May 15, 2025

Let’s dive in.

1. INTERVIEW: 29 GOP lawmakers explain why they support Trump's moves to dismantle Iran's nuclear program

2. Heard on the Hill

3. EXCLUSIVE: Why the House Intel Committee Chairman backs Tulsi Gabbard's NIC firings

4. EXCLUSIVE: Ed and Workforce Chairman calls on Senate to pass DETERRENT Act after "disturbing" reports of CCP espionage at Stanford

5. SCOOP: Navy veterans in Congress lay out future of Special Operations Forces

6. SCOOP: Illicit Chinese vape use virtual pets and luxury fashion to lure American kids

7. SCOOP: Two Democrats fall asleep during markup

8. K-STREET, 10,000 FEET: FTC’s all-in pricing rule praised

9. OPINIONATED: Jon Schanzer and Enia Krivine on the DOJ’s upcoming UNRWA reckoning, Gen. John King on why he’s challenging Sen. Jon Ossoff, and Scott Reed on the politics of fake Medicaid cuts

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INTERVIEW: 29 GOP lawmakers explain why they support Trump's moves to dismantle Iran's nuclear program

by Matthew Foldi

THE LOWDOWN:

• House and Senate Republicans sent President Donald Trump an unequivocal message during his first trip abroad: stay the course with his hardline anti-nuclear Iran policy.

• Twenty-nine House and Senate Republicans exclusively told the Washington Reporter why they signed on to the letters.

• The RSC’s Vice Chairman, Rep. Ben Cline (R., Va.), told the Reporter that his committee “fully supports the administration’s renewed commitment to a maximum pressure strategy — an approach the Biden administration recklessly abandoned, emboldening the Tehran regime.”

• Sen. James Lankford (R., Okla.), another Senate signatory to the letter, exclusively told the Reporter that “Iran should never be allowed to enrich uranium or develop ballistic missiles — not now, not ever.”

House and Senate Republicans sent President Donald Trump an unequivocal message during his first trip abroad: stay the course with his hardline anti-nuclear Iran policy.

Every Senate Republican except for Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) signed on to a letter led by Sens. Pete Ricketts (R., Neb.) and Ted Cruz (R., Texas.) and almost every House Republican signed a letter led by Rep. August Pfluger (R., Texas), the chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), that both urged Trump to “permanently eliminate” the ability for the “Iranian regime” to “enrich uranium.”

"I'm heartened that this letter conveyed the nearly universal consensus within the Republican Party that we support the President's efforts to diplomatically secure the complete dismantlement of Iran's nuclear capabilities,” Cruz told the Washington Reporter. “The President has been clear about this red line and that dismantlement is a prerequisite to any verifiable deal. This letter unequivocally signals that Republican lawmakers understand that position and necessity.”

Twenty-nine House and Senate Republicans exclusively told the Washington Reporter why they signed on to the letters.

The signatories represent the full spectrum of the Republican Party, and send a message that Republicans in Congress are united behind President Trump’s red line that Iran cannot have any nuclear enrichment capability in any deal.

“Max Pressure worked - that’s a fact,” Rep. Kevin Hern (R., Okla.), a former RSC Chair and current Chair of the Republican Policy Committee in House GOP leadership told the Reporter. “The Biden a destroyed it for no reason other than President Trump’s name was on it, and American national security has suffered because of that decision. We stand ready to support the President in combatting a nuclear Iran, and we want him to know that Congress has his back.”

The RSC’s Vice Chairman, Rep. Ben Cline (R., Va.), told the Reporter that his committee “fully supports the administration’s renewed commitment to a maximum pressure strategy — an approach the Biden administration recklessly abandoned, emboldening the Tehran regime.”

We believe this strategy must be carried out to completion to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon,” Cline added.

“Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon poses a serious threat to the United States and our allies,” Cline continued. “I’m proud to support President Trump’s efforts to fully dismantle Iran’s enrichment program and return to a maximum pressure strategy that worked…We must stand firm and ensure Iran never has the capability to develop a nuclear weapon.”

