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Fissures in GOP threaten Trump's agenda, 2020 plans

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) is interviewed on live TV after his retirement speech yesterday. Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP

Despite the fact that Trump enjoys public support (despite private gripes) from most of the 49 Senate Republicans (asides from Senators Flake, Corker, and McCain) and 239 House Republicans, including every person in elected leadership, some Republicans fear his inexplicable fights with GOP senators could have downstream consequences he doesn't seem to be considering:

Why it matters: Republican strategist Alex Conant emails: "To be successful, Trump needs a united Republican Party. A divided party loses elections."

  • Alienating members of his party could diminish the chances tax reform will pass, and therefore increase the chances Democrats will take back the House.
  • As tax reform's chances get squishier in the Senate, House members may be less likely to take a vote that hurts particular special interests and increases the deficit.

How it's playing ... N.Y. Times 2-column lead, "IN BITING SPEECH, FLAKE DENOUNCES 'RECKLESS' TRUMP: Adds to Wave of Criticism Within G.O.P." (See the page) ... WashPost 5-column lead, "2 GOP senators issue blunt warnings on Trump" ... Wall Street Journal 5-column lead, "Rift Widens Among Republicans" ... Bloomberg: "Trump Courted a GOP Rebellion. Now He's Got One."

Go deeper

Jonathan Swan
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: FDA chief called to West Wing

Stephen Hahn. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has summoned FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn to the West Wing for a 9:30am meeting Tuesday to explain why he hasn't moved faster to approve the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, two senior administration officials told Axios.

Why it matters: The meeting is shaping up to be tense, with Hahn using what the White House will likely view as kamikaze language in a preemptive statement to Axios: "Let me be clear — our career scientists have to make the decision and they will take the time that’s needed to make the right call on this important decision."

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Glen Johnson, Alayna Treene
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Schumer's regrets

Photo illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images   

Chuck Schumer told party donors during recent calls that the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the fact that Cal Cunningham "couldn't keep his zipper up" crushed Democrats' chances of regaining the Senate, sources with direct knowledge of the conversations tell Axios.

Why it matters: Democrats are hoping for a 50-50 split by winning two upcoming special elections in Georgia. But their best chance for an outright Senate majority ended when Cunningham lost in North Carolina and Sen. Susan Collins won in Maine.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Jonathan Swan, Shawna Chen
5 hours ago - Health

Trump's coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas resigns

Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty

Scott Atlas, a controversial member of the White House coronavirus task force, handed in his resignation on Monday, according to three administration officials who discussed Atlas' resignation with Axios.

Why it matters: President Trump brought in Atlas as a counterpoint to NIAID director Anthony Fauci, whose warnings about the pandemic were dismissed by the Trump administration. With Trump now fixated on election fraud conspiracy theories, Atlas' detail comes to a natural end.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow