<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) said on Tuesday that it would be &#8220;politically beyond stupid&#8221; if a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/government-shutdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government shutdown</a> is allowed to happen before the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/2024-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2024 election</a>, suggesting that Republicans would suffer more than Democrats when voters head to the polls.
With a deadline coming up at the end of the month, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/chuck-schumer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chuck Schumer</a> (D-NY) appear to be at odds on what form a continuing resolution (CR) takes, but McConnell refused to make a stand when pressed by a reporter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderMcConnell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderMcConnell</a>: &quot;The one you cannot have is a government shutdown. It would be politically beyond stupid for us to do that right before the election because certainly we&#39;d get the blame.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Al0yD8ztLM">pic.twitter.com/Al0yD8ztLM</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1836129009836404954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;My only observation about this whole discussion is the one thing you cannot have is a government shutdown,&#8221; McConnell said at the U.S. Capitol. &#8220;It would be politically beyond stupid for us to do that right before the election, because certainly we&#8217;d get the blame.&#8221;
Democrats narrowly control the Senate while Republicans have a small House majority. Either side could emerge from the November election with voters giving them command of one, both, or none of the chambers of Congress. A shutdown could quickly become a new political cudgel.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve been here before,&#8221; McConnell went on to say. &#8220;I&#8217;m for whatever avoids a government shutdown, and that&#8217;ll ultimately end up obviously being a discussion between the Democratic leader and the speaker of the House as to how to process avoiding government shutdown.&#8221;
Johnson said earlier the House would <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-presses-on-with-funding-stopgap-linked-to-non-citizen-voting-crackdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proceed</a> with a vote on Wednesday for a six-month CR plus the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8281" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(SAVE) Act</a>, which includes reforms meant to help prevent non-citizens from voting in federal elections. It&#8217;s not clear whether the measure will pass.
President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> already threatened to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-to-ax-gop-proposal-tying-spending-to-bill-requiring-voters-prove-citizenship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">veto</a> the proposal while former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>, who is again the GOP presidential nominee, has urged Republicans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-calls-for-govt-shutdown-if-gop-cant-secure-election-integrity-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to allow a shutdown</a> if they cannot secure a short-term spending measure in addition to &#8220;election security&#8221; reforms.
Schumer <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/news/press-releases/majority-leader-schumer-floor-remarks-on-the-need-to-pass-bipartisan-legislation-to-avoid-an-unnecessary-and-harmful-republican-government-shutdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> Johnson against proceeding with a six-month CR, suggesting that &#8220;critical programs&#8221; such as the military would suffer under such a lengthy funding patch, and suggested the plan to include the SAVE Act with a stopgap measure would make it &#8220;<a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/news/press-releases/majority-leader-schumer-floor-remarks-urging-speaker-johnson-to-work-on-a-bipartisan-basis-to-avoid-a-harmful-government-shutdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">too unworkable</a>.&#8221;

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

McConnell Warns: ‘Politically Beyond Stupid’ To Allow Shutdown Before Election

McConnell Warns: 'Politically Beyond Stupid’ To Allow Shutdown Before Election

2024 Election

Chuck Schumer

Congress

Government Shutdown

Mike Johnson

Mitch McConnell

Republicans

U.S.

