Trump's last step toward a total MAGA Republican party

Driving the news: After a brief break in Trump's reign after the 2020 election, the chips are once again falling in favor of the former president as he inches closer to the GOP presidential nomination.

• Mitch McConnell was the last domino to fall. His decision to step aside as Senate GOP leader in November sets the stage for a Trump-approved successor.
• The three likeliest GOP successors — GOP Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and John Thune (R-S.D.) — have already endorsed Trump.
• "I think it'll be great, because I think Trump will win, we have a leader who can work well with the next Republican president," said Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), a Trump ally, after McConnell's announcement.

Zoom in: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is Trump-approved and endorsed Trump almost immediately after taking the speaker gavel in October.

• The Republican National Committee is poised to be taken over by Trump loyalists he hand-picked, including his daughter-in-law Lara Trump and top campaign official Chris LaCivita.

State of play: Trump won almost 70% of the vote in the key swing state of Michigan on Tuesday night, following his dominant victory in Haley's home state of South Carolina on Saturday.

• He's dominated every early GOP primary contest.

• Most of Trump's onetime presidential rivals have also fallen behind him as they battle for the coveted running mate position — and prove that they are the most loyal.

The bottom line: Two of Trump's savviest GOP critics laid out the new reality in the last 24 hours.

• Haley conceded yesterday that it's "very possible" that the party is changing toward the former president.
• In a Senate speech today, McConnell said he knows "the politics within my party at this particular moment in time."
• "I have many faults. Misunderstanding politics is not one of them," McConnell said.

Go deeper: McConnell replacement race kicks off earlier than expected