Republicans

The Hill reports: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) defended the House-passed “big, beautiful bill” that funds President Trump’s agenda during a Sunday appearance on CNN, arguing that it won’t threaten Medicaid coverage for people who need it, despite independent analysis that suggests it will end health insurance for millions. “We are not cutting Medicaid in this package,” Johnson told CNN’s …

Wrestling site PW Mania reports: Politics and pro wrestling collided at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event this weekend when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was spotted attending the show with his children — but the reaction he received was anything but warm. As DeSantis appeared on screen and was recognized by the crowd, the audience erupted in a chorus of boos, …

The Hill reports: Texas Republicans are rolling ahead with a controversial bill that seeks to further restrict abortion access in the state, while making it impossible for it to be challenged in state courts, despite Democratic objections. Senate Bill 2880 advanced through the state Senate and is now heading for a House vote, after being moved Friday out of the …

The Daily Beast reports: Texas Republicans are cheering at the erosion of the separation of church and state as their proposal to require all public school classrooms in the Lone Star State to display the Ten Commandments inches closer and closer to the finish line. On Saturday, the Republican-controlled House gave its preliminary approval for the bill, which is expected …

The Times reports: JD Vance takes pride in declaring himself to be a “Scots-Irish hillbilly at heart” but a trawl of genealogy records has found no evidence linking the US vice-president to Ireland. In an attempt to link Vance to Ulster, a DUP minister commissioned researchers to dig into the ancestral past of the controversial Republican Party politician. A glossy …

NBC News reports: If enacted, Texas’ bill would put in place vast new restrictions that explicitly bar every Texas resident under 18 years old from signing up for and using “a social media platform.” The legislation would require all social media platforms to verify the age of all people setting up an account. It would allow parents to request that …

MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE: “I’m a Christian, an imperfect sinner saved by grace and faith in Jesus. I’m a nationalist, a proud American, who loves my country and wants to make our home nation is the best place for all American citizens and future generations to come. I’m a mother, thankful for the blessings and responsibility God gave me with my …

The Hill reports: House Republicans are sending a clear and early warning to their Senate allies as the bill encompassing President Trump’s domestic priorities heads to the upper chamber: Don’t water it down. House GOP leaders spent weeks in delicate talks with Republican holdouts before cobbling together a fragile agreement that could thread the needle between conservatives’ demands for more …

The Huffington Post reports: Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) says Republicans aren’t actually cutting anyone’s federal health or food benefits in President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax bill — a plan that slashes $1 trillion from Medicaid and food assistance programs. “I want to be super clear: When these Democrats have been lying to you, saying we’re cutting Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP …

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 …