U.S. Senate

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he had a &#8220;positive meeting&#8221; with former President Donald Trump on Thursday after Trump traveled to Capitol Hill to talk with Republican lawmakers.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee praised the GOP Senate leader during his comments at the D.C. meeting, POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/06/13/congress/mcconnell-and-trump-speak-00163236" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“We had a really positive meeting, he and I got a chance to talk a little bit, we shook hands a few times, he got a lot of standing ovations, it was an entirely positive meeting. Mitt Romney was there, as well, and I can’t think of anything to tell you about it that was negative,” McConnell said.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) added that Trump &#8220;immediately went in to address Mitch McConnell and said he&#8217;s done his best while he was here. He understands elections. And he understands how important two seats are and we need to be focused on those.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> is greeted by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., as he enters the room to meet with Senate GOP members at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. <a href="https://t.co/tnzE3bbpFA">pic.twitter.com/tnzE3bbpFA</a>
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) <a href="https://twitter.com/dougmillsnyt/status/1801319803678077271?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
Trump and McConnell have had a rocky relationship over the past four years, and Thursday&#8217;s private meeting marked the first time the two had spoken in person since a month after the contentious 2020 election, according to POLITICO. Trump has slammed McConnell for approving Democrat legislation in the Senate, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-intensifies-attacks-mcconnell-death-wish-remark-social-media-pla-rcna50293" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> in 2022 that the Kentuckian has a &#8220;death wish,&#8221; which a Trump spokesman said was in reference to &#8220;killing the Republican Party through weakness and cowardice.&#8221;
McConnell has also blasted Trump, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/13/mcconnell-condemns-trump-acquitted-469002" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> he was &#8220;practically and morally responsible for provoking&#8221; the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
On Thursday at the Republican meeting, however, there was nothing but solidarity, according to some of the senators who attended.
“There was a lot of unity. A lot of people think we’re going in the wrong direction now,” McConnell&#8217;s fellow Kentucky senator, Rand Paul said, adding that most of the discussions centered on policy.
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“I haven’t seen that Republican group as strongly united on all of those policy issues in a long, long time,” said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), who has also <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/gop-senator-spars-trump-after-calling-out-stolen-election-lie-n1287279" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> Trump over the former president&#8217;s allegations that the 2020 election was &#8220;rigged&#8221; and &#8220;stolen.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
HAPPENING NOW: President Trump begins remarks in D.C. flanked by Republican Senators <a href="https://t.co/kgcBkwO31C">pic.twitter.com/kgcBkwO31C</a>
— RSBN 🇺🇸 (@RSBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/RSBNetwork/status/1801309386691789172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In February, the 82-year-old McConnell <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-to-step-down-as-senate-republican-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that he would be stepping down from his Senate leadership after Republicans select a new leader in November. He added that he still plans to serve the remainder of his term as senator, which ends in 2027.

Mitch McConnell/Donald Trump

McConnell Had ‘Entirely Positive Meeting’ With Trump During Capitol Hill Visit

McConnell Had 'Entirely Positive Meeting' With Trump During Capitol Hill Visit

Capitol Hill

Donald Trump

Politics

Senate

Washington D.C.

The top four U.S. congressional leaders sent a joint letter to Israeli Prime Minister <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/benjamin-netanyahu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Benjamin Netanyahu</a> inviting him to come to the U.S. to address Congress.
&#8220;Last year, Congress was proud to host Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Washington to celebrate 75 years of friendship and partnership between our two democracies,&#8221; the letter said, which was signed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
&#8220;Less than three months later, the horrific attacks of October 7th shocked the world and forced your nation into a fight for its very existence,&#8221; the leaders said. &#8220;We join the State of Israel in your struggle against terror, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive and its leaders jeopardize regional stability.&#8221;
They said that because Israel was having to fight for its very existence, they wanted to invite Netanyahu to &#8220;address a Joint Meeting of Congress.&#8221;
&#8220;The existential challenges we face, including the growing partnership between Iran, Russia, and China, threaten the security, peace, and prosperity of our countries and of free people around the world,&#8221; they said. &#8220;To build on our enduring relationship and to highlight America&#8217;s solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli government&#8217;s vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The top four leaders of the House and Senate have invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress. <a href="https://t.co/lTR2iUi4nz">pic.twitter.com/lTR2iUi4nz</a>
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) <a href="https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1796631491398799722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2024</a></blockquote>

House And Senate Leaders Host Capitol Menorah Lighting

Top Four U.S. Congressional Leaders Invite Netanyahu To Address Congress

Benjamin Netanyahu

Charles Schumer

Hakeem Jeffries

Israel

On Wednesday, Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rick-scott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rick Scott</a> (R-FL) entered the race to replace Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) as leader of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> GOP.
Scott, who is also running for <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a second term</a> in the Senate this year, joins Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-cornyn-announces-bid-to-replace-mcconnell-as-senate-gop-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Cornyn</a> (R-TX) and second-ranked Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thune-enters-race-to-become-senate-gop-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Thune</a> (R-SD) in vying for the top position.
&#8220;I believe that our voters want us to use this leadership election to make a choice to upend the status quo in Washington,&#8221; Scott said in a <a href="https://x.com/FBSaunders/status/1793391902630297637" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter to colleagues</a>.
&#8220;If you also believe this to be true and want a leader dedicated to that principle, I would be honored to have the opportunity to earn your support,&#8221; he added.
Scott is a former governor of Florida who first won a Senate seat in 2018. He served two years as National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman.
In 2022, Scott ran a <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/11/16/1137104129/mitch-mcconnell-wins-minority-leader-rick-scott-senate-republicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">campaign</a> to take the Senate GOP leadership position from McConnell, but <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/16/senate-gop-reelects-mcconnell-as-leader-00067541#:~:text=Mitch%20McConnell%20handily%20dispatched%20Rick,leader%20in%20the%20next%20Congress." target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost 37-10</a> in a secret-ballot election.
Scott endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/florida-sen-rick-scott-endorses-trump-for-president-says-gop-should-unite" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last fall</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/us/politics/donald-trump-vp.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has been talked about</a> as a potential running mate.
&#8220;As Republican leader, I will protect senators&#8217; interests while helping President Trump accomplish his goals,&#8221; Scott said in his letter.
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&#8220;Our country&#8217;s success and our Conference&#8217;s success will be dependent on President Trump&#8217;s success,&#8221; he continued.
McConnell, who is 82, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-to-step-down-as-senate-republican-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> in February that he would step aside as GOP leader after <a href="https://www.senate.gov/senators/longest-serving-party-leaders.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">16 years</a>, but plans to remain in the Senate until his term ends in early 2027.
Leadership elections are expected to take place in November, including for the No. 2 whip position, which Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/barrasso-ducks-senate-gop-leader-race-will-run-for-no-2-spot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Barrasso (R-WY) is seeking</a>. Winners will take over their new roles in January.
In his letter to colleagues, Scott called for more transparency between senators and the public, saying, &#8220;There have been far too many backroom deals cut in secret.&#8221;
Scott said he believes a leader should be limited to a six-year term and envisioned a &#8220;realistic schedule&#8221; to prevent continuing resolutions and omnibus spending bills.
&#8220;This is not a time to make small adjustments, I believe we need a dramatic sea change to save our country and that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m running to be Republican leader,&#8221; Scott said.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)

Rick Scott Joins Race For Senate GOP Leader

Rick Scott

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said during an interview over the weekend that the most important issue he is focused on is making sure Republicans retake control of the chamber this November.
McConnell made the remarks during a Sunday interview with Margaret Brennan on CBS News&#8217; &#8220;Face The Nation&#8221; while talking about Congress&#8217; recent passage of foreign aid spending packages.
&#8220;What I want to do and what I&#8217;m focused on is not the presidential race, but getting the Senate back,&#8221; McConnell said. &#8220;I think the single most important thing I can do is make sure my successor is the majority leader, no matter how the presidential election comes out.&#8221;
&#8220;The fact that our nominee basically decided not to continue whipping people against the package was a good sign and I&#8217;m going to be advocating increasing the defense budget no matter who gets elected, and preparing ourselves for the long term, which is China, Russia, and Iran,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;This administration&#8217;s budget requests for defense haven&#8217;t even kept up with inflation. That needs to change and we need to change as well. Here in Congress, the Democrats have always insisted that we spend just as much on domestic as defense. That changed in the last appropriations process. Our spending needs to reflect the needs, and the needs now are on the defense side.&#8221;
He said that the conflicts that have erupted across the world under Biden have &#8220;gotten our attention on both sides,&#8221; with most members now understanding that &#8221; this is a very, very dangerous period for our country.&#8221;
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&#8220;What I&#8217;m doing is trying to change the Senate so that we have a majority and trying to produce a majority of the majority of the importance of defense spending, no matter who wins the presidential election,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I can&#8217;t control that. I have some influence here in the Senate. I intend to use it no matter who gets elected president to increase our defense budget and get ready for the challenges that we have ahead of us, rather than just looking backward.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Before leaving the Senate, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderMcConnell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderMcConnell</a> says he intends to use his influence, &#8220;no matter who gets elected president, to increase our defense budget.&#8221;
When asked if that means potentially going against the GOP and Donald Trump, McConnell says: &#8220;I’ve been willing to do that.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ATKbkD6U3Z">pic.twitter.com/ATKbkD6U3Z</a>
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1784599369037087086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2024</a></blockquote>

