The longshot Republican betting big on Trump fatigue – POLITICO
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks at the Vision 24 National Conservative Forum in Charleston, South Carolina. | Win McNamee/Getty Images
DARK HORSE The Republican women who hosted Asa Hutchinson at an Orange County golf club on Wednesday had all sorts of questions for the former Arkansas governor and likely presidential candidate. But for the fourth or fifth straight meeting since he arrived in California this week, even he was surprised that nobody asked about the biggest story going in the GOP the expected indictment of Donald Trump.
There are several possible reasons. It could be that Hutchinson, a relative unknown, isnt really seen by Republican activists as a serious contender. Or it could be that far from Washington, there are simply other things on Republicans minds. Non-stop news about a potential indictment, said Elaine Gennawey, vice president of the Laguna Niguel Republican Women Federated, the group that met with Hutchinson, is a distraction.
But to Hutchinson, who has called for Trump to drop out of the race if he is indicted, the lack of questioning was evidence of something more.
It just illustrates the fact, he said, while theres an appreciation for a lot of what happened during the Trump administration, people are ready to move on.
Theres conflicting evidence among Republicans, at least, about whether this is true. Trump remains the frontrunner in the presidential primary, and recent polls suggest his grip on the contest, if anything, is tightening. An indictment may be deeply problematic for Trump in a general election. But it probably wont hurt him with the Always Trump set in the primary. In a race dominated by Trump and the similarly MAGA-powered governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, there hasnt been much room for anyone else. Outspoken critics of the former president, like former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, have looked at the dynamics of the race and taken a pass.
But not Hutchinson, who appears to be edging toward a campaign, with a likely announcement next month.
I think my lanes getting bigger, he told Nightly. Its the non-Trump lane. Not an anti-Trump lane, but a non-Trump lane.
Hutchinson, to put it mildly, is a longshot. Survey Republican strategists, as Nightly has, and youll get reactions like, Nooooo, Nice guy. I just dont see that dog hunting much, or Who the fuck is Asa Hutchinson?
But whether Hutchinson or someone else, the real question is if there is an opening for any Trump-critical candidate in 2024. Sitting on a sun-splashed patio at the golf club, Hutchinson said, I think that theres a growing recognition that we need alternatives to Donald Trump.
Electorally, that might make sense for the GOP, after Trumps defeat in 2020 and a midterm in which high-profile, Trumpian candidates lost races in competitive states.
Republicans, Hutchinson told the GOP women in San Juan Capistrano, should keep in mind that a general election is not a primary, with a whole different swath of voters the party will need to win over. Republicans, he said, should use rhetoric that doesnt turn off voters. It should look forward, not back, and demonstrate that the GOP is the party of ideas.
The problem for Hutchinson and Republicans like him is that the coarser way of doing things isnt so easy to let go. On his way out, the group gave Hutchinson a bottle of wine as a gift. On the label of the 2013 Merlot was printed Lets Go Brandon not one of the partys most aspirational refrains.
Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at [emailprotected]. Or contact tonights author at [emailprotected] or on Twitter at @davidsiders.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Michigan strikes right-to-work law detested by unions: In a major victory for labor unions, Michigan today became the first state in more than half a century to repeal a right-to-work law. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled Legislature, overturning a 2012 GOP law that allowed workers to choose not to join unions or pay union dues as a condition of employment, even if the union represents them in negotiations.
U.S. launches airstrikes in Syria after drone kills U.S. worker: A strike yesterday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a U.S. contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said. American forces said they retaliated soon after with precision airstrikes in Syria targeting facilities used by groups affiliated with Irans Revolutionary Guard, with activist groups saying they killed at least four people.
COLD SHOULDER As Ron DeSantis emerges as a prospective rival for the Republican nomination, Donalds Trump campaign has put word out that anyone who works for the Florida governor will be blackballed. RealClearPolitics reports that Justin Caporale, who helps lead the advance team for the former president, has said that anyone who staffed a recent DeSantis book tour will be considered persona non grata. A top Trump ally was more comprehensive, telling RealClearPolitics that the prohibition would apply to more than just the junior aides tasked with setting up folding chairs and hanging banners. Its a time for choosing, the source close to the former president said. If you work for Ron DeSantis presidential race, you will not work for the Trump campaign or in the Trump White House.
