Congress is limping out of town for Thanksgiving, with the GOP banged up from bashing each other on everything from the Epstein files to tariffs rebate checks to "Arctic Frost" restitution.
Why it matters: Call them testy or just tired, but this week, more Republican lawmakers defied President Trump, their leaders and each other. The fissures are emerging after 10 months of total GOP control, with MAGA victories on Trump's mega bill and (eventually) a government funding deal.
- On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) distanced themselves from Trump's comments suggesting Democrats were committing sedition — potentially punishable by death — by posting a video about the military not having to obey unlawful orders.
- Trump later said he was not threatening the lawmakers.
Zoom in: Republicans have broken with Trump on ...
- The Epstein files: All but one Republican on the Hill voted for requiring the Justice Department to release files related to the investigation into late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — despite months of Trump's cries of "hoax" and fighting the bill.
- Tariff checks: Congressional Republicans shrugged off Trump and top officials' talks about $2,000 tariff rebate checks, suggesting the money would be better spent shrinking the deficit.
- Filibuster: Senators rebuffed Trump on the filibuster after he repeatedly demanded that they remove the 60-vote threshold to reopen the government.
- Redistricting: Indiana Republican state lawmakers are defying Trump's call to move on mid-cycle redistricting.
Between the lines: The Republican rifts also extend to the top leaders in Congress, Johnson and Thune.
- Thune blindsided Johnson by slipping a provision into the government funding bill that would allow senators to sue if their phone records were secretly seized — without Johnson's knowledge. Even a unanimous House vote hasn't been enough to compel Thune to change it.
- Johnson was "deeply disappointed" after Thune rejected his plea for changes on the Epstein files bill, which was forced onto the House floor via discharge petition. The Senate passed the bill as is.
- Thune also made the stalled, bipartisan Russia sanctions bill Johnson's problem, claiming this week it was best if it originated in the House. "That was not my understanding until yesterday," Johnson told The Hill on Friday.
What they're saying: "I have total trust" in Thune, Johnson told reporters Wednesday. "We have different processes and procedures in the two chambers, and sometimes we all get frustrated by that, but it's not personal."
- Thune said Wednesday: "I think sometimes there are differences of opinion or disagreements that are partly related to the difference between the House and Senate. They're different cultures. But in the end, the speaker and I talk regularly. We communicate on a consistent basis, and we are unified in terms of our objectives and goals."
The intrigue: Thune also had to deal with a revolt from GOP senators over the Arctic Frost phone records provision, with a heated discussion at lunch and momentum to at least tweak the language.
- Johnson sparked fresh outrage from his House lawmakers after telling Axios he would consider changing the rules around discharge petitions, one of the few tools rank-and-file lawmakers have to force their legislation on the floor.
- "Even suggesting this is disturbing," Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) wrote on X.
The bottom line: Trump's word still is powerful with the party, and his influence will be critical for overcoming intraparty differences on health care if a bipartisan package is ever going to have a chance of becoming law.
- But GOP lawmakers aren't taking Trump's recent posts about what he wants out of a health care deal as the end of the debate.
- Trump is also pushing once again for a moratorium on state laws regulating AI. Some lawmakers are now pushing for legislation to do just that, while other key leaders remain skeptical.