Senate Luncheon Press Conferences

McConnell Reveals ‘The Single Most Important Thing’ He’s Focused On

The Senate passed a two-year extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows federal agents to obtain the online communications of foreign nationals without a warrant, late Friday night in a 60-34 vote. 
The debate on the renewal of Section 702 pitted those who said it was essential to national security against those who were worried about the potential for Americans to be surveilled. Senators who <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00148.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> in favor included 30 Republicans, 28 Democrats, and two independents, while 16 Republicans, 17 Democrats, and 1 independent voted against. 
The measure was supported by both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
&#8220;The stakes of such an outcome are grave,&#8221; McConnell <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-fisa-surveillance-renewal-avoiding-lapse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;The authorities in question today have, quite literally, been the only defense against would-be national security disasters.”
Schumer said passage was necessary for American national security. “It wasn’t easy, people had many different views, but we all know one thing: letting FISA expire would have been dangerous. It’s an important part of our national security to stop acts of terror, drug trafficking, and violent extremism,” he <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-renews-fisa-section-702-spying-privacy-rcna148394" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
On the other side, lawmakers like Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) argued that there should be a warrant requirement if the communications of Americans are caught up in the surveillance of a foreign national. 
Previous reports have indicated that the FBI has inappropriately used FISA <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-misused-surveillance-tool-over-278000-times-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over 278,000 times</a> to collect information about American citizens, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-inappropriately-used-spy-powers-on-u-s-senator-court-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said that</a> the FBI searched for information on an unidentified U.S. senator using Section 702 powers. 
“Yet again the Senate was asked to consider the question: can liberty be exchanged for security? And sadly the majority of Senators said yes it can,” Paul <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1781536215793025043" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> after his amendments failed. “Final FISA reauthorization passed once again.”
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Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said there were not enough protections in place for American citizens. 
“The Department of Justice’s abuses of FISA to spy on American citizens and their communications are unacceptable and contrary to the intent of the protections enshrined in our Fourth Amendment,” he <a href="https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-votes-against-fisa-reauthorization-legislation-after-fourth-amendment-protections-rejected#:~:text=U.S.%20Senator%20Kevin%20Cramer%20(R,obtain%20a%20warrant%20from%20the" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “The prohibition on unreasonable search and seizure can’t be taken for granted.”
Earlier this week, the House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-overcomes-final-hurdle-to-send-fisa-reauthorization-bill-to-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> its reauthorization of FISA after a similar warrant amendment stalled 212-212. Lawmakers eventually voted 259 to 128 to advance the legislation. 
President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation as his administration has pushed lawmakers to renew Section 702.

Capitol Hill Prepares Ahead Of Full House Vote On Impeachment Articles This Week

Senate Sends FISA Reauthorization Bill To Biden’s Desk After Late Night Vote

Civil Rights

FISA

Joe Biden

National Security

Rand Paul

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called on Congress to pass a bill that would ban TikTok unless the social media platform’s Chinese owners divest from it.
The Kentucky Republican pushed the bill’s passage in the upper chamber during a floor speech on Monday. The legislation passed the House last month with broad support inside both parties, with a final vote of 352 in favor and 65 against.
“America’s greatest strategic rival is threatening our security right here on U.S. soil in tens of millions of [American] homes,” McConnell said, according to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/08/mcconnell-senate-tiktok-restrict-ban" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Axios</a>. “I’m speaking of course of TikTok.”
“This is a matter that deserves Congress’ urgent attention,” he continued. “And I&#8217;ll support commonsense bipartisan steps to take one of Beijing&#8217;s favorite tools of coercion and espionage off the table.”
McConnell’s comments make him the highest-profile Republican to back the House bill in the Senate. The political push to take action against TikTok began under former President Donald Trump. Congress has remained largely silent on the issue until the passage of the House bill last month.
McConnell is in his final months as the top Republican in the Senate. He announced in February that he would step down as Senate Republican leader in November, a post he has held since 2006. The 82-year-old McConnell plans to finish out the rest of this term, which ends in January 2027.
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The bill’s chances in the Senate remain unclear in an election year involving an issue that has driven loud opposition from younger Americans, a primary target of Democratic politicians in 2024.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has voiced support for action on TikTok, though he has not committed to bringing the House bill to the Senate floor. The legislation and threat to ban TikTok has generated dissent from leftists and younger voters. President Joe Biden has said he would sign the legislation if it reaches his desk.
More libertarian-leaning Republicans have also resisted taking action against the Chinese-owned social media platform. Trump opposes the bill because he says taking action against TikTok would empower Facebook.