BLOC BUSTER Trumps relationship with the evangelical movementonce seemingly shatterproof, then shaky after his violent departure from the White Houseis now in pieces, thanks to his social-media tirade last fall blaming pro-lifers for the Republicans lackluster midterm performance. Numerous other Republicans are preparing to make a play for conservative Christian voters, according to the Atlantics Tim Alberta. What unites these efforts is a common recognition that, for the first time since he secured the GOP nomination in 2016, Trump has a serious problem with a crucial bloc of his coalition.
CANDY CRUSHED France will prevent civil servants from downloading all types of social media platforms, gaming and video-streaming apps on their work phones because of cybersecurity and privacy concerns, according to a statement released today, writes Laura Kayali.
The ban, which is effective immediately, includes TikTok but is not limited to the Chinese-owned platform. Frances move follows bans by European institutions and other EU countries such as the Netherlands. Unlike Brussels and The Hague, however, the French government also targets Western apps and platforms from Europe and the United States.
These recreational applications are not designed to guarantee a sufficient level of cybersecurity to be deployed on the administrations digital tools, said Digital Minister Jean-Nol Barrot. TikTok, but also CandyCrush or Netflix are affected by this measure.
SEND MORE AMMO Germany has fallen short in supporting Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told POLITICO, lashing out at Berlin as Europe searches for ways to continue arming Kyiv., writes Lili Bayer and Jacopo Barigazzi.
In an interview following the EU leaders summit in Brussels, the conservative Polish leader said the EUs biggest economy must step up and lead part of a broader call he made for the EU and NATO to revise their spending rules and unleash massive military investments.
Germany should be sending more weapons, sending more ammunition, and giving more money to Ukraine, because they are the richest and the biggest country by far, he said. They were not as generous as they should have been, the Polish prime minister said. I still encourage them to do so.
Poland, which leads the EU in military support to Ukraine, has joined with eastern capitals to repeatedly push western countries on their own aid for Kyiv. And while powerhouse countries like Germany and France note they have given Ukraine considerable stockpiles of arms, vehicles and money, their efforts have still left some eastern counterparts unmoved.
3,000
The number of hectares (equivalent to around 7,400 acres) engulfed as a forest fire raged in Spains eastern Castellon province today, causing 1,500 people to be evacuated and 18 water-dropping planes and helicopters, as well as 500 firefighters and soldiers, to be deployed to attack the growing flames. The fire signifies an earlier than normal beginning to Spains fire season amidst dry conditions and high temperatures. Last year was the hottest on record in Spain, and fires burned through area about four times the size of New York City. This year, major fires have begun even earlier.
UNCANCEL CULTURE Just about everything is a subscription these days. And sometimes, those subscriptions are difficult to cancel by design. In fact, sneaky companies know the more difficult they make it to stop paying for their services, the more cash they can take in from people who dont know they were signed up for a paid service in the first place. That could soon change. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission recently announced that it is proposing a click to cancel rule, which would compel businesses to make it as easy to sign off as it was to sign up. If the rule gets approved, say goodbye to handwritten letters, in-person visits, or waiting on hold for hours to cancel. Read Sara Morrisons report in Vox into the end of the era of impossible subscription cancellations.
On this day in 1958: Elvis Presley (right) indicating he had no sleep the night before reporting to his local Memphis draft board for military service. Presley, already a famous musician, spent two years in the army. | AP Photo
Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here.
