But they're also facing a midterm that looks increasingly hostile. Republicans in marginal seats don't want to take the heat for voting for something big enough to get headlines. For incumbents who have been around long enough it's also not trivial for them to be unseated even with a primary opponent endorsed by the head of their party.
We will face similar struggles with our own caucus next time we hold power. Even if we can get large enough house majorities to avoid it, we'll see it from the senate.
Ultimately they will likely give up on a few things or pare some things back and it'll still be 95% as horrible but manage to pass. If we're really really lucky they'll get stuck with infighting for a while before moving on, but that is not particularly likely.
But the critics all seem to be Freedom Caucus people opposing the "big, beautiful bill" from the right. I don't see any indication of resistance from Republicans who would be nervous about public opinion.
Yep. I think the Freedom Caucus smells blood in the water with Trump. They are in super red districts, especially thanks to gerrymandering. Sure, Trump could threaten them with a primary challenger but the fact that Trump couldn't even convince Kemp and Sununu to run for the Senate, even when he told he was willing to forgive them and back them for not being on the Trump train all the way, proves that to at least guys like Chip Roy that Trump needs them more than they need him going into next year. Weirdos like Thomas Massie weren't going to be the real problem for Johnson and his majority. I think the Freedom Caucus was bidding their time for when Trump would be damaged enough to not have to always cave to him.
Trump's "big, beautiful bill" lost a committee vote 16-21.
https://www.axios.com/2025/05/16/house-budget-committee-reconciliation-vote-trump
Question: how likely is it that Trump will now threaten primary challenges to the no votes? He does not seem particularly pleased with this result.
When Trump loses, America wins.
Republicans often fall in line eventually.
But they're also facing a midterm that looks increasingly hostile. Republicans in marginal seats don't want to take the heat for voting for something big enough to get headlines. For incumbents who have been around long enough it's also not trivial for them to be unseated even with a primary opponent endorsed by the head of their party.
We will face similar struggles with our own caucus next time we hold power. Even if we can get large enough house majorities to avoid it, we'll see it from the senate.
Ultimately they will likely give up on a few things or pare some things back and it'll still be 95% as horrible but manage to pass. If we're really really lucky they'll get stuck with infighting for a while before moving on, but that is not particularly likely.
But the critics all seem to be Freedom Caucus people opposing the "big, beautiful bill" from the right. I don't see any indication of resistance from Republicans who would be nervous about public opinion.
Yep. I think the Freedom Caucus smells blood in the water with Trump. They are in super red districts, especially thanks to gerrymandering. Sure, Trump could threaten them with a primary challenger but the fact that Trump couldn't even convince Kemp and Sununu to run for the Senate, even when he told he was willing to forgive them and back them for not being on the Trump train all the way, proves that to at least guys like Chip Roy that Trump needs them more than they need him going into next year. Weirdos like Thomas Massie weren't going to be the real problem for Johnson and his majority. I think the Freedom Caucus was bidding their time for when Trump would be damaged enough to not have to always cave to him.
At this point, I am going to say RIP Freedom Caucus as the caucus has no further meaning.
The Freedom Caucus used to have meaning during the rise of the Tea Party. Now with Trump and his loyalists, they are RINOs to them.
You never know with Trump. Now that he’s in office for a 2nd term as POTUS, as long as he helps elect Democrats more power to him!