Category: Senate
House unanimously passes repeal of phone records provision that could enrich senators
The House on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill repealing a new law that would allow senators to sue for substantial sums if they aren’t notified when law enforcement seeks their phone records. The House passed repeal of the law in a resounding 426-0 vote that served as a signal of the bipartisan outrage about the…
After weeks of caution, Senate races to approve release of Epstein files
The Senate moved lightning fast on Tuesday to approve a bill compelling the release of the Epstein files, a sharp departure from its usual pace after pressure quickly built up on congressional Republicans. The chamber, known for its usual tortoise-level speed, took on the role of the hare as it passed the House’s bill to…
The early social media reviews of Cruz’s 2028 POTUS trial balloon are in
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) dropped out of the 2016 presidential race after his crushing defeat in the Indiana Republican primary by then-candidate Donald Trump. It seems that Cruz did not, however, drop his aspirations of one day taking the White House.
Cruz kept his powder dry during the 2020 presidential election and, in 2024, successfully ran for a third term in the U.S. Senate. Now, the 54-year-old Calgary-born senator appears to be preparing for a 2028 presidential bid.
Unfortunately for Cruz, MAGA influencers do not appear too impressed by his recent attacks on Tucker Carlson, which some regard as proxy attacks on Vice President JD Vance, who is far and away the 2028 Republican front-runner, by even Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s admission.
‘Cruz is gonna have a tough time.’
On Monday, Axios highlighted a number of signs that Cruz is indeed “laying the groundwork” for a 2028 bid, such as hitting the speaker circuit, endorsing midterm candidates, and securing a date to host a big donor retreat next year.
The liberal publication suggested further that it’s clear from his recent salvo against Tucker Carlson that Cruz is simultaneously courting powerful pro-Israel donors, some of whom aligned themselves with Nikki Haley in her humiliating 2024 GOP primary run against Trump; “staking out turf as a traditional, pro-interventionist Republican”; and setting the stage for a battle with Vance, who is not only a Carlson ally but unmistakably at odds with the tack taken by the George W. Bush-era GOP.
RELATED: Vance, Banks come out swinging against reporter attacking Tucker Carlson’s son
Photo by Al Drago-Pool/Getty Images
Axios stated that “by poking at Carlson’s isolationist foreign policy views, accusing him of anti-Semitism and more, Cruz is putting himself on a collision course with Vice President Vance.”
Vance, like Carlson, has criticized the protraction of the war in Ukraine; cautioned against new regime-change wars; emphasized that the U.S. is “not at war with Iran”; and noted that American and Israeli foreign policy are not always aligned.
Cruz has indicated that similar foreign policy views expressed by Carlson are “bat-crap crazy” and “off the rails.”
Cruz, who is reportedly set this week to address the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly, has also blasted Carlson for his October interview with Nick Fuentes, whom he labeled a “little goose-stepping Nazi,” suggesting that Carlson was wrong and “complicit in evil,” not for platforming Fuentes but for failing to adequately cross-examine him.
“We have a responsibility to speak out even when it’s uncomfortable,” Cruz said in a statement to Axios. “When voices in our own movement push dangerous and misguided ideas, we can’t look the other way. I won’t hesitate to call out those who peddle destructive, vile rhetoric and threaten our principles and our future. Silence in the face of recklessness is not an option.”
While Vance — whom Fuentes routinely attacks for having a wife of Indian descent — has made expressly clear that he thinks Fuentes is a “total loser” who does not belong in the MAGA movement, others have attempted in recent days to smear Carlson and Vance with a single stroke.
Cruz’s office did not respond to Blaze News’ request for comment.
A number of MAGA influencers criticized Cruz on Monday over the poor timing of the Axios piece and/or his apparent punches in Vance’s direction.
Human Events senior editor Jack Posobiec highlighted that Cruz’s latest dig at Carlson came just hours after President Donald Trump signaled continued support for Carlson, claiming reporters “can’t tell him who to interview” and that “ultimately, people have to decide.”
Political strategist and commentator Alex Lorusso wrote, “Right after President Trump says you can’t tell Tucker Carlson who to interview, Ted Cruz says we have a ‘responsibility’ to speak out against him. He has a rude awakening coming if he wants to run for president in 2028 by positioning himself against DJT.”
Normalcy advocate Robby Starbuck wrote, “Breaking: Ted Cruz will lose the 2028 primary. He has absolutely no chance against JD Vance.”
“It’s all about principle you see,” tweeted BlazeTV host Auron MacIntyre, “and that principle is power.”
The popular X user Swig noted, “Ted Cruz’s bizarre attacks on Tucker Carlson are simply a proxy attack on JD Vance. Extremely transparent game he is engaging in.”
“Judging by top MAGA influencers, Cruz is gonna have a tough time,” concluded Axios’ Marc Caputo.
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Louisiana Republican says he’s ‘very concerned’ about possible hepatitis B vaccine schedule change
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Sunday said he is “very concerned” about the possibility of changing the hepatitis B vaccine schedule for infants in the United States. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s panel of federal vaccine advisers is set to discuss and potentially vote on changing that vaccine schedule when they next meet…
Sanders seeks to elevate progressive Senate candidates amid Democratic divide
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is wading into a handful of Senate races as the progressive wing of the Democratic Party looks to assert its influence. Sanders has endorsed three Senate candidates so far: Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D) in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.); oyster farmer Graham Platner in Maine;…
Britt says Senate should ‘take a look’ at $2K tariff checks
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said Sunday that the Senate should “take a look” at legislation providing $2,000 tariff checks to Americans, a week after President Trump backed such a proposal. “I sure hope that we take a look at these types of things and how we can make sure that the American people have more…
Fetterman shares photo of face injuries after fall, hospitalization
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) on Saturday shared pictures of his face after being hospitalized for injuries tied to a fall. “20 stitches later and a full recovery, I’m back home with @giselefetterman and the kids. I’m overwhelmed + profoundly grateful for all the well-wishes. Truly,” the lawmaker wrote in a statement on X. “Grateful for…
Graham says he’ll sue DOJ for $500K over phone records
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Thursday he will sue the Department of Justice (DOJ) for $500,000 over investigators obtaining his phone records during special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into President Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The Senate, in its proposal to reopen the government, included a provision allowing senators…
Vance says he gives ‘a lot of credit’ to moderate Democrats in shutdown negotiations
Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday that he gives credit to the moderate Senate Democrats who the administration worked with during negotiations to end the government shutdown. “I do give a lot of credit to the moderate Democrats who were with us from the very beginning,” Vance told Fox News host Sean Hannity. “If…
5 takeaways as the longest shutdown in history comes to an end
House lawmakers voted Wednesday to reopen the government, setting the stage to end the longest shutdown in U.S. history as the legislation now heads to President Trump’s desk. The 43-day stalemate had consumed Washington since it began on Oct. 1, freezing pay for federal workers, halting food aid to low-income families and snarling airline traffic…
