Thursday, May 21Thursday, May 21Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) faced political retribution from Donald Trump and his allies after voting to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial. Despite Cassidy’s attempts to mend relations with Trump following the vote—including efforts to align with the former president’s policies—he was ultimately defeated in Louisiana’s Republican primary on May 16, 2026. Critics, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), attributed Cassidy’s loss to his impeachment vote, framing it as an act of disloyalty to Trump. Graham stated, *"This is the party of Donald Trump,"* emphasizing that Cassidy’s defiance cost him support among the GOP base .
Cassidy’s primary loss underscores the continued dominance of Trump’s influence within the Republican Party, where loyalty to the former president remains a defining factor in candidate viability. His defeat was widely interpreted as a warning to other Republicans who might consider breaking with Trump .
Donald Trump’s proposed $400 million White House ballroom project, framed as a security upgrade, faced a significant setback when the Senate parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, ruled that a $1 billion security funding proposal—which included allocations for the ballroom—failed to meet procedural requirements. The decision dealt a blow to Trump and his allies, who had sought taxpayer funding for the project. Senate Democrats, including top leadership, opposed the measure, arguing that taxpayers should not fund what they described as a *"gold-plated boondoggle"* .
The funding dispute highlights ongoing tensions over Trump’s post-presidency ambitions and his ability to secure public resources for personal or political projects. Republicans had previously pledged to secure the funding, but the parliamentarian’s ruling temporarily derailed those efforts.
In Kentucky, Trump-backed House candidate Ed Gallrein is receiving high-profile support from Pete Hegseth, a Fox News personality and former Defense Secretary under Trump. Hegseth’s involvement in Gallrein’s campaign signals Trump’s continued role in shaping Republican primaries, particularly in races where he has endorsed candidates. The Kentucky primary is being closely watched as a test of Trump’s influence over the GOP’s direction in the 2026 midterms .
Elsewhere, Trump has targeted Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a frequent critic within the party, as part of what observers describe as a *"desperate attempt"* to unseat him in his primary. Massie’s resistance to Trump’s agenda has made him a target, reflecting the former president’s broader efforts to purge dissenting voices from the GOP .
> Background: **Trumps influence drives Republican primary defeat over impeachment vote loyalty.** — *8 hours ago*
Pete Hegseth to join Kentucky House candidate Ed Gallrein on campaign trail To stream WHAS11 on your phone, you need the WHAS11 app. Download the WHAS11…
europesays.com · 3 days ago
Trump news at a glance: Republicans pledge to secure funding for White House ballroom Senate parliamentarian ruled a proposal to fund $1bn in security additions for the White House failed to meet procedural rules. Key US politics stories from Sunday 17 May 2026 at a glanceA US Senate official on Saturday removed security funding that could be used for Donald Trumps planned $400m White House ballroom from a massive spending package, Democratic lawmakers said, imperilling Republican efforts to devote taxpayer money to the contentious project.The decision by the Senates parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, deals a blow to Trump and his administration, which has sought the money for security purposes related to the ballroom. Continue reading...
theguardian · 3 days ago
Critics fear a midterm purge as the Trump administration promotes program to check voter eligibility TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Even as Democratic officials fight the effort in court, the Trump administration has run…
europesays.com · 3 days ago
Cassidy tried to get along with Trump after his impeachment vote. Retribution came anyway Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., right, hugs a supporter during an election night watch party Saturday, May 16, 2026,…
europesays.com · 3 days ago
Khanna and AOC battle is Old Bernie vs. New Bernie Veterans of Bernie Sanders two presidential campaigns are splitting their allegiances between a pair of Democrats vying to inherit his progressive movement: New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and California Rep. Ro Khanna.Why it matters: Ocasio-Cortez and Khanna are deploying contrasting strategies to build momentum toward possible White House runs in 2028 — a split that reflects some of the tensions between Sanders 2016 and 2020 campaigns.Khanna has taken a slightly more centrist view than Ocasio-Cortez on issues such as crime and immigration. Hes hired key members of Sanders 2016 campaign, which had a relatively moderate brand on immigration and guns — and didnt fear going negative on Hillary Clinton.AOC, meanwhile, has tapped strategists behind Sanders effort in 2020, when the Vermont senator moved left on social issues to back policies such as decriminalizing border crossings by unauthorized immigrants, and largely avoided bashing Joe Biden.Driving the news: The fault lines between the Old Bernie and New Bernie camps burst into public view last week, when Khanna and Ocasio-Cortez clashed over whether progressives should work with former MAGA loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene.Ocasio-Cortez is the clear