Is the post-Trump GOP already forming?
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How significant was the Senate's hold on Todd Blanche's nomination as a sign of GOP independence?
We've seen some Republican lawmakers break with President Donald Trump on specific issues, but how significant is that if they still overwhelmingly support him politically? What's the difference between policy disagreements and a true political split?
Hello and welcome to USA Today's The Excerpt. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Tuesday, August 4th, 2026. Joining me for a closer look into the powers that be within the GOP is USA Today Congressional Correspondent Zach Shermley. It's good to have you here, Zach.
Thanks so much for having me, Dana.
Zach, Republicans stalled Todd Blanch's nomination despite strong pressure from the White House. The nomination is still in flux, but was that a meaningful sign of GOP independence?
It was one of the most notable signs of Republican pushback to a big priority of President Donald Trump's in the 119th Congress and in the second term of President Donald Trump's stints in the White House. John Cornyn, a Republican senator from Texas, and Tom Tillis, a Republican senator from North Carolina, both really dug their heels in on two things.
Why did Senators Cornyn and Tillis demand written assurances about the Justice Department's 'weaponization' fund?
The so-called anti-weaponization fund that was set up by the Justice Department as part of an IRS settlement with the Trumps and a tax audit immunity deal that was the source of a lot of consternation within the Senate Republican Party. conference and it was really a bridge too far for a lot of Senate Republicans that I spoke to both on the day that it was announced, the weaponization fund and, you know, continuing onward and Todd Blanch, the acting attorney general at The Justice Department gave assurances during his Senate confirmation hearing that the weaponization fund, which Republican senators and a lot of Democrats were worried was going to ultimately give payouts to folks who were involved in the January 6th riots.
Blanche said that the weaponization fund was functionally dead, that it never gave any payouts and that it wasn't going to be moving forward. But cornan and tillis wanted that in writing they were folks who were familiar with how the trump administration operates and with how much of a priority this seemed to be for president trump and so they said we are not going to vote to confirm you todd blanche unless you put this in writing there was a lot of haggling back and forth about the particulars of that deal. But finally, they did get something in writing ahead of the Senate's last week in session before an over-month-long recess. And it was a testament to just how much a little bit of pushback, especially from a Senate Republican, can go.
Trump has pushed hard for the Save America Act while some Senate Republicans have been more hesitant. Does that reflect a growing disconnect between the president and congressional Republicans?
Do Republican hesitations on the Save America Act show a growing disconnect with Trump?
It absolutely does. And Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who is sort of on the outs with the president right now, although they both maintain that they have a good working relationship and Thune enjoys a lot of support within the Senate Republican Conference, he has said repeatedly that the votes just are not there in the Senate in order to pass the Save America Act. Remember, this is that large voting restrictions bill. that the president has been pushing for that would require photo ID to vote and documentary proof of citizenship to vote, as well as it would place limits on mail-in voting. And, you know, there are a lot of Republicans in the House of Representatives in particular who share the same view.
view as the White House that this is an urgent priority, that this needs to go to the top of the list of the legislative agenda ahead of the midterm elections. And House Speaker Mike Johnson and my colleague Fran Chambers' conversation with him that I was in the room for Just a couple of weeks ago, Johnson said he agreed with the president that this was his number one priority, but actually getting it through Congress is just gonna be a significant challenge despite the president's insistence that it needs to happen soon. And that's the case for a number of reasons, but I keep going back to a comment that Senate Majority Leader John Thune made outside of his office
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
How significant was the Senate's hold on Todd Blanche's nomination as a sign of GOP independence?
0:05–1:29
2
Why did Senators Cornyn and Tillis demand written assurances about the Justice Department's 'weaponization' fund?
1:29–3:28
3
Do Republican hesitations on the Save America Act show a growing disconnect with Trump?
3:28–5:43
4
How many Senate Republicans privately opposed Trump priorities like eliminating the filibuster?
5:43–7:50
5
Has the Iran conflict exposed a split between GOP hawks and the 'America First' wing?
7:50–9:48
6
Are congressional Republicans raising concerns about the Iran war's economic impact at home?
9:48–11:33
7
Will fiscal conservatives push back on Trump's reconciliation spending priorities?
11:33–12:51
8
Are current policy disputes isolated or early signs of a post‑Trump Republican Party?
12:51–18:07
Speakers
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