McConnell Backs TikTok Crackdown: ‘One Of Beijing’s Favorite Tools’

TikTok

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY) declared on Monday that he is focused on combating the &#8220;isolationist movement&#8221; of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/republican-party" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republican Party</a> with his remaining time in office.
The comments, <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/66-terry-meiners-28199905/episode/mitch-mcconnell-on-his-future-flipping-163919476/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made to WHAS radio host Terry Meiners</a>, signal that McConnell will be clashing with GOP colleagues who desire to rein in U.S. support for foreign allies such as Ukraine and Israel.
Although he plans to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnell-to-step-down-as-senate-republican-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">step down</a> as party leader, McConnell stressed, &#8220;I&#8217;m not leaving the Senate.&#8221; He added, &#8220;I&#8217;m particularly involved in actually fighting back against the isolationist movement in my own party and so many others as well.&#8221;
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Q: “What’s your mindset now when your feet hit the floor in the morning?”
McConnell: &quot;I&#39;m not leaving the Senate. And I&#39;m particularly involved in fighting back against the isolationist movement in my own party. The symbol lately is ‘are we gonna help Ukraine or not.’” <a href="https://t.co/VHZprlxMGY">pic.twitter.com/VHZprlxMGY</a>
&mdash; Greg Price (@greg_price11) <a href="https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1774916043875492299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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One conflict in particular that McConnell referenced was Ukraine&#8217;s fight against Russia, a cause to which the United States has allocated tens of billions of dollars.
&#8220;The symbol, lately, is &#8216;are we gonna help Ukraine or not?&#8217; And I think it&#8217;s extremely important that we do that,&#8221; McConnell said.
Polling <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/12/08/about-half-of-republicans-now-say-the-us-is-providing-too-much-aid-to-ukraine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> by the Pew Research Center in December showed an increasing number of Republicans —  approaching <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/12/08/about-half-of-republicans-now-say-the-us-is-providing-too-much-aid-to-ukraine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">half</a> of them — say the United States is providing too much aid to Ukraine as the conflict approached its two-year mark.
That sentiment is showing in Congress. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-passes-95-billion-foreign-aid-bill-despite-opposition-from-over-half-of-republican-senators" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More than half</a> of Republicans in the Senate voted against the $95 billion foreign aid bill that would give roughly $60 billion to Ukraine. The legislation passed, but so far the GOP-controlled House has not taken it up for consideration.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has indicated he is open to providing more foreign aid, but with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-johnson-charts-path-forward-on-ukraine-aid-with-important-innovations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;important innovations&#8221;</a> that can bring together the slim GOP majority in the House. For instance, he mentioned to Fox News a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lindsey-graham-meets-zelensky-says-he-floated-trumps-loan-idea-for-ukraine-aid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">loan</a> for Ukraine floated by former President Donald Trump.
Meiners noted that Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has been criticizing McConnell and saying he is out of touch with the people in Kentucky. The host pressed McConnell on how to create unity.
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Paul &#8220;would be the first one to say that he’s an isolationist,&#8221; McConnell replied. &#8220;He has been all along. This is not anything new for him. And he and I have always disagreed on this kind of issue.&#8221;
McConnell said what is &#8220;more troublesome&#8221; is that others appear to be &#8220;heading in that direction, making arguments that I think are easily refuted.&#8221;
He added, &#8220;We’re not losing any of our troops, the Ukrainians are the ones doing the fighting. If the Russians take Ukraine, some NATO country would be next and then we will be right in the middle of it.&#8221;

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

McConnell Says He’s ‘Not Leaving The Senate,’ Aims To Fight ‘Isolationist Movement’ Within GOP

McConnell Says He’s ‘Not Leaving The Senate,' Aims To Fight ‘Isolationist Movement’ Within GOP