frontrunner to succeed Sanders. But Khanna, while much less known, has successfully recruited Sanders alums.On Khannas Old Bernie team: Jeff Weaver, Sanders 2016 campaign manager; Julian Mulvey, an ad maker for Sanders that year; Shannon Jackson, a former longtime Sanders aide; and Sarah Michelsen, Sanders 2020 Nevada state director.On AOCs New Bernie crew: Mike Casca, Sanders 2020 senior communications adviser; Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben, Sanders 2020 national delegates coordinator; and outside adviser Matt Duss, the Vermont senators former top foreign policy aide.Khannas aggressive effort to poach Sanders strategists is driven partly by necessity: Hes far behind AOC in early 2028 polls, lacks her small-dollar donor base, and isnt a juggernaut on social media as she is.Hes trying to collect any Bernie staffer he can, a former Sanders aide said.Friction point: Sanders ran both of his presidential campaigns on populist economic promises like raising the minimum wage and passing Medicare for All. AOC and Khanna are likewise champions of progressive fiscal policies, but theyve diverged on other topics. That includes whether to team up with Greene, a former House member whos won praise from some progressives for breaking with President Trump and criticizing Israels war in Gaza.Ocasio-Cortez said last week that Democrats shouldnt partner with Greene — remarks that some thought were aimed at Khanna, whos worked with Greene to push for the release of the Epstein files.I personally do not trust someone like Marjorie Taylor Greene, a proven bigot and antisemite, on the issue of what is good for Gazans and Israelis, Ocasio-Cortez said during a talk with Democratic strategist David Axelrod.Khanna told Axios, I will not yield an inch when it comes to standing for progressive values and for the human rights of every person. But if conservatives are willing to support justice for Epstein survivors or stopping the war in Iran, I will work with them.AOC also supports the release of the full Epstein files, but was attacked personally by Greene: The Georgia Republican once posted a photo of herself with a gun alongside Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive House members known as the Squad.Ocasio-Cortez and Khanna likewise staked out somewhat different stances toward immigration shortly after the 2024 election.Khanna said voters backed Trump because they wanted lower prices and a secure border.Ocasio-Cortez focused on the looming impact of Trumps immigration policies, saying that for all of the people who cast a vote based on grocery prices and inflation, if you think your groceries are expensive now, wait until the farms are empty.On crime, Khanna has said he never backed defunding the police, while AOC was a vocal proponent. Khanna also has reached out to the father of a woman killed in a drunk-driving accident caused by an immigrant who authorities said was here illegally. Conservatives call them angel families, and theyve been among Trumps most loyal supporters.Khanna has also been more combative toward would-be 2028 rivals than AOC has.As hes tried to elevate his national profile, Khanna has picked fights with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, for example.What theyre saying: Sanders alumni working for AOC and Khanna told us theyre in contact, and there is some overlap between their operations. Weaver was a senior adviser on Sanders 2020 campaign, and Casca was part of his 2016 crew. Duss said he talks to Khanna.The two teams like each other and have a lot of shared connections, given everyone is part of the progressive movement and pushing towards many of the same goals, a person familiar with both camps said.
axios · 3 days ago
Despite retribution, Cassidy attempted to make amends with Trump after impeachment vote NEW ORLEANS (AP) — When Charles Wandfluh voted in Louisianas Republican primary over the weekend, he could only…
europesays.com · 3 days ago
Hegseth to campaign for Gallrein in Kentucky ahead of primary In a closely watched and costly Kentucky primary, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will stump for Trump-back challenger Ed…
europesays.com · 3 days ago
Trump attacks Massie as Republican critic describes desperate attempts to oust him from primary | US politics With two days to go before the next big test of Donald Trumps iron grip over his party,…
europesays.com · 3 days ago
Trumps massive ballroom funding bill strikes out in the Senate — for now Top Senate Democrat says taxpayers shouldnt spend a single dime on Trumps gold-plated ballroom boondoggle
independent · 3 days ago
This is the party of Donald Trump: Lindsey Graham says Bill Cassidy lost his primary because he tried to destroy the president
news.yahoo.com · 3 days ago
A tax-the-rich billionaire candidate? Democrats are intrigued Tom Steyer has built his campaign for governor of California around affordability – hes not the only Democrat testing the partys appetite for a populist from the 1Tom Steyer has built his campaign for governor of California around affordability – and taxing the uber-wealthy.It is perhaps an unusual message for a candidate with an estimated net worth of $2.4bn. But the hedge fund founder-turned climate activist and liberal mega-donor is pitching himself as a different kind of billionaire: one who wants people like him to pay far more in taxes. Continue reading...
theguardian · 3 days ago
Bill Cassidy held Trump accountable. Voters responded by humiliating him. Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy was one of the few Republicans who tried to hold Donald Trump accountable after…
europesays.com · 3 days ago