Today’s notice: What kind of Republicans will run America? The Senate is deciding whether to go MAGA or its own way. The House is deciding whether to be its very own culture war or not. Labor leaders say they’ve already made a decision about the GOP’s new working-class label.
Will He, Won’t He
MAGA heavyweights from Elon Musk to Laura Loomer have made their position clear: They want Rick Scott for Senate majority leader. As of Wednesday night, however, Donald Trump hadn’t issued his own endorsement.
Some senators told NOTUS they’d like for him to keep his mouth shut.
“He has the same rights as everybody to weigh in, but I don’t think it would be wise,” Sen. Kevin Cramer told NOTUS.
“The president can do whatever he thinks is right,” Sen. Mike Rounds told NOTUS of Trump potentially weighing in. “But there are pitfalls.”
Cramer and Rounds are backing Sen. John Thune and undoubtedly know that a Trump endorsement would throw a wrench into their guy’s chances. But unlike House leadership elections, where public votes on the floor put member fealty to Trump on full display, the Senate’s GOP’s Wednesday elections will be behind closed doors and by secret ballot.
It’s one of the rare contests where Trump’s influence is limited. And at least a few senators are hoping to savor that opportunity.
Still, as everyone in Washington is well aware, Trump has no problem wading into a leadership election and upending delicate politics at the last minute.
Thune is acutely aware of the stakes, urging Trump last week that staying neutral is in the president-elect’s “best interests.” But ultimately, as Thune said on Tuesday: “His call, not mine.”
—Riley Rogerson | Read the story here.
What Does Labor Expect From the New Working-Class GOP?
In the back of the preelection issue of Teamster, the union’s magazine for its thousands of members, you’ll find a reprint of President Sean O’Brien’s speech to the RNC over the summer. Near the front is an ad calling on union households to make a voting plan. And in between are a lot of political asks generally not favored by Republicans, like opposition to right-to-work laws and support for a pro-worker NLRB.
But what do unions think they’ll get from the GOP and Trump in return for the votes of many union members?
Several unions declined to endorse Kamala Harris to placate their increasing pro-Trump ranks, but some labor leaders don’t think they’ll have much to show for it. “You look at the policy platform of the GOP, it ain’t friendly to the Teamsters, it ain’t friendly to the firefighters,” one senior labor official told NOTUS. “It ain’t friendly to the rest of labor, either.”
Jim Banks, the now Sen.-elect from Indiana, distributed a memo in the House in 2021 titled “Cementing the GOP as a working-class party.” His plan was for the GOP to back Trump’s hard-line takes on immigration and China — and double down on cultural issues — to boost working-class support. That plan appears to have worked.
Banks’ strategy, and Trump’s policies, may be enough to satisfy a lot of the MAGA-friendly labor electorate. We reached Nevada-based IBEW International Rep. James Halsey, who told us his members are mostly guys, and a lot of them just like Trump. A President Trump that nods to them while doing things they support, like immigration crackdowns, might be enough to secure his working-class mantle.
“Many union workers who have been employed for a long time take their wages and benefits for granted, they don’t think anyone’s going to come after that,” Halsey said.
—Evan McMorris-Santoro
Front Page
- John Cornyn Is Fighting to Be GOP Leader. He May Also Be Fighting for His Political Life: The Texas senator has a rocky relationship with the MAGA right.
- Will a More Diverse Trump Coalition Mean a More Diverse Administration?: Trump allies are still conflicted about whether the administration should prioritize diversity.
- Democrats Are Not-So-Secretly Thrilled About Marco Rubio: They hope their positive feelings don’t make Trump pick someone else for secretary of state.
- A Federal Court Just Slashed Key Environmental Regulations: Judges unraveled much of the National Environmental Policy Act’s rules.
- New York Judge Delays Decision on Trump Conviction by Another Week: The Manhattan district attorney’s office signaled an openness to hitting pause on the case.
We Found Some Happy Democrats
Turns out, not all Democrats are busy squabbling, scrambling and generally sulking. On the first day of New Member Orientation, NOTUS found some future Democratic lawmakers,*checks notes,*smiling and excited about their future in Congress.
“I’m hoping to bring a little bit of Hollywood here,” Rep.-elect and former film producer Laura Friedman told reporters.
Outside the AC Hotel, where lawmakers are camped out for the next nine days, the first day of school energy was undeniable, complete with big dreams and lofty ambitions for what the next few years might bring. Rep.-elect Suhas Subramanyam, for example, wants a seat on the Appropriations Committee.
“I’m told as a freshman, that’s not possible, but you know, you miss all the shots you don’t take, right?”
—Riley Rogerson
How Welcoming Is the House GOP?
Among the incoming class of House lawmakers is Sarah McBride, the first openly trans member of Congress. When she first announced her candidacy, officials at her old job in the Delaware state Senate had to increase security due to threats. The expected Republican majority in D.C. will now be in charge of ensuring McBride can safely represent the Americans who elected her.
Mike Johnson told NOTUS’ Oriana González, “We welcome all members.” But Marjorie Taylor Greene “misgendered and referred to McBride by the name she used before transitioning” when Oriana asked questions about her. The conservative movement’s general hostility to trans rights may be getting a big test as McBride takes her seat and becomes one of their colleagues.
Transition Condition
On Tuesday alone, Trump officially announced Rep. Mike Waltz as national security adviser, former Rep. John Ratcliffe as Central Intelligence Agency director, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel, businessman Steve Witkoff as special envoy to the Middle East, William McGinley as White House counsel, Pete Hegseth as his secretary of defense, and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security.
He also tapped Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency — or “DOGE,” ironically.
Unofficially, Trump plans to pick Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state. Plus, NOTUS has heard Rep. Garret Graves, who did not run for reelection, is talking to the Trump team about heading up the Department of Transportation. (As with most things Trump, all of this could change by the time you read it.)
—Reese Gorman
Not Us
We know NOTUS reporters can’t cover it all. Here’s some other great hits by … not us.
- Despite Biden’s promise to protect old forests, his administration keeps approving plans to cut them down, by McKenzie Funk of ProPublica and April Ehrlich and Tony Schick of Oregon Public Broadcasting
- After Harris’ loss, a liberal icon ponders life on the outside, by Elizabeth Williamson of The New York Times
- The Secret Service says you agreed to be tracked with location data, by Joseph Cox of 404 Media
Be Social
It’s goin’ down.
With Marco Rubio being tapped for Secretary of State, @GovRonDeSantis has only one choice for his replacement as the next Senator from the great State of Florida pic.twitter.com/fz2bYaDjcK
— Jon 🔬 (@JonnyMicro) November 12, 2024
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