“President Trump’s recent tour of the Middle East made one thing clear: his Administration is once again leading the charge to counter the threat from Iran and restore American strength on the world stage. The Republican Study Committee fully supports the Administration’s renewed commitment to a maximum pressure strategy—an approach the Biden Administration recklessly abandoned, emboldening the Tehran regime. We believe this strategy must be carried out to completion to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.”

Others had even simpler reasons for signing: “We cannot allow Iran to threaten Israel with an atomic bomb,” Rep. Bryan Steil (R., Wis.) said.

Republicans in both chambers explained to the Reporter that it’s important to “let President Trump lead on this.” Sen. Jim Justice (R., W.Va.) told the Reporter that he is “confident he’ll stand rock solid firm against Iran’s nuclear weapons. There will be no compromise — nor should there be. The President has made it clear he won’t tolerate anything less. I fully support this mission to protect our national security and keep America safe and keep Iran in check.”

Sen. James Lankford (R., Okla.), another Senate signatory to the letter, exclusively told the Reporter that “Iran should never be allowed to enrich uranium or develop ballistic missiles — not now, not ever.”

“As the largest state sponsor of terrorism, the Iranian regime cannot be trusted with nuclear capabilities of any kind,” he said. “I strongly support President Trump’s efforts to secure a deal that leads to the full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program. A strong, enforceable agreement with zero enrichment must be the standard.”

On the House side, several RSC members, like Rep. Mark Alford (R., Mo.) were quick to tie Iran’s lengthy history of sponsoring terrorism to chaos elsewhere in the region, and beyond.

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Heard on the Hill

• REAL FACTS: Despite claims by some congressional Republicans that the reconciliation package sends money to illegal immigrants, Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R., La.) team noted that “the House bill does no such thing.” Athina Lawson, Johnson’s press secretary, added that “the One, Big, Beautiful Bill cuts off the 1.4 million illegal aliens who are stealing coverage from American citizens.”

• RAGING BULL: Washed up actor Robert De Niro attacked President Trump again, from the Cannes Film Festival for Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center, falsely claiming that the president is “cut[ting] funding and support to the arts, humanities and education.” Ric Grenell, the new head of the Kennedy Center, pushed back on De Niro’s lies, noting that “President Trump hasn’t cut funding for the Kennedy Center. There are a few honest reporters already reporting the massive funding INCREASE request from President Trump for the Kennedy Center.”

• UNCHARTED TERRITORY: Charter’s decision to carry One America News underscores its commitment to viewpoint diversity and open access to information. President Trump highlighted the move on TruthSocial, praising the company for standing up for free expression.

• NOT ALWAYS LOW PRICES: The Wall Street Journal reported that Walmart is raising prices on consumers over President Trump’s tariffs. Sources tell the Reporter that this could anger Trump Administration officials, especially since Secretary Scott Bessent is closing in on a deal with China.

• SLAM THE BRAKES: Vermont joined Maryland, Connecticut, Virginia, and Delaware in halting enforcement of its electric vehicle mandate. All five states have withdrawn or modified EV requirements in recent months due to lack of demand.

• STOLEN VALOR: Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D., N.J.) is under fire for “inflat[ing] her Navy rank in campaign materials,” per a report by the Washington Free Beacon’s Jon Levine.

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EXCLUSIVE: Why the House Intel Committee Chairman backs Tulsi Gabbard's NIC firings

by Matthew Foldi

THE LOWDOWN:

• Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), caused a stir this week when she fired senior leaders of the National Intelligence Council (NIC) amid the broader reorganization of her office.

• While the top Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Jim Himes (D., Conn.), opposed Gabbard’s move, the top Republican, Rep. Rick Crawford (R., Ark.) exclusively explained to the Washington Reporter why he’s supporting them.

• Taking on the politicization of the intelligence community is something that Gabbard has prioritized since taking on her new role. Her latest organizational moves included moving both NIC and the presidential daily intelligence brief staff from the CIA to the DNI’s campus nearby.

• The Reporter previously covered that Rep. Ben Cline (R., Va.), another member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, supports Gabbard’s reforms.

Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), caused a stir this week when she fired senior leaders of the National Intelligence Council (NIC).

The firings come amidst a broader reorganization of the DNI by Gabbard, who has also been aggressively countering politicized leaks from within the intelligence community — and has referred several for prosecution.

