THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Senate Republicans grow increasingly frustrated with Trump ... Add NBC News to Google Senate postpones hearing for DNI nominee Clayton after Trump tells him not to show up 03:00 Get more news Live on Share Add NBC News to Google June 17, 2026, 7:04 PM EDT By Melanie Zanona , Sahil Kapur and Brennan Leach WASHINGTON — As President Donald Trump scrambles to wrap up his war with Iran, he’s escalating another one much closer to home, against members of his own party in Congress. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. From the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in France, Trump ordered the Senate on Wednesday to cancel an afternoon hearing for Jay Clayton, his nominee to be director of national intelligence, and threatened not to sign a reauthorization of a critical surveillance law unless the Senate passed a sweeping election bill that has already failed — repeatedly. The hearing delay not only blindsided and frustrated Senate Republicans, but it also completely derailed Majority Leader John Thune’s carefully laid plans to fast-track the nomination in a bid to unlock Democratic votes for the now-expired spying program .…

Now 71° Fri 77° Sat 79° byRAY LEWIS | The National News Desk HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) —Senate Republicans, frustrated by President Donald Trump’s social media surprises, are increasingly speaking out about the burden they’re left to bear by the White House. Trump’s most recent stunner, his Truth Social announcement on his administrative nominees and legislative priorities, is the latest setback for a GOP majority unable to provide many significant wins ahead of the midterm elections. The president said Wednesday he'swithholdinghis candidate for permanent director of national intelligence—federal prosecutor Jay Clayton—until the Senate confirms his potential replacement. Trump’s also demanding the chamber attach a voter ID bill to the renewal of a foreign surveillance law, which Democrats have blocked in protest of the president’s temporary DNI pick. Bill Pulte, a housing official without any national security experience, will take over the intelligence community on Friday. Republicans, though in lockstep with Trump at the start of his term, have recently vocalized their frustrations louder and more often. Majority Leader John Thune, asked Wednesday why he thinks the presi…

Is Trump Losing His Grip On Senate Republicans? - Forbes Breaking Business Trump Tells Thune ‘Immediately Fire The Parliamentarian’—Testing Grip On Senate Republicans By Sara Dorn , Forbes Staff. Sara Dorn is a Forbes news reporter who covers politics. Follow Author Jun 08, 2026, 04:48pm EDT Topline President Donald Trump called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to fire the Senate rule-keeper on Monday, the latest sign of tensions between Trump and Thune. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks to reporters as the Senate votes on amendments to a reconciliation package, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on June 4, 2026. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu via Getty Images Key Facts Trump said on Truth Social Thune should “immediately fire the Parliamentarian,” Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, who Trump said “treats Republicans, and everything that they stand for, horribly!” Trump predicted a GOP-backed voter ID bill, the SAVE America Act, won’t pass with MacDonough in place, after she ruled previously that it can’t be passed with a simple majority vote and would instead need 60 votes to clear the filibuster threshold. MacDon…

Now 69° Fri 84° Sat 86° President Trump participates in a Medal of Honor Ceremony. byRAY LEWIS | The National News Desk HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) —President Donald Trump is renewing his call for Senate Republicans to rewrite the rules as he pushes an increasingly difficult congressional agenda. He demanded in a Thursday Truth Socialpostthat Majority Leader John Thune scrap the filibuster, which blocks most bills that are short of 60 votes, in favor of a simple-majority system. Trump’s failing effort to pass a voter ID bill has become even more challenging in the past few days, as heurgesit attached to a foreign surveillance law being negotiated by the Senate. “The Republican Party isn’t at stake, our Country is,” the president wrote. “TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, AND IMMEDIATELY APPROVE THE SAVE AMERICA ACT.” Thune has repeatedly rejected Trump’s demands to take the so-called nuclear option, whichlacksRepublican support. “He’s passionate about it, and we are doing everything that we can, but it is a function of math,” the senator told Fox News on Tuesday. “I mean, we are bound by arithmetic in the United States Senate. The votes currently aren’t there.” Thune also poured co…

Now 69° Fri 84° Sat 86° President Trump participates in a Medal of Honor Ceremony. byRAY LEWIS | The National News Desk HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) —President Donald Trump is renewing his call for Senate Republicans to rewrite the rules as he pushes an increasingly difficult congressional agenda. He demanded in a Thursday Truth Socialpostthat Majority Leader John Thune scrap the filibuster, which blocks most bills that are short of 60 votes, in favor of a simple-majority system. Trump’s failing effort to pass a voter ID bill has become even more challenging in the past few days, as heurgesit attached to a foreign surveillance law being negotiated by the Senate. “The Republican Party isn’t at stake, our Country is,” the president wrote. “TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, AND IMMEDIATELY APPROVE THE SAVE AMERICA ACT.” Thune has repeatedly rejected Trump’s demands to take the so-called nuclear option, whichlacksRepublican support. “He’s passionate about it, and we are doing everything that we can, but it is a function of math,” the senator told Fox News on Tuesday. “I mean, we are bound by arithmetic in the United States Senate. The votes currently aren’t there.” Thune also poured co…

