in reference to the “bloodbath” earlier this month when Trump ousted Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and installed his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, as Republican National Committee — or RNC — co-chairwoman.“Oh, yeah?” Raw Story asked. “Are you still a Republican?” “It’s not uncommon when there's a new chair for there to be a major staff turnover,” Collins replied without answering our question. RNC shakeup sends shivers through old Republican guard Campaigns are more than dollars and cents though, and Trump’s ongoing personal shakeup of the RNC has unsettled many veteran Republicans. Among country club Republicans and critics alike, this is just par for Trump’s political course. “I don't think there's any norm or barrier that former President Trump won't be ready and willing to cross if it's in his personal, financial or egotistical interest,” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) told Raw Story while walking to a vote on the Senate floor. Romney is dismissed as a disloyal “Never Trump”-er by many in his own party. Besides McDaniel being his niece, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee is retiring at the end of this term. Romney may be a critic, but he says he’s not given up on his party yet, even as the Republican Party has morphed into something unrecognizable from his time as the GOP standard-bearer. Romney says he loves his party and fears Trump’s self-serving moves will be felt by conservatives for decades. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) answers questions in his office after announcing he will not seek re-election on September 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. Romney Called for a "new generation of leaders" while also criticizing both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)“The party has to exist beyond and after Donald Trump and I are gone, and so weakening the party, making it a personal appendage, is not a good thing,” Romney — who’s estimated to be worth more than $170 million, making him one of the top 10 wealthiest senators — said. Even though he lost to then-President Barack Obama in 2012, Romney credits the RNC with helping turn out his supporters. “It was a very helpful organization in turning out the vote, so it helped raise money for me and it turned out the vote. To win elections, it’s all about organization. Ground game still makes a difference,” Romney said. “Once I became the presumptive nominee, we worked hand in glove.” ALSO READ: Convicted January 6 felon wants to storm the Capitol again — as an elected congressmanRomney did that without placing any of his children at the helm of the RNC. “Having family members serve in the administration looked like nepotism. Didn't seem to bother him. Didn't seem to bother the voters who put him there,” Romney said. Not all Democrats are dancing On the other side of the proverbial aisle, many liberal talking heads are giddy watching Trump scramble for millions and millions of pennies. But Democrats in tight races this fall know they can’t count on Trump’s legal woes to win. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) is fighting for his political life in Montana. He’s raised upwards of $5 million four quarters in a row now, and he’s not letting up just because of Trump’s mounting legal bills. “I don’t know that it makes a lot of difference, actually,” Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) told Raw Story. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) listens during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee hearing on January 11, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Tester is in the midst of one of the most competitive U.S. Senate races in the nation this year. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)Democrats also have other fears. “Depends on whether he’s busy raising money for his legal fees instead of for his campaign, but it does concern me that it will be added financial pressure compromising him,” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) told Raw Story on his way to meetings on the Senate side of the Capitol Thursday. Schiff, who recently clinched a spot on the ballot in California’s U.S. Senate general election in November, is a Harvard educated lawyer who was the impeachment manager for Trump’s first impeachment. “He’s always been all about the money,” Schiff said. “But now there will be even greater risk that he trades American interests for money.”