Ukraine-Russia War

The U.S. Senate has become more polarized during President Joe Biden&#8217;s tenure, with Democrats and Republicans increasingly playing the role of hard-liners even though leadership on the Republican side of the aisle remains moderate, according to a new study from the CPAC Foundation&#8217;s Center for Legislative Accountability.
The group assigns scores to lawmakers based on how often they took the more conservative position — Democrats voted the conservative position only 2% of the time, whereas Republicans took the conservative position only 80% of the time — a far cry from the 98% that would be expected if Republicans were the mirror image of modern-day Democrats.
Senate Republicans have been led by Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who is one of the most moderate members of the Senate, behind only Mitt Romney (R-UT) at 59%, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) at 55%, and Susan Collins (R-ME) at 54%, according to the ratings.
But the rank-and-file membership is growing more conservative with each election cycle. Two old-time, big-spending appropriators from southern states were replaced by modern conservatives when Katie Britt replaced Richard Shelby in Alabama, and Eric Schmitt replaced Roy Blunt in Missouri.
In two historically purple states, moderate GOP senators were replaced by more conservative ones as Ted Budd replaced Richard Burr in North Carolina and JD Vance replaced Rob Portman in Ohio.
That means Republican leadership is increasingly out of step with members it represents, and likely will continue to be. The two announced candidates to replace McConnell, who is retiring, are not much more conservative. John Thune (R-SD) has a score of 71%, and John Cornyn (R-TX) has a score of 79%.
Moderates in leadership make it more likely to avoid legislative stalemate by agreeing to compromise with Democrats given that Democrats control the Senate, while Republicans hold the House. But they also mean that leadership is increasingly out of step with the rank-and-file, as moderate Republicans have been replaced by hard-liners, <a href="https://acu-ratings-pdfs.s3.amazonaws.com/ACU_Ratings_US-2023.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the analysis found</a>.
While both parties still have some senators who are known as moderates, the statistics show that Republican moderates are more likely to take liberal positions than purported Democrat moderates are to take conservative votes.
&#8220;Despite being touted by the media as ‘moderates,’ the highest scoring Democrats in the U.S. Senate received the following paltry scores: Joe Manchin (D-WV-30%), Jon Tester (D-MT-15%), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ-12%),&#8221; CPAC&#8217;s report said. &#8220;The true moderates are not in the Democrat party, but instead are Republicans like Sen. Susan Collins (MA) – 54%, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (AK) &#8211; 55%, and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) &#8211; 59%.&#8221;
The only member with a perfect conservative score on CPAC&#8217;s study in the Senate was Mike Lee of Utah.
A Daily Wire series previously explored why <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-legislatures-in-the-deep-red-states-that-sent-romney-and-cheney-to-washington-vote-like-liberals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deep-red states like Utah and Wyoming often send moderates</a>, like Mitt Romney and Liz Cheney, to Washington, even as deep-blue locations send hard-line ideologues.

Study Finds That GOP Senators Are More Conservative Than Predecessors

CPAC

The top Republican in the Senate delivered a sharp retort to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Thursday after the Democrat <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/schumer-calls-for-netanyahus-ouster-new-elections-in-israel-amid-war-with-hamas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">delivered a speech</a> criticizing Israel amid its fight against Hamas following the group&#8217;s deadly terrorist attack in October.
In delivering <a href="https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=4ED2C387-4705-4C31-A53B-3F9E72715A2A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarks</a> on the Senate floor, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) took particular issue with Schumer&#8217;s call for the U.S. ally to hold a new election while criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s leadership.
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Sen. McConnell: &quot;It is grotesque and hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of a democratically elected leader of Israel. This is unprecedented. We should not treat fellow democracies this way at all.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/K6xOd1a9Ey">pic.twitter.com/K6xOd1a9Ey</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1768299378760905204?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;The Jewish state of Israel deserves an ally that acts like one. The people of Israel, at home and in captivity, deserve America’s support. And Israel’s unity government and security cabinet deserve the deference befitting a sovereign, democratic country,&#8221; McConnell said in remarks.
Schumer included Netanyahu as one of the <a href="https://twitter.com/MSNBC/status/1768287192437112919" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;obstacles to peace&#8221;</a> during his speech earlier in the day. He <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/news/press-releases/majority-leader-schumer-calls-on-israeli-government-to-hold-elections" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also listed</a> Hamas and the Palestinians who &#8220;support and tolerate their evil ways,&#8221; &#8220;radical right-wing Israelis,&#8221; and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
In his response, McConnell gave his own perspective on the &#8220;obstacles to peace&#8221; that have led to a perpetuation of violence in the Middle East.
&#8220;The primary ‘obstacles to peace’ in Israel’s region are genocidal terrorists like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad who slaughter innocent people and corrupt leaders of the Palestinian Authority who have repeatedly rejected peace deals from multiple Israeli governments,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;And foreign observers who cannot keep these clear distinctions straight ought to refrain from weighing in. It is grotesque and hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of the democratically elected leader of Israel,&#8221; McConnell said.
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&#8220;This is unprecedented. We should not treat fellow democracies this way at all. Things that upset left-wing activists are not a prime minister’s policies – they are Israel’s policies,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Make no mistake – the Democratic Party doesn’t have an anti-Bibi problem. It has an anti-Israel problem.&#8221;
McConnell concluded, &#8220;Israel is not a colony of America whose leaders serve at the pleasure of the party in power in Washington. Only Israel’s citizens should have a say in who runs their government. This is the very definition of democracy and sovereignty. Either we respect their decisions, or we disrespect their democracy.&#8221;