Election-year friction between Trump and Republican senators is growing ... Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., leaves the chamber, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., heads to a closed-door Republican policy meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., speaks with reporters before a Republican lunch at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) President Donald Trump speaks during a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) WASHINGTON (AP) — The relationship betweenPresident Donald Trumpand Senate Republicans neared a breaking point this week as heupended their effortsto speedily confirm one of his own nominees and said he would not sign the renewal of akey surveillance lawunless they agree to new terms. Trump’s overnight social media post Wednesday that he was delayingJay Clayton’snomination to become national intelligence director, just hours before the U.S. attorney’s confirmation hearing, furt…

Now 71° Fri 77° Sat 79° byRAY LEWIS | The National News Desk HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) —Senate Republicans, frustrated by President Donald Trump’s social media surprises, are increasingly speaking out about the burden they’re left to bear by the White House. Trump’s most recent stunner, his Truth Social announcement on his administrative nominees and legislative priorities, is the latest setback for a GOP majority unable to provide many significant wins ahead of the midterm elections. The president said Wednesday he'swithholdinghis candidate for permanent director of national intelligence—federal prosecutor Jay Clayton—until the Senate confirms his potential replacement. Trump’s also demanding the chamber attach a voter ID bill to the renewal of a foreign surveillance law, which Democrats have blocked in protest of the president’s temporary DNI pick. Bill Pulte, a housing official without any national security experience, will take over the intelligence community on Friday. Republicans, though in lockstep with Trump at the start of his term, have recently vocalized their frustrations louder and more often. Majority Leader John Thune, asked Wednesday why he thinks the presi…

Now 71° Fri 77° Sat 79° byRAY LEWIS | The National News Desk HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) —Senate Republicans, frustrated by President Donald Trump’s social media surprises, are increasingly speaking out about the burden they’re left to bear by the White House. Trump’s most recent stunner, his Truth Social announcement on his administrative nominees and legislative priorities, is the latest setback for a GOP majority unable to provide many significant wins ahead of the midterm elections. The president said Wednesday he'swithholdinghis candidate for permanent director of national intelligence—federal prosecutor Jay Clayton—until the Senate confirms his potential replacement. Trump’s also demanding the chamber attach a voter ID bill to the renewal of a foreign surveillance law, which Democrats have blocked in protest of the president’s temporary DNI pick. Bill Pulte, a housing official without any national security experience, will take over the intelligence community on Friday. Republicans, though in lockstep with Trump at the start of his term, have recently vocalized their frustrations louder and more often. Majority Leader John Thune, asked Wednesday why he thinks the presi…

Now 69° Fri 84° Sat 86° President Trump participates in a Medal of Honor Ceremony. byRAY LEWIS | The National News Desk HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) —President Donald Trump is renewing his call for Senate Republicans to rewrite the rules as he pushes an increasingly difficult congressional agenda. He demanded in a Thursday Truth Socialpostthat Majority Leader John Thune scrap the filibuster, which blocks most bills that are short of 60 votes, in favor of a simple-majority system. Trump’s failing effort to pass a voter ID bill has become even more challenging in the past few days, as heurgesit attached to a foreign surveillance law being negotiated by the Senate. “The Republican Party isn’t at stake, our Country is,” the president wrote. “TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, AND IMMEDIATELY APPROVE THE SAVE AMERICA ACT.” Thune has repeatedly rejected Trump’s demands to take the so-called nuclear option, whichlacksRepublican support. “He’s passionate about it, and we are doing everything that we can, but it is a function of math,” the senator told Fox News on Tuesday. “I mean, we are bound by arithmetic in the United States Senate. The votes currently aren’t there.” Thune also poured co…

Thune navigates fresh Trump rough patch as Senate frustrations boil over Thune navigates fresh Trump rough patch as Senate frustrations boil over By David Sivak, Washington Examiner 05/26/2026 | updated 3 weeks ago Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., right, is joined by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., left, during the Senate Republican policy luncheon news conference at the Capitol on Tuesday in Washington. (The Associated Press) Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) just finished a bruising week that left his relationship with President Donald Trump at a recent low point. Whether it gets worse will depend on how well Thune navigates the seemingly growing number of Republicans willing to buck Trump — and whether the president takes it personally if he can’t. Senate Republicans, on break for the Memorial Day recess, have the next week to cool off after a striking display of defiance that began with a rebuke over the war with Iran and finished with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche getting chewed out over a new $1.8 billion “lawfare” fund. Four Republicans helped Democrats advance legislation to rein in Trump’s war powers, a high mark that means the measure could actually p…