WASHINGTON — Some of former President Donald Trump’s fiercest allies in Congress may be multi-millionaires, but that doesn’t mean they’re opening up their wallets for the reality TV star turned contestant for America's most indicted. “There’s only so much money,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) told Raw Story. With creditors demanding a $454 million bond as his appeals slowly wind through the courts, Trump’s personal deficits have been the talk of the Capitol in recent days. “Hopefully, I never get into that problem myself,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) told Raw Story while riding an elevator in the Capitol. ALSO READ: A criminologist explains why half of America does not care about Trump's crimes“You’re not planning to cut him a check?” Raw Story asked. “No. I don't have enough. Mine would be just a blip,” Tuberville — who’s been estimated to have a net worth of around $20 million — said. “But if I could help, I’d help, maybe.” Most Republicans on Capitol Hill now parrot the former president’s rhetoric, dismissing Trump’s legal problems as “lawfare” — think lawsuits instead of bullets — by the left and presenting him as a modern day martyr. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) ranks among the wealthy Trump supporters in Congress who tell Raw Story they aren't able — or willing — to send former President Donald Trump a financial life line. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)“Listen, I’m sympathetic with the lawfare that is being waged against him. Actually quite sympathetic. This is the price he's paying for being involved in politics and running for the office again,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) told Raw Story. “You could argue it's grossly unfair for him to have to pick up the full tab, so I personally don't have a problem with him explicitly asking for support.” “Are you gonna donate?” Raw Story asked the former CEO worth an estimated $78 million. “I've paid my price,” Johnson — who the Select Jan. 6 Committee implicated in helping carry out Wisconsin Republicans’ fake elector scheme in 2021 — said through a smile and chuckle. While Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) is estimated to be worth more than $300 million — making him the wealthiest sitting U.S. senator — Trump shouldn’t come shaking his tin cup around the former chief executive of the Sunshine State. “I’m optimistic he’ll figure it out. He's a pretty resourceful guy,” Scott (R-FL) told reporters just off the Senate floor Thursday. “Would you donate?” Raw Story asked. “He's a resourceful guy,” Scott answered with a laugh before heading into the chamber to vote.Personal and political money troubles collideTrump hasn’t directly asked his Senate allies to chip in to help him pay his civil penalties, fines and lawyers, which now top half a billion dollars — including interest, which Forbes reports is ticking up at $111,984 a day.But the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee finds himself in a potentially cataclysmic financial mess that mixes both his personal fortune and the finances of his presidential campaign.During the past two years, Trump’s political operation has spent upward of $80 million on legal fees — an astounding sum for anyone, let alone a presidential candidate. Every dollar Trump’s political machine spends on his four separate criminal cases and various civil court matters is a dollar not spent on attacking Democrats or boosting Republicans.ALSO READ: 11 ways Trump doesn’t become presidentConversations in conservative circles have often focused on fundraising for Trump’s legal defense instead of beating President Joe Biden, which has some Republicans fearing the GOP will suffer up and down the ballot come November. And while it’s still early in this general election and Trump’s poll numbers have looked decent, his fundraising has been anemic. Similarly, Biden’s poll numbers are lagging, even as his campaign coffers are overflowing. Biden’s warchest is currently triple that of Trump's. The latest Federal Election Commission filings show Biden’s campaign and joint fundraising committee are sitting on $155 million compared to the $41.9 million cash on hand at Trump’s disposal. Such figures don't include money raised by committees the candidates don't directly control, such as supportive super PACs. President Joe Biden, seen departing the White House on March 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C., enjoys a campaign cash advantage over Trump at present. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)Trump may have had a good fundraising month in February, netting upward of $20 million in tandem with his joint fundraising committee, but he still found himself outraised by $3 million by former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) before she dropped out of the GOP presidential primary — withholding both her endorsement and her dollars. “I think we just have to look at the hard math. Democrats are hitting on all cylinders in terms of fundraising, so we've already got a structural challenge where we're not raising as much as them,” Sen. Tillis of North Carolina said as he entered an elevator in the Capitol. “These races are big races. They cost a lot of money. You gotta mobilize voters, so I'm sure it's a concern for them, too.”Besides begging for longshot loans, selling off assets and engaging in other creative monetary maneuvers, the former president is now leaning on the sale of $399 gold sneakers and a GoFundMe with an eye-popping $355 million goal. It’s still unclear if Trump can wiggle out of the straight jacket ensnaring him through the newly announced merger between his fledgling social media company, Truth Social, and Digital World Acquisition Corporation. While the deal could eventually net Trump some $3 billion, his hands are currently tied by an agreement constraining him from selling his shares for the next six months — when the earliest of 2024 early votes are slated to be cast. Instead of focusing on his reelection, Fox News hosts, such as Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin, have been pushing their massive audiences to donate to Trump’s legal fund. They’re not the only ones thinking about Donald’s debt these days.'Trump’s a movement'Per his usual, Trump has his fierce defenders who say everything’s fine. “Trump’s a movement. It’s not just the candidate. He’s a movement,” Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) — who served as Trump’s first Interior secretary until scandals ended his tenure in the executive branch — told Raw Story. “I'm not worried.” “You gonna cut a check for his legal fund?” Raw Story inquired. “I’ll support my president,” Zinke — who’s estimated to own assets topping $30 million — said. Other rich Republicans also aren’t entirely slamming the door shut on