Republicans

JOSH HAWLEY: “The Senate’s going to want to put its own stamp on this. We’ll write our own version of the bill. I talked to the president about this last night, and his instructions were pretty clear. Don’t cut Medicaid.” RAND PAUL: “This will be the greatest increase in the debt ceiling ever, and GOP owns this now.” MSNBC: “Senator, …

Helena’s NBC affiliate reports: A new Montana law limits what flags can be flown on government property or at public schools. House Bill 819, sponsored by Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, restricts any flags that “represent a political party, race, sexual orientation, gender or political ideology.” The law effectively bans Pride flags and other LGBTQ flags from being flown at …

The Huffington Post reports: Senate Republicans aren’t on board with the tax and spending cuts their House counterparts passed Thursday. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said his conference would seek changes to the tax side of the bill and the Medicaid side as well. “We want to do things that are meaningful in terms of reforming programs, strengthening programs, …

The Daily Beast reports: Buried deep in the text of the more than 1,000-page bill is a measure that would restrict the federal courts’ authority to hold government officials in contempt if they violate court orders. “No court of the United States may use appropriated funds to enforce a contempt citation for failure to comply with an injunction or temporary …

FOX HOST STUART VARNEY: “Randy Fine joins me now. Congressman, you are one of three Jewish Republicans in the House. Are you comfortable working alongside Ilhan Omar?” REP. RANDY FINE: “Well, look, I stay as far away from her as I can. Ilhan Omar is not pro-America. And frankly, she endorses and supports Muslim terror. So I think that what …

The Texas Tribune reports: Despite constitutional concerns from opponents, the Texas Legislature forged ahead in a key vote on Thursday to allow a period for prayer or religious study — part of a larger national movement to infuse more Christianity into schools. With seven Democrats and all Republicans present voting yes, the House approved the measure 91 to 51 at …

NPR reports: Congress has voted to undo a Clean Air Act regulation that strictly controls the amount of toxic air pollutants emitted by many industrial facilities like oil refineries, chemical plants, and steel mills. The decision represents the first time since the creation of the landmark environmental law that Congress has rolled back its environmental protections. Environmental groups and public …

Mediaite reports: Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) told Fox News on Thursday that he doesn’t “drink out of a straw” because “that’s what the women in my house do.” During a montage of interviews on Jesse Watters Primetime, Fox News producer and man-on-the-street Johnny Belisario asked Republican members of the House and Senate for their thoughts on Fox News host Jesse …

The Associated Press reports: Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who entered politics after retiring as a college football coach, plans to run for governor of Alabama in 2026, according to people familiar with his plans. Two people who have spoken with Tuberville about his plans said Thursday they expect him to announce a gubernatorial bid. They spoke on condition of …

The Texas Tribune reports: The Texas House on Thursday approved a bill requiring health agencies to create a new field in medical records for the sex assigned at birth of patients and strict oversight and punishment of health care providers who change records. Senate Bill 1188 encompasses “multiple components” according to the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, including restrictions …

The Huffington Post reports: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem drew swift backlash on Thursday after posting a celebratory but crude message on social media in response to the dismissal of a lawsuit against her department. “Suck it,” Noem wrote on X, formerly Twitter, attaching a screenshot of a court notice confirming that a group of 10 detained immigrants had voluntarily …

The Daily Beast reports: Controversial congresswoman Nancy Mace allegedly planned to use naked photos found on her boyfriend’s phone as leverage for two lucrative properties she wanted him to give her. An explosive deposition by Mace’s former political adviser claims that the MAGA Republican was obsessed with talking about sex, and paints her as someone who plays “the victim card.” …

Florida Politics reports: Former Rep. Joseph Harding wants the courts to end his probation early. The Ocala Republican sent a letter to U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor seeking relief from his sentence. He made the request one year into a two-year probation sentence. “Since the beginning of my probation, I have worked diligently to secure and maintain steady employment, allowing …

Politico reports: House Oversight and Government Reform Chair James Comer is demanding interviews with Joe Biden’s physician and former White House officials as part of his investigation into the former president’s mental decline. The requests, dated Thursday, were sent to Biden’s physician, Kevin O’Connor; former Domestic Policy Council Director Neera Tanden; former senior adviser to the first lady Anthony Bernal; …

“The only end of the conflict is complete and total surrender by those who support Muslim terror. In World War II, we did not negotiate a surrender with the Nazis, we didn’t negotiate a surrender with Japanese. We nuked the Japanese twice in order to get unconditional surrender. That needs to be the same here. There is something deeply, deeply …

“We actually had 217 votes this morning. Andrew Garbarino [photo] did not make it in time. He fell asleep in the back. No kidding. I know, I’m gonna just strangle him. But then — but he’s my dear friend. And then David Schweiger was gonna vote and slipped his card in right at the last minute. So it looks like …

“I’m worried. My family is worried. I mean, we live in a world where the left and the Palestinian cause literally calls for violence against Jews every day. I don’t know why we’re surprised when they actually do it. We need to start to call evil for what it is and not make excuses for it, and the fact that …

Playbook reports: Republicans will soon be able to laud tangible victories as the midterm elections loom closer: tax cuts for working families, no tax on tips, more money for national defense and a massive, potentially game-changing cash injection for Trump’s deportation and border-control project. But but but: The Dems spy opportunities here, too, chiefly over the cuts to Medicaid, which …

The Washington Post reports: House Republicans approved President Donald Trump’s sprawling tax and immigration agenda Thursday morning, sending to the Senate legislation that the GOP hopes will transform the federal government and the economy and power the White House’s drive to deport immigrants and build up the military. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, as the measure is formally known, extends …

NBC News reports: A former Florida Republican congressional candidate accused of stalking and plotting to have his primary opponent murdered by a purported foreign hit squad was sentenced Wednesday to three years in federal prison. William Robert Braddock III, 41, of St. Petersburg was sentenced in Tampa federal court, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in February to sending …