While the top Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Jim Himes (D., Conn.), opposed Gabbard’s move, the top Republican, Rep. Rick Crawford (R., Ark.) exclusively explained to the Washington Reporter why he’s supporting them.

“I have long expressed serious concerns about the National Intelligence Council’s inability to execute a process for developing intelligence assessments that effectively document and address all views,” Crawford said. “We have seen very high-profile examples of this utter failure to adhere to analytic standards and deliver assessments free of personal, political, institutional, or ideological bias, as is required by law.”

Taking on the politicization of the intelligence community is something that Gabbard has prioritized since taking on her new role. Her latest organizational moves included moving both NIC and the presidential daily intelligence brief staff from the CIA to the DNI’s campus nearby.

Crawford explained that problems with the NIC predate President Donald Trump’s second term, according to findings from his committee. “The Committee has noted these concerns on assessments such as anomalous health incidents and COVID-19, amongst others,” he said.

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EXCLUSIVE: Ed and Workforce Chairman calls on Senate to pass DETERRANT Act after "disturbing" reports of CCP espionage at Stanford

by Matthew Foldi

THE LOWDOWN:

• House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairman Tim Walberg (R., Mich.) said that reports of “disturbing” infiltration by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) at Stanford University are a “clear example of why the Senate needs to act quickly and pass the DETERRENT Act.”

• The bill the Michigan Republican was referring to — the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act — is bipartisan legislation that forces increased transparency for donations to American universities from foreign sources.

• Walberg’s remarks follow a bombshell investigation in the Stanford Review which found that “the CCP is orchestrating a widespread intelligence-gathering campaign at Stanford.”

• The university, for its part, responded to the report by denying none of the claims of Chinese espionage on campus.

House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairman Tim Walberg (R., Mich.) said that reports of “disturbing” infiltration by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) at Stanford University are a “clear example of why the Senate needs to act quickly and pass the DETERRENT Act.”

Walberg made the call while giving exclusive remarks to the Washington Reporter. The bill the Michigan Republican was referring to — the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act — is bipartisan legislation that forces increased transparency for donations to American universities from foreign sources.

“The reports of the CCP infiltrating Stanford University’s research are disturbing but not surprising — it is exactly the type of widespread espionage House Republicans have been warning about for years,” Walberg said.

“This is just one clear example of why the Senate needs to act quickly and pass the DETERRENT Act,” he continued. “We should be loud and clear: malign foreign influence remaining undetected is a danger to both students and U.S. national security.”

The DETERRENT Act that Walberg wants signed into law slashes the foreign gift reporting threshold for colleges and universities from $250,000 to $0 from countries of concern, punishes colleges that fail to report foreign gifts with potential loss of Title IV funding, and closes a series of reporting loopholes.

Walberg’s remarks follow a bombshell investigation in the Stanford Review which found that “the CCP is orchestrating a widespread intelligence-gathering campaign at Stanford.”

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SCOOP: Navy veterans in Congress lay out future of Special Operations Forces

by Matthew Foldi

THE LOWDOWN:

• Sen. Tim Sheehy (R., Mont.), a former Navy SEAL, and Rep. Jake Ellzey (R., Texas), a former Navy Fighter pilot, laid out the stakes of not modernizing our military at an event hosted by Veterans on Duty (VOD) this week — and they could not be higher.

• “We need to build our military like we did in 1941,” Ellzey said. “We don't have years to develop this, we have to win now. We don't have years to develop this if 2027 is the date. We don't have years, we have a year.”

• Sheehy seconded the urgency, and said that America needs to reframe strategic conflicts between it and countries like China from “near-peer competition” to “peer competition.”

• Sheehy singled out countries like China for their actions. China “has been going after Taiwan for years…to weaken it…to scare off global corporations,” he said.

Two Navy veterans in Congress warned that America needs to both reassess its strategy to compete with adversaries and modernize its military within a year in order to “win now.”

Sen. Tim Sheehy (R., Mont.), a former Navy SEAL, and Rep. Jake Ellzey (R., Texas), a former Navy Fighter pilot, laid out the stakes at an event hosted by Veterans on Duty (VOD) this week — and they could not be higher.