providing future legal aid to Trump. ALSO READ: Bipartisan lawmakers demand action after Raw Story mail crime investigation“I am confident the [former] president will be able to figure out how to manage his campaign and finances to be successful,” Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) told Raw Story while walking through the Capitol. “You have plans to donate to Trump?” “We’ll see,” said Ricketts, who’s estimated his net worth around $50 million and comes from a family of billionaires who, for example, own the Chicago Cubs.While he may not be as wealthy as his Senate counterparts, Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) has made millions through his gun store and firing range, which means he can’t give Trump in-kind donations because it’s illegal for the former president to even “receive” a firearm or ammunition while under felony indictments.ALSO READ: A neuroscientist reveals how Trump and Biden's cognitive impairments are differentBudd’s not looking to arm Trump for warfare though. “Oh my goodness, it's complete lawfare,” Budd (R-NC) told Raw Story on his way to a Senate vote. The freshman senator dismisses fears from some in the GOP that Trump’s legal fundraising is handicapping the party ahead of November. “No. Completely separate,” Budd said. Many in the GOP are banking on Biden foiling his own reelection bid. They expect the grassroots to be there for Trump — no matter the mind-numbing sums he’s scrambling to raise — just as they’ve been there for him in past fundraising appeals.“I think that his support that he has at the grassroots will give him the money he needs,” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) told Raw Story. “And I think that there's a big anti-Biden movement. A downturn in money's not going to make a big difference.” Other Republicans are indifferent or awkwardly distancing themselves from the troubled Trump — and the entire GOP through him, the party’s defendant-in-chief — brand. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) wouldn't answer Raw Story's question about whether she still considers herself a Republican. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)“I haven’t thought about it at all,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) told Raw Story. “What about the RNC losing 60 staffers?” “I didn't know about that either,” Collins said in reference to the “bloodbath” earlier this month when Trump ousted Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and installed his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, as Republican National Committee — or RNC — co-chairwoman.“Oh, yeah?” Raw Story asked. “Are you still a Republican?” “It’s not uncommon when there's a new chair for there to be a major staff turnover,” Collins replied without answering our question. RNC shakeup sends shivers through old Republican guard Campaigns are more than dollars and cents though, and Trump’s ongoing personal shakeup of the RNC has unsettled many veteran Republicans. Among country club Republicans and critics alike, this is just par for Trump’s political course. “I don't think there's any norm or barrier that former President Trump won't be ready and willing to cross if it's in his personal, financial or egotistical interest,” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) told Raw Story while walking to a vote on the Senate floor. Romney is dismissed as a disloyal “Never Trump”-er by many in his own party. Besides McDaniel being his niece, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee is retiring at the end of this term. Romney may be a critic, but he says he’s not given up on his party yet, even as the Republican Party has morphed into something unrecognizable from his time as the GOP standard-bearer. Romney says he loves his party and fears Trump’s self-serving moves will be felt by conservatives for decades. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) answers questions in his office after announcing he will not seek re-election on September 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. Romney Called for a "new generation of leaders" while also criticizing both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)“The party has to exist beyond and after Donald Trump and I are gone, and so weakening the party, making it a personal appendage, is not a good thing,” Romney — who’s estimated to be worth more than $170 million, making him one of the top 10 wealthiest senators — said. Even though he lost to then-President Barack Obama in 2012, Romney credits the RNC with helping turn out his supporters. “It was a very helpful organization in turning out the vote, so it helped raise money for me and it turned out the vote. To win elections, it’s all about organization. Ground game still makes a difference,” Romney said. “Once I became the presumptive nominee, we worked hand in glove.” ALSO READ: Convicted January 6 felon wants to storm the Capitol again — as an elected congressmanRomney did that without placing any of his children at the helm of the RNC. “Having family members serve in the administration looked like nepotism. Didn't seem to bother him. Didn't seem to bother the voters who put him there,” Romney said. Not all Democrats are dancing On the other side of the proverbial aisle, many liberal talking heads are giddy watching Trump scramble for millions and millions of pennies. But Democrats in tight races this fall know they can’t count on Trump’s legal woes to win. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) is fighting for his political life in Montana. He’s raised upwards of $5 million four quarters in a row now, and he’s not letting up just because of Trump’s mounting legal bills. “I don’t know that it makes a lot of difference, actually,” Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) told Raw Story. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) listens during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee hearing on January 11, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Tester is in the midst of one of the most competitive U.S. Senate races in the nation this year. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)Democrats also have other fears. “Depends on whether he’s busy raising money for his legal fees instead of for his campaign, but it does concern me that it will be added financial pressure compromising him,” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) told Raw Story on his way to meetings on the Senate side of the Capitol Thursday. Schiff, who recently clinched a spot on the ballot in California’s U.S. Senate general election in November, is a Harvard educated lawyer who was the impeachment manager for Trump’s first impeachment. “He’s always been all about the money,” Schiff said. “But now there will be even greater risk that he trades American interests for money.”

