Mike Johnson is in an uncomfortably familiar spot: under pressure from Trump, under fire from members and under the gun to advance a reconciliation bill in just a few days.

Why it matters: The House speaker is trying to tee up a final party-line legislative package before the midterms, but Republicans remain divided over both the contents of the bill and the strategy behind it.

• GOP leaders are assembling a narrow framework that would include roughly $67 billion for defense, $20 billion for agriculture and farm aid and elements of the SAVE America Act.
• The prospect of no offsets for billions of dollars in defense funding is not sitting well with conservatives. "No, I'm not," Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said when asked whether he's comfortable with no pay-fors.
• 😡 Other members are frustrated about the lack of information: "Most of the conference has been kept in the dark on what exactly is going on," Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) told us.

🚗 Driving the news: The White House has launched a full-court press to shore up support for the package ahead of Thursday's Budget Committee markup and a planned House vote next week.

• Johnson and House GOP leaders met with President Trump at the White House this afternoon to discuss the path forward.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was scheduled to meet with roughly a dozen conservative lawmakers this evening to discuss the defense funding portion of the package.
• OMB Director Russ Vought addressed House Freedom Caucus members last night.

🛑 Yes, but: The administration's lobbying blitz hasn't solved every problem.

• Budget Committee member Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) told her colleagues in a closed-door conference meeting today that she was leaning toward opposing the bill during the committee markup after she was left out of negotiations at Camp David over the weekend, a source in the room told us.
• "There's a limited amount of space, unfortunately," Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) told us. "I don't blame her for being upset about it."
• "Somebody's got to be chosen and somebody isn't. Just because you're not doesn't say anything negative," Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) told us.

⚡️ Another flashpoint: Some Republicans believe leadership should first test whether a bipartisan supplemental to fund the war in Iran can pass before falling back on reconciliation if necessary.

• Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) told us that bipartisan negotiations on a supplemental remain "a live discussion."
• "I am hopeful that if that becomes specific, a specific proposal that doesn't have other partisan initiatives, it would enjoy the support of members from across the aisle," he said.
• Rather than forcing Democrats to vote directly on funding the war in Iran, Republicans are including billions in defense funding in a reconciliation package that includes other measures Democrats would never go for, like the SAVE America Act.

Between the lines: Democrats have an easier political off-ramp when defense funding is wrapped into reconciliation.

• A clean supplemental, by contrast, would force Democrats to cast a straightforward vote on military funding — something Republicans believe could either attract bipartisan support or provide a potent campaign message if Democrats block it.

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— Kate Santaliz

Senators want to move quickly on a revised Russia sanctions bill — both to honor Lindsey Graham's legacy and hit President Vladimir Putin at a moment they believe he's vulnerable.

Why it matters: The legislation was delayed and derailed throughout 2025, but its supporters are convinced that 100% tariffs on the top purchasers of Russian oil will squeeze Putin at the right moment.

• "With the momentum on Ukraine's side, now is the time to pass this Graham-Blumenthal sanctions bill," Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said. "We have a limited window to get this done.
• "The quicker, the better," Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said. "Not only as a tribute to Senator Graham, but because it matters to Ukraine. Sanctions will be a decisive factor in this war."
• "Lindsey is looking down on this moment with a big smile," Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said.

👀 What we're watching: Now that Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, has been sworn in to serve the remainder of his term, South Carolina Republicans are beginning to jockey for the seat in the 2026 election.

• Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman have openly discussed running.
• Others, including Reps. Russell Fry and William Timmons, are weighing bids more quietly.
• ⚖️ President Trump might weigh in by the end of the week.

🤔 Between the lines: Senators are increasingly confident they have Trump's blessing on the Russia sanctions bill, even if he has stopped short of a full-throated endorsement. "There's a good chance it gets done," Trump said.

• "Something Lindsey was incredibly proud of was securing White House support for this sanctions bill," Shaheen said. "He was thrilled."

The bottom line: Senators don't want to let this moment pass.

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— Hans Nichols