“We need to build our military like we did in 1941,” Ellzey said. “We don't have years to develop this, we have to win now. We don't have years to develop this if 2027 is the date. We don't have years, we have a year.”

“The whole idea of war is transforming itself,” he said. China, for example, wages “complete war” when it chooses to do so. Ellzey nevertheless had reason for optimism, due to companies like Palantir and Anduril, which he singled out for praise.

But, there are reforms he wants made quickly. There are too many flag officers, for example. When four star generals come to Capitol Hill, they have larger staffs than he does, he quipped.

Ellzey also opposes the reflex to fire Navy staffers even after at times high-profile blunders. “Nimitz ran a ship aground as a lieutenant…and then got five stars, and then he undoubtedly helped us win a war in the Pacific,” he said. When the Navy relieves a skipper and puts the news in the Navy Times, it sends all the wrong messages, he said.

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Scoop: Illicit Chinese vape use virtual pets and luxury fashion to lure American kids

by the Washington Reporter

THE LOWDOWN:

• Waves of illegally manufactured Chinese e-cigarettes have invaded U.S. markets with products specifically engineered to attract young users and get them hooked — including virtual pets and luxury handbag-esque holsters.

• RAZ, a brand linked to Chinese manufacturer Guangdong Qisitech Co. Ltd., one of the largest e-cigarette producers in the world, released their newest product, the RYL Classic by RAZ, which carries an aesthetic that mimics a Yves Saint Laurent.

• Another new vape sold from China offers a built-in game featuring a virtual 8-bit pet that forces the users to frequently vape to keep the pet alive or witness your companion “die.”

• Michael Chamberlain, director of Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT), points the finger at regulatory failure.

The war against illegal nicotine vapes is being waged in America, and one critical battlefield is our children.

Waves of illegally manufactured Chinese e-cigarettes have invaded U.S. markets with products specifically engineered to attract young users and get them hooked. These products are using new ways to attract kids to their chemicals, including gimmicks designed to elicit a toy store reaction to vaping with vape-fueled Tamagotchis and vape holsters that look like luxury handbags. This may seem like a great marketing scheme for China, but this is pure manipulation that is happening right under the FDA’s nose, which received little to no action from the Biden administration.

RAZ, a brand linked to Chinese manufacturer Guangdong Qisitech Co. Ltd., one of the largest e-cigarette producers in the world, released their newest product, the RYL Classic by RAZ, which carries an aesthetic that mimics a Yves Saint Laurent. This is clearly targeting teenage girls and the vape features a 35,000-puff count. Compared to a Juul pod, manufactured in the U.S., which only has a puff count of 200, these vapes are meant to last long and keep people addicted.

Another new vape sold from China offers a built-in game featuring a virtual 8-bit pet that forces the users to frequently vape to keep the pet alive or witness your companion “die.” This is not merely a virtual pet for kids to take care of — it is an extremely dangerous psychological tactic that makes users dependent on smoking their vape in order to keep the pet alive. This is simultaneously creating two dopamine rushes: one from the nicotine itself and another from the excitement of taking care of a virtual pet.

These products are so easy to obtain for young kids in America due to major online distributors like MiPod, making these vapes easily accessible with just a few clicks and no ID verification, no age restrictions, and no oversight. Despite being illegal under U.S. law, these vapes are shipped nationwide, disguised in packaging meant to avoid getting caught by customs. Their availability isn't limited to shady backchannels, these are mainstream platforms selling candy-colored vapes that look more like fashion accessories than dangerous nicotine devices.

Michael Chamberlain, director of Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT), noted there is “nothing new under the sun” with these tactics from China.

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SCOOP: Two Democrats fall asleep during markup

by Matthew Foldi

THE LOWDOWN:

• The House Energy and Commerce Committee staged a marathon markup that lasted through the night — and some lawmakers were not up to the task.

• Both Democrat Reps. Debbie Dingell and Jan Schakowsky were caught napping during the committee markup.

• Republicans were eager to latch on to the Democrats’ missteps. “While President Trump flies around the world negotiating historic deals for the American people, Democrats are in D.C. asleep on the job,” the Trump campaign noted.

