Here’s What You Need To Know About The Supposed McConnell-Bannon War

The media are abuzz with rumors of a war between Donald Trump and Senate Majority Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on the one hand, and former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon. The battle lines are unclear; the principles of battle are unclear. On the one hand, there are Trump and McConnell: Trump clearly dislikes McConnell, but has been made to understand that only a working Republican majority will be able to effectuate any of his agenda; McConnell dislikes Trump, but realizes that Trump will sign nearly anything McConnell puts on his desk. On the other hand, there’s Bannon: Bannon wants to pose as the head of a “populist nationalist” movement.

Bannon insists that he wants Trump’s agenda executed, but he doesn’t have much incentive to work for a McConnell-led majority. That’s because if Republicans lose the majority, Bannon won’t take the blame — McConnell will. So that gives Bannon the freedom to suggest that he knows better than Trump-McConnell just which Republicans ought to occupy Senate offices, while knowing he won’t bear the brunt of any blowback should he support Senate candidates who fail in general elections.