GOPer: We Need ‘Change In Direction’ From Ryan, Poll: Sanders Is Most Popular Senator And Romney’s Binders Unearthed

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April 11, 2017

Top Stories


Alabama Luv Guv’s Impeachment Probe Reveals Political Motivation Behind DMV Closures

The Gist: The impeachment investigation that led to Alabama’s Republican Gov. Robert Bentley’s resignation, arrest and conviction Monday surfaced more than just the alleged misuse of public funds to hide his affair with a top political aide, the cringe-y texts to his paramour, and the threats lobbed towards those who stood ready to expose their tryst.

GOP Rep.: We Need ‘Change In Direction’ From Ryan Or ‘New Speaker’

The Gist: Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI), a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, on Monday said that House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) either needs to make changes or step down from his role leading the Republican caucus.

Poll: Sanders Is Most Popular Senator Among Constituents; McConnell Is Least

The Gist: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is the most popular senator among his constituents in the country, according to a poll released Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is the least popular.

From The Reporter’s Notebook


Republicans are making a last-ditch effort to maintain the House seat in Kansas vacated by CIA Director Mike Pompeo, with President Donald Trump recording a robocall for the Republican candidate, state treasurer Ron Estes, TPM’s Caitlin MacNeal reported. Trump recorded a robocall supporting Estes, which went out to “tens of thousands,” according to the Kansas Republican Party. “On Tuesday, Republican Ron Estes needs your vote and needs it badly. Ron is a conservative leader who’s going to work with me to make America great again,” Trump says on the call.

Agree or Disagree?


Josh Marshall: “Remember that Manafort was first brought on board not as campaign manager but – notionally – to manage the delegate hunt and wrangling in the lead up to the GOP convention and at the convention itself. It later became clear that he served as de facto campaign manager pretty much from the start when he came on board in March 2016. On its face, this delegate wrangling role had a certain logic to it since Manafort had been involved in wrangling delegates at the semi-contested 1976 GOP convention in which incumbent Gerald Ford saw off a challenge from Ronald Reagan. It was commonly said that Manafort was the only GOP player with experience at a contested convention – thus making him a key asset for Trump, who looked likely to face just such a challenge in Cleveland.”

Say What?!


“He is all over me to run again. My leadership in the Republican Senate are all over me to run again. The House leadership, some of those want me to run again.” “

– Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) on Monday said that he plans to run for another term and has President Donald Trump’s support in doing so, though Hatch previously said that he would consider retiring if Mitt Romney ran for his seat.

BUZZING: Today in the Hive


From a TPM Prime member: “With the battle now over, the Republican antics that denied a confirmation vote to Judge Garland seem likely to have far greater ripple effects than the end of the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations. The Republican contempt for Senate traditions, and for that matter the basic principles of good faith conduct upon which the Constitution and constitutional democracy in general depend, will likely carry us into an era in which no Supreme Court vacancy will be filled unless the party that controls the Senate also controls the White House. The Senate could fix that issue, in-house, by creating and following new rules for the confirmation process, but it does not seem likely that the Senate will make any attempt to do so, nor is there any reason to be confident that the Senate will follow its own rules in the future. The other solution would be a constitutional amendment, although it seems like a very distant long-shot to get the 2/3 majority votes in the House and Senate to put time constraints on the process. Ratification by the states presents its own set of problems, but I suspect that it would be the easier part of the equation.”

Related: At Gorsuch Swearing-In, Trump Thanks McConnell ‘For All That He Did’

Have something to add? Become a Prime member and join the discussion here.

What We’re Reading


Romney’s binders, still full of women, are unearthed (The Boston Globe)

Lessons From the ‘Red Line’ Crisis (The Atlantic)

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