• Republicans, on the other hand, were eager to display their Zyn-fueled vigor. “I’ve had four Celsius,” Rep. Richard Hudson (R., N.C.) explained. “I’m on my third can of Zyn.” The Hudson-run National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) promptly dubbed him “Richard Hudzyn.”

The House Energy and Commerce Committee staged a marathon markup that lasted through the night — and some lawmakers were not up to the task.

The Washington Reporter first covered how both Reps. Debbie Dingell (D., Mich.) and Jan Schakowsky (D., Ill.) were caught napping on camera during the markup. Dingell got defensive; “[I’ve] been up for 31 hours straight fighting Republicans trying to gut Medicaid,” she claimed. “Closed my eyes to think about an America where everyone has access to quality, affordable health care.”

“No,” one attendee from the hearing told the Reporter. “She went to sleep.”

Republicans were eager to latch on to the Democrats’ missteps.

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K-STREET, 10,000 FEET:

FTC’s all-in pricing rule praised

by Matthew Foldi

THE LOWDOWN:

• The latest rule from President Donald Trump’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on all-in pricing went into effect this week, with great fanfare from both the ticketing industry and from consumers.

• Under FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, the FTC will ensure that all-in pricing is standard for both live events and for short-term lodging, meaning that consumers won’t suffer sticker shock on the purchase page for concerts or AirBnBs.

• The FTC rule directly follows Trump’s March executive order to “end price-gouging by middlemen in the entertainment industry.” While Ferguson had previously opposed a version of this rule on procedural grounds when he was an FTC commissioner, he followed through on his promise, articulated at an event hosted by the Reporter, to push for continuity between FTC chairs.

• That order was backed by organizations like Live Nation at the time, which praised the administration for taking “scalpers and bots [that] prevent fans from getting tickets at the prices artists set…head on.”

The latest rule from President Donald Trump’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on all-in pricing went into effect this week, with great fanfare from both the ticketing industry and from consumers.

Under FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, the FTC will ensure that all-in pricing is standard for both live events and for short-term lodging, meaning that consumers won’t suffer sticker shock on the purchase page for concerts or AirBnBs. Hidden fees have long caused consumers to fume at companies like Live Nation Entertainment — which said that it is firmly behind Ferguson in pushing for this policy.

“Live Nation made all-in pricing the standard across its venues and festivals in 2023,” the company said. “Starting May 12, it’s now the rule for all ticketing companies and a meaningful step in the broader reforms needed to protect fans.”

“Strong enforcement will be critical, along with continued efforts to bring about reforms like banning speculative ticket sales and giving artists control over resale prices,” the company continued.

The FTC rule directly follows Trump’s March executive order to “end price-gouging by middlemen in the entertainment industry.” While Ferguson had previously opposed a version of this rule on procedural grounds when he was an FTC commissioner, he followed through on his promise, articulated at an event hosted by the Reporter, to push for continuity between FTC chairs.

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OPINIONATED

Op-Ed: Jon Schanzer and Enia Krivine: The Department of Justice's long-awaited reckoning for UNRWA has arrived

by Jon Schanzer and Enia Krivine

The Department of Justice (DOJ) last month took a potentially giant step in the effort to combat the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas by asserting that UNRWA, unlike other UN agencies, is not immune from U.S. criminal and civil law. The decision may not just open the door for victims of October 7 to sue UNRWA for damages, it may enable the Treasury Department to impose terrorism sanctions and shut down a significant terror-financing threat.

UNRWA, formally known as the UN Relief and Works Agency, was established after the Israeli War of Independence to provide services to Palestinians displaced by the 1948 war. Over more than seven decades, rather than resettling refugees to give Palestinians a future, UNRWA trapped generation after generation in refugee status. But not only that. Through its network of schools and other family services, UNRWA indoctrinated millions of children to grow up with a dream of destroying the state of Israel and displacing its Jewish population.

The massacres of October 7, 2023 were a predictable byproduct of an education system imbued with Jew hatred, incitement, and the glorification of terror. In the war that has ensued since, Israeli military operations in Gaza have yielded mountains of evidence proving just how deeply entwined UNRWA was with Hamas.