Original post:
The longshot Republican betting big on Trump fatigue - POLITICO
- No One Loves the Bill (Almost) Every Republican Voted For - The Atlantic - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Truth to Power: A Republican Senator Stands Up for Medicaid and His Constituents; Then Announces Retirement - Georgetown University - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- 9 Questions About the Republican Megabill, Answered - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- This Pennsylvania Republican withstood pressure on the megabill. Heres why. - Politico - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Wisconsin Republican Deletes Post That Appeared To Celebrate Millions Of People Losing Health Insurance - Yahoo - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Republican Bill Puts Nation on New, More Perilous Fiscal Path - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Trump says the Republican mega bill will eliminate taxes on Social Security. It does not - PBS - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Republican Bill Will Raise Costs, Poverty, and Hunger, Take Health Coverage Away From Millions - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Republican voters on Trumps sweeping tax-and-spend legislation: This bill is a no-brainer! - The Guardian - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- These are the Republican votes to watch on the Trump megabill - The Hill - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Trump Meets With House Republican Holdouts to Press for Policy Bill - The New York Times - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- How the Republican spending bill super-charges immigration enforcement - Reuters - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- House Should Reject Senate Republican Bill That Is Even Worse Than Already Harmful House Version in Important Ways - Center on Budget and Policy... - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Trump Tax Bill Hits Republican Resistance in House Ahead of Vote - Bloomberg - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The Republican senators who voted against Trump's "big, beautiful bill" - Axios - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- By the Numbers: Senate Republican Leaderships Reconciliation Bill Takes Food Assistance Away From Millions of People - Center on Budget and Policy... - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Which Republican senators voted against Trump's agenda bill and why - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- State of Colorado says Republican budget bill will cut billions in federal funding for Medicaid in the state - CBS News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Republican Senator Tells House Not To Vote on Bill She Just Voted For - Newsweek - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Here Are the Republican Senators Who May Revolt on Trumps Bill - The New York Times - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Opinion | The Republican Policy Bill Will Cripple Obamacare - The New York Times - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- House Republican files amendment to revert Trump-endorsed 'big, beautiful bill' back to initial House version - Fox News - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Republican budget leaders moving forward a plan to close the aging Green Bay prison - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- RFK Jr. is bringing psychedelics to the Republican Party - Politico - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Republican Sen. Thom Tillis will not seek reelection next year after Trump attacks - NPR - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Following Trump attacks, Republican Senator Tillis bows out of 2026 reelection race - Reuters - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Republican North Carolina Sen. Tillis wont seek reelection after opposing Trumps bill - PBS - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina wont run in 2026 after opposing Trumps bill - AP News - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Sanders Leads Republican Governors to Call on Congress to Remove AI Regulatory Moratorium from One, Big, Beautiful Bill - Arkansas Governor - Sarah... - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- House Republican Don Bacon, a Trump critic, will not seek reelection - media - Reuters - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Exclusive | One NY Republican opens massive lead in possible primary to face Gov. Kathy Hochul: poll - New York Post - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina won't seek reelection after opposing Trump's bill - WCCB Charlotte - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Nebraska Republican Don Bacon will not seek re-election to Congress - NBC News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Democratic and Republican Parties Hold Nominating Events This Week for Sept. 9 Special Election - Fairfax County (.gov) - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Vulgar and threatening graffiti painted on Huntsville business ahead of Republican congresswomans visit - WAFF - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Centrist Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska won't seek reelection - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- A Running List of Policies Rejected From the Republican Megabill - The New York Times - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Trumps Bill Slashes the Safety Net That Many Republican Voters Rely on - The New York Times - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Republican plans to overhaul Medicaid are already shaking up the 2026 midterms - CNN - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- The Senate Republican Tax Plan: Officially Worse than the House Republican Tax Plan - Senate Committee on Finance (.gov) - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Texas Republican State Representative discusses why he opposed the THC ban, criticizes the state bud - CBS News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Republican Says 'Most' of Iran's Uranium Is Still There - Newsweek - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Fewer Democrats Are Taking the Bait on Republican Immigration Votes - NOTUS - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- US Republican senators push back on Trump cuts to foreign aid and public media - Reuters - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Republican introduces amendment to end birthright citizenship once and for all - Fox News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Centrist Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska won't seek reelection - Yahoo - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Scoop: New Republican Senate candidate in Kentucky to team up with top Trump ally - Fox News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- The Republican foreign policy debate, President Trump, and the transatlantic alliance - Brookings - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- A Republican plan to sell off millions of acres of public lands is no more for now - Los Angeles Times - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- By the Numbers: Senate Republican Leaderships Health Agenda Takes Health Coverage Away From Millions of People and Raises Families Costs - Center on... - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Sweeping GOP budget bill illuminates the central fault line in the modern Republican coalition - CNN - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Lisa Murkowskis commitment to the Trump-era Republican Party appears increasingly shaky - MSNBC News - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Republican plans to cap student borrowing could shatter an everyday profession - Politico - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Republican Lisa Murkowski on Trumps America and the intensity on the security of our democracy - The Guardian - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Republican Party split over whether Trump should involve US in Israel-Iran conflict - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- California Republican Kevin Kiley opposes sale of public land near Tahoe, Yosemite - KCRA - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Republican lawmaker with ectopic pregnancy nearly died amid new Florida abortion laws but blames the left - Yahoo - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Republican congressman says it would be great for Qatar to strike back against Iran - The Independent - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Critics warn Republican budget would worsen health disparities for Black mothers - NBC Connecticut - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Republican Rep. Max Miller says he was 'run off the road' by pro-Palestinian protester - Fox News - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Republican nominees Winsome Earle-Sears and John Reid speak to each other for the first time in eight weeks - WRIC ABC 8News - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Alabama Republican Party is heading down a familiar path - Alabama Political Reporter - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Legislative Republican proposal would change how Wisconsin pays for voucher schools - WPR - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Republican Calls Out Trump Admin Cutting Suicide Hotline: 'This is Wrong' - Newsweek - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- House Republican, Democrat move to limit Trump from entering Iran war - Axios - June 18th, 2025 [June 18th, 2025]
- Republican voters oust 3 incumbents in primaries for boards of supervisors across the region - Cardinal News - June 18th, 2025 [June 18th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Republican budget bill benefits from being ignored - The Washington Post - June 18th, 2025 [June 18th, 2025]
- Gorham wins Republican nomination in the 21st House District | Headlines - InsideNoVa.com - June 18th, 2025 [June 18th, 2025]
- Republican hawks vs Maga isolationists: the internal war that could decide Trumps Iran response - The Guardian - June 18th, 2025 [June 18th, 2025]
- Trump's approach to Africa lauded by top Republican as recent airstrikes show 'outside the box' thinking - Fox News - June 18th, 2025 [June 18th, 2025]
- The Republican Budget Bill: Take from the Poor, Give to the Rich - cepr.net - June 18th, 2025 [June 18th, 2025]
- Republican in South Carolina arrested over distribution of child sexual abuse material - The Guardian - June 16th, 2025 [June 16th, 2025]
- What Will Happen to the Republican Party Post-Trump? (w/ Chris Vance, Barbara Comstock & Charlie Dent) - The Bulwark - June 16th, 2025 [June 16th, 2025]
- I was a Republican the party I believed in no longer exists | Paolina Milana - The Guardian - June 16th, 2025 [June 16th, 2025]
- Texas Republican Jeff Leach highlights legislative wins including teachers bill of rights and judici - CBS News - June 16th, 2025 [June 16th, 2025]
- Rich Gain and Poor Lose in Republican Policy Bill, Budget Office Finds - The New York Times - June 16th, 2025 [June 16th, 2025]
- Bentz defends Republican tax and spending bill, despite costs and cuts impacting his district - Oregon Capital Chronicle - June 16th, 2025 [June 16th, 2025]
- The Senate Republican Budget Bill Adds Broadband Funding That Favors Musks Starlink and Bans State AI Laws - Center for American Progress - June 16th, 2025 [June 16th, 2025]
- Exclusive / Republican senators mystified by $1 billion added to their megabill - Semafor - June 16th, 2025 [June 16th, 2025]
- Letter: Switching to clean energy will create jobs. The Republican budget bill must include IRA-type incentives. - The Salt Lake Tribune - June 16th, 2025 [June 16th, 2025]