Jonathan Swan

Where she renounces a letter she sent him in 2018, where she took him to task for his treatment of women.

Right. And then the second part is basically, you know, it's an intimidation strategy. It's we need to get our most powerful allies in terms of who has the biggest following with the Republican base, who are most effective at whipping up anger and emotion in the base, and set them onto the wavering senators. And Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa became their number one target.

Right. And then the second part is basically, you know, it's an intimidation strategy. It's we need to get our most powerful allies in terms of who has the biggest following with the Republican base, who are most effective at whipping up anger and emotion in the base, and set them onto the wavering senators. And Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa became their number one target.

She was seen as the biggest problem. So all pressure was focused on her. Obviously others too, but she was the focal point.

She was seen as the biggest problem. So all pressure was focused on her. Obviously others too, but she was the focal point.

You had influential MAGA figures with huge audiences. I mean, these people have millions and millions of followers between them.

You had influential MAGA figures with huge audiences. I mean, these people have millions and millions of followers between them.

People like Kirk were threatening to recruit a primary challenger against Ernst. Remember, she's going to be running again in 2026, so this carries real weight.

People like Kirk were threatening to recruit a primary challenger against Ernst. Remember, she's going to be running again in 2026, so this carries real weight.

I mean, it's feral. Nothing is off the table. Get on the phone and start tweeting at Joni Ernst. They sent threatening posts on social media. They urged their listeners on their radio shows to pressure Ernst and to call her congressional office. Get on the phone. Folks, this stuff matters. And that then kicks off this whole movement, and it gets really personal and close to home.

I mean, it's feral. Nothing is off the table. Get on the phone and start tweeting at Joni Ernst. They sent threatening posts on social media. They urged their listeners on their radio shows to pressure Ernst and to call her congressional office. Get on the phone. Folks, this stuff matters. And that then kicks off this whole movement, and it gets really personal and close to home.

You had people online scraping up information about her, ostensibly from her divorce, and making it public. This is what I mean by feral. You know, Brenna Bird, who's the popular attorney general of Iowa, she writes this opinion column in Breitbart News saying that Washington politicians are trying to obstruct Trump's administration. And she didn't mention Ernst, but her message was very clear.

You had people online scraping up information about her, ostensibly from her divorce, and making it public. This is what I mean by feral. You know, Brenna Bird, who's the popular attorney general of Iowa, she writes this opinion column in Breitbart News saying that Washington politicians are trying to obstruct Trump's administration. And she didn't mention Ernst, but her message was very clear.

I mean, coming from someone of her stature in the state, that was a really big deal. And then you had the money side.

I mean, coming from someone of her stature in the state, that was a really big deal. And then you had the money side.

So you have this dark money group that Elon Musk has used for political spending. That group starts running digital ads in Iowa.

So you have this dark money group that Elon Musk has used for political spending. That group starts running digital ads in Iowa.

Calling on people to urge their senator to vote for Hegseth. And no prizes for guessing which senator the ads were referring to. Right. So it's all of the above. It's the threat of big money coming in against you, you know, with Musk and his billionaire friends. It's people in the state that have real power, Brenna Byrd.

Calling on people to urge their senator to vote for Hegseth. And no prizes for guessing which senator the ads were referring to. Right. So it's all of the above. It's the threat of big money coming in against you, you know, with Musk and his billionaire friends. It's people in the state that have real power, Brenna Byrd.

And then it's the most influential figures on the right who have real followings and have the ability to activate the most intense faction within the Trump base. Very unpleasant. It makes your life miserable if you're a sitting senator and that's what comes down on you.