McConnell Rebukes Schumer Over Israel Remarks: ‘Grotesque And Hypocritical’

McConnell Rebukes Schumer Over Israel Remarks: 'Grotesque And Hypocritical'

Hamas

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) warned this week about a far-left judge that President Joe Biden is trying to give a lifetime appointment to as a federal judge, saying that law enforcement officials across the country object to the extremist being appointed to U.S. Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit.
The president first nominated Adeel Mangi, a Muslim who was born in Pakistan, in November before Senate Republicans grilled him over his work for a group accused of featuring speakers who backed anti-Semitic and anti-American activism. Mangi was a member of an advisory board for the Center for Security, Race, and Rights at Rutgers Law School from 2019 to 2023. Republican senators were appalled after finding that the center co-sponsored a symposium on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 that featured a <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2006/April/06_crm_221.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">panelist</a> who pled guilty to providing support for Islamic jihadists and another panelist who publicly <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfv5yaKxNgo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> for an intifada in the U.S.
&#8220;I’ve spoken repeatedly about President Biden’s attempt to give life tenure on the federal bench to an activist tied to an extremist group that unabashedly celebrates terrorism,&#8221; McConnell said from the Senate floor. &#8220;I’ve already made absolutely clear that the Senate should not confirm the nomination of Adeel Mangi to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.&#8221;
“But Mr. Mangi’s alarming record doesn’t stop at ties to terrorist sympathizers. It turns out he also has a history of support for anti-police activism. In fact, he serves on the advisory board of a group of apologists for convicted cop killers,&#8221; he continued. “The so-called Alliance of Families for Justice (AFJ) was founded in part by a woman who pled guilty to the murder of a police officer and whose name has graced a fellowship they fund. With Mr. Mangi on their advisory board, the AFJ celebrated her and other cop killers as, listen to this, ‘freedom fighters.’&#8221;
“Take, for example, the Executive Director of AFJ. She was counsel of record on a brief to spring from prison a notorious cop killer whom she later compared favorably to Che Guevara,&#8221; McConnell said. “Honoring criminals and punishing law enforcement is the exact opposite of justice. One county police association in New York highlighted this irony by pointing out that, ‘Mr. Mangi’s heroes executed our heroes who were protecting and serving the community.’&#8221;
McConnell highlighted numerous law enforcement groups that have expressed opposition to Mangi serving as a federal judge because he &#8220;is willing to make common cause with an organization that excuses the most heinous form of lawbreaking.&#8221;
“As the National Association of Police Organizations put it, ‘It is one thing to stand up for the rights of those shunned or mistreated by society. It is a far different thing to exalt unrepentant killers who were convicted following legal trials in courts of law. Mr. Mangi is smart enough to know the difference, and he&#8217;s made his choice,’&#8221; McConnell said. “The National Sheriffs’ Association said that Mangi’s connection with AFJ, ‘raises concerns about a potential bias against victims and law enforcement, which could impact his decision-making as a lifetime appointed judge.’&#8221;
“A state law enforcement group in New Jersey put it this way: ‘We can respect a lawyer who represents criminal defendants to the best of their ability. But we can’t respect, and can never support, a lawyer who so blatantly promotes the opinion that the police are criminals, and the cop killers are the victims. He has disqualified himself as an impartial decider of facts where police are involved,&#8221; he added. “As far away as Arizona, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association wrote, ‘Mr. Mangi’s conscious work with [the AFJ] shows an anti-victim and anti-police bias that would certainly cloud his decision-making as a judge.’&#8221;
McConnell said that the last thing that the U.S. needed was &#8220;another federal judge who thinks criminals are the real victims – especially ones with the blood of police on their hands.&#8221;
“American communities have been suffering for years under a coordinated left-wing campaign to coddle criminals and neuter our criminal justice system. District attorneys in deep blue cities have put politics over prosecution and turned repeated violent offenders loose in the streets,&#8221; he concluded.  “And the Biden Administration continues to encourage this sort of bad behavior. It’s time to acknowledge who are the criminals, and who are the heroes. And it’s certainly time to refuse a lifetime appointment to the judiciary to anyone who cannot tell the difference.”
WATCH:
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Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderMcConnell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderMcConnell</a> tear into antisemitic and anti-police judicial nominee Adeel Mangi:
“I’ve spoken repeatedly about President Biden’s attempt to give life tenure on the federal bench to an activist tied to an extremist group that unabashedly celebrates terrorism. I’ve… <a href="https://t.co/YdzCfCfwtE">pic.twitter.com/YdzCfCfwtE</a>
&mdash; Carrie Severino (@JCNSeverino) <a href="https://twitter.com/JCNSeverino/status/1765403192680915137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
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The White House is in full blown panic mode over radical judicial nominee Adeel Mangi’s nomination.
They’re mobilizing left-wing groups to save Mangi after he’s been exposed for his ties to antisemitic &amp; anti-police groups.
He should never be confirmed.<a href="https://t.co/aceV80wFz9">pic.twitter.com/aceV80wFz9</a> <a href="https://t.co/rr6fCmxalP">https://t.co/rr6fCmxalP</a>
&mdash; Carrie Severino (@JCNSeverino) <a href="https://twitter.com/JCNSeverino/status/1765380031411347833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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U.S.-WASHINGTON D. C.-SENATE-REPUBLICAN LEADER-ANNOUNCEMENT-STEPPING DOWN AT YEAR-END