But as experts will attest, the agency’s profound flaws are not unique to Gaza. URNWA operates in the West Bank, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, too. And while the United States halted aid to UNRWA after October 7, the terror-supporting agency continues to enjoy contributions from around the world that exceed $1 billion a year. The Trump administration now has an opportunity to shut that all down.

In an April 24 filing connected to a lawsuit brought against UNRWA by terror victims, the Justice Department asserted that UNRWA does not qualify for the immunities afforded to the United Nations under international agreements and federal statutes. The lawsuit is currently before a federal judge in the Southern District of New York.

According to the DOJ filing in the case, UNRWA is “a mere ‘affiliate or instrumentality’ of the UN,” not an organ of the UN itself, and has never been granted immunity by any American president under the International Organizations Immunities Act.

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Op-Ed: Gen. John King: Why I'm running for Senate in Georgia

by Gen. John King

This week, I announced I’m running for the U.S. Senate in Georgia against Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2026. I’m doing this for a simple reason: President Donald Trump needs backup and Georgia needs a new senator.

Unlike politicians who talk about problems but never do anything to solve them, I’ve spent my life taking action and getting things done.

I was born and raised in Mexico, came here at 17, and began a four decade career in law enforcement. I started as a beat cop in Atlanta and went on to become the chief of police in Doraville, a small and diverse city northeast of Atlanta. Others talk in the abstract about fighting crime, I’ve fought crime personally and been shot and stabbed for my efforts.

As a young man, I also enlisted in the Army as a private. Two years ago, I retired as a two-star major general.

During my service, I had the honor of commanding some of the best and brightest soldiers Georgia and our country have to offer, in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Africa, and even at our southern border during President Trump’s first term. Others talk about war and conflict. I’ve led men and women in uniform in war zones around the world. Others talk about securing the border. I’ve personally arrested and deported criminals here illegally.

Entering politics never crossed my mind, but in 2019, Gov. Brian Kemp asked me to clean up Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner. My appointment to the position made me the first Hispanic to hold statewide office in Georgia history, and in 2022 I became the first Hispanic to win statewide office in our state’s history.

During my time in office, we’ve done what we said we’d do. We’ve recovered more than $100 million for taxpayers, leveled millions in fines against big insurance companies, and made the agency work for Georgians again.

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Op-Ed: Scott Reed: The politics of fake Medicaid cuts are dragging down the GOP

by Scott Reed

The Republican Party is learning the hard way what happens when control over its message is ceded to unelected ideologues. In key districts across the country, House Republicans are being forced to spend millions defending vulnerable GOP members against a wave of attacks over alleged Medicaid cuts — attacks that are clearly landing. This is putting seats at risk in critical 2026 battlegrounds from California to Maine.

Since President Donald J. Trump took office, Democrats have made Medicaid the centerpiece of their paid media strategy, pumping huge sums into this issue because they know it resonates. The Democrats’ attacks are false, but the mainstream media is nowhere to be found to hand out any Pinocchios. But the danger for Republicans is simple: the attacks are sticking, and they’re not just coming from the left — they’re being enabled by voices within the party itself.

President Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) have explicitly said there will be no cuts to Medicaid for Americans, period. You would think that would be the final word on the issue. And yet, so-called conservative think tanks and self-appointed policy experts in Washington, D.C. — most notably Paragon Health Institute President Brian Blase — continues to push an agenda that undercuts the party’s leadership and gives campaign fodder to the Democrats. Blase recently wrote and organized a letter signed by 20 House Republicans advocating for Medicaid cuts and even told Politico that Republicans should outright disregard Trump’s position on the issue.

The reality is the view that Republicans should gut Medicaid as part of budget reform would be a political disaster at the ballot. According to internal polling conducted by President Trump’s own pollster, the idea of cutting Medicaid is overwhelmingly unpopular, not just among Democrats but among most Trump voters and nearly two-thirds of swing voters. The centerpiece of these alleged cuts, reducing or eliminating the Medicaid provider tax, would disproportionately impact hospitals in the reddest Republican states and rural areas, which is the lifeblood of many of these communities.

Red states like Texas and Florida would be crushed by this nonsense. We know why Democrats and the mainstream media are pushing this false narrative, but why in the world are some Republicans parroting it?

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