The Senate in the early hours of Saturday passed a sprawling $1.2 trillion package to fund large swaths of the government, capping off a dramatic negotiation in the upper chamber and an intense months-long spending fight. The chamber approved the mammoth package, which spans more than a thousand pages, in a 74-24 vote, sending the [...]

The Senate in the early hours of Saturday passed a sprawling $1.2 trillion package to fund large swaths of the government, capping off a dramatic negotiation in the upper chamber and an intense months-long spending fight. The chamber approved the mammoth package, which spans more than a thousand pages, in a 74-24 vote, sending the [...]

The Senate in the early hours of Saturday passed a sprawling $1.2 trillion package to fund large swaths of the government, capping off a dramatic negotiation in the upper chamber and an intense months-long spending fight. The chamber approved the mammoth package, which spans more than a thousand pages, in a 74-24 vote, sending the [...]

The Senate in the early hours of Saturday passed a sprawling $1.2 trillion package to fund large swaths of the government, capping off a dramatic negotiation in the upper chamber and an intense months-long spending fight. The chamber approved the mammoth package, which spans more than a thousand pages, in a 74-24 vote, sending the [...]

The Senate in the early hours of Saturday passed a sprawling $1.2 trillion package to fund large swaths of the government, capping off a dramatic negotiation in the upper chamber and an intense months-long spending fight. The chamber approved the mammoth package, which spans more than a thousand pages, in a 74-24 vote, sending the [...]

The Senate in the early hours of Saturday passed a sprawling $1.2 trillion package to fund large swaths of the government, capping off a dramatic negotiation in the upper chamber and an intense months-long spending fight. The chamber approved the mammoth package, which spans more than a thousand pages, in a 74-24 vote, sending the [...]

The Senate in the early hours of Saturday passed a sprawling $1.2 trillion package to fund large swaths of the government, capping off a dramatic negotiation in the upper chamber and an intense months-long spending fight. The chamber approved the mammoth package, which spans more than a thousand pages, in a 74-24 vote, sending the [...]

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.

'Callers like this who communicate threats against elected officials could be committing a federal crime,’ says Sen. Thom Tillis.

Lawmakers received threatening voicemails after the House voted to pass a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban against TikTok