McConnell: Biden Trying To Appoint Judge Tied To ‘Extremist Group That Unabashedly Celebrates Terrorism’

Courts

terrorist

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell endorsed former President Donald Trump for president on Wednesday after former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley dropped out of the race following a drubbing in the Super Tuesday primary states.
The endorsement from McConnell — who is stepping down from his leadership role in November — comes as the Republican National Committee declared that Trump is now the party&#8217;s presumptive nominee for president.
&#8220;It is abundantly clear that former President Trump has earned the requisite support of Republican voters to be our nominee for President of the United States,&#8221; McConnell said in a statement. &#8220;It should come as no surprise that as nominee, he will have my support. During his Presidency, we worked together to accomplish great things for the American people including tax reform that supercharged our economy and a generational change of our federal judiciary &#8211; most importantly, the Supreme Court.&#8221;
McConnell added that he would &#8220;look forward to the opportunity of switching from playing defense against the terrible policies the Biden administration has pursued to a sustained offense geared towards making a real difference in improving the lives of the American people.&#8221;
McConnell was pressed about his decision to endorse Trump for president given some of his past criticism of the former president.
McConnell responded: “I said in February of 2021, shortly after the attack on the Capitol, that I would support President Trump if he were the nominee of our party and he obviously is going to be the nominee of our party.”
Haley announced Wednesday morning that she was dropping out of the race after only winning 1 state and Washington, D.C. However, during her speech, she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nikki-haley-drops-out-does-not-endorse-trump">did not endorse Trump</a>, despite having previously pledged to do so. She <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nikki-haley-says-shes-no-longer-bound-to-honor-pledge-to-support-trump-if-he-wins-gop-nomination">said</a> over the weekend that she no longer felt bound to honor her promise.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who was Trump&#8217;s main competitor for most of the primary season, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/desantis-suspends-2024-presidential-campaign-endorses-trump">endorsed Trump</a> when he announced that he was dropping out of the race following a second place in the Iowa Caucuses in January.

Senate GOP Leader McConnell Endorses Trump For President

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