All Hell Breaks Loose as Senate GOP Turns Against Trump!!!

Summary

Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode Title: All Hell Breaks Loose as Senate GOP Turns Against Trump!!!
Date: May 20, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett & Jordy Meiselas (with additional reporting from Midas Touch Network correspondents)

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Overview

This episode dives deep into a dramatic week on Capitol Hill, covering the rapidly escalating rift between Senate Republicans and Donald Trump. The Meiselas brothers break down how four Republican senators broke ranks to rebuke Trump’s Iran policy, their opposition to Trump’s controversial funding proposals, the fallout from Trump’s endorsement choices (notably in Texas), and the larger implications for Republican unity ahead of November’s elections. The hosts provide a mix of political analysis, reporting, and signature brotherly banter, highlighting notable on-the-record comments from key Republican senators now openly challenging Trump.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Senate Rebuke of Trump’s Iran Policy (01:10–07:00)

• Senate Vote: The Senate voted 50–47 to discharge Senator Tim Kaine’s Iran Powers War resolution, with four Republicans joining Democrats—a direct rebuke of Trump’s efforts to escalate with Iran.
  • "This is a very symbolic move that the Senate is saying this is an unlawful and unauthorized war." – Ben (01:10)
• Defecting Republicans: Senators Collins, Murkowski, Paul, and Cassidy broke ranks.
  • Notably, Senator Cassidy lost his primary after Trump endorsed his opponent due to Cassidy’s impeachment vote years earlier.
  • The brothers highlight Trump’s tendency to “hold a grudge,” leading to open conflict within the caucus.

Memorable Quote

“Now Cassidy is striking back because Donald Trump attacked him.” – Ben (01:55)

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2. Trump's Controversial Funding Demands (04:00–10:00)

• ‘Golden Ballroom’ Funding: Trump seeks $1 billion in taxpayer funds for the so-called "Golden Ballroom" under the guise of “security,” with many Republicans, such as Senator Murkowski and Cassidy, pushing back.
  • Murkowski: “This is not gonna fly.” She expects those funds to be redirected to “other law enforcement priorities.” (07:10)
  • Cassidy: “They don’t have a bid. They just kind of made that number up—a billion. From what I know now, I will not be voting for the ballroom fund.” (08:00)
• $1.776 Billion ‘Weaponization Fund’: Linked to a lawsuit settlement that gives Trump slush money, builds in immunity from audits, and allegedly diverts funds to January 6th insurrectionists. GOP senators—even leaders—openly question or oppose it.
  • GOP Leader Thune: “I’m not a big fan, and I’m not sure exactly how they intend to use it. I don’t see a purpose for that.” (08:30)
  • Senator Mike Rounds: “We’re not talking a million, we’re talking a billion. Even Congress pays attention to that.” (15:54)

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3. Intraparty Chaos: Trump’s Endorsements and the Texas Senate Race (07:00–17:30)

• Trump Endorses Paxton, Snubs Cornyn: Trump backs Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (impeached but not convicted in TX legislature), over longtime incumbent Senator Cornyn.
  • This angers Senate GOP leaders, who’ve spent tens of millions backing Cornyn and see Cornyn as a reliable conservative.
  • The endorsement is considered so toxic that even Senator Murkowski says Texas could now flip blue: “Texas is now lost to Democrats and she expects James Talarico to win that seat.” (07:40)
  • Cornyn: “Ken Paxton would be an albatross around the neck of our candidates and would likely lose to James Talarico. I think we’ve come too far and worked too hard to risk that.” (12:20)

Notable Responses

• MAGA Enforcers Boast: Scott Pressler (MAGA activist) taunts Cassidy after his loss:

  “Senator Bill Cassidy has been defeated today… This is a shot peacefully across the bow to our Senate majority leadership.” – Scott Pressler (13:03)

• House Spillover: Trump targets Rep. Thomas Massie for releasing the Epstein Files; Massie vows to keep up the pressure in Congress.

  “Just wait until you see what I do to you guys here.” – Massie (14:12)

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4. Broader GOP Tensions and Notable GOP Voices (09:00–17:40)

• Cassidy’s Concession Speech:

  “You don’t pout. You don’t whine. You don’t claim the election was stolen… You thank the voters for the privilege of representing the state or the country for as long as you’ve had that privilege. And that’s what I’m doing right now.” – Bill Cassidy (09:09)

• Thune Expresses Disappointment: Even after months of lobbying Trump to back Cornyn, the Senate whip can’t sway him.

  “None of us control what the president does… I am certainly supportive. I will continue to be supportive of Senator Cornyn and his relationship.” – John Thune (16:24)

• J.D. Vance Defends Trump’s Strategy:

  “When it really counted, Ken Paxton was there for the country, was there for the president. And that’s why he ultimately earned the president’s endorsement… If you don’t [serve the people who sent you], you’re going to find yourself out of step with voters or out of step with the President, United States. And that’s not a good place to be politically.” – J.D. Vance (17:46)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You don’t pout. You don’t whine. You don’t claim the election was stolen… You thank the voters.”
  —Sen. Cassidy (09:09)
• “Ken Paxton would be an albatross… and would likely lose to James Talarico.”
  —Sen. Cornyn (12:20)
• “From what I know now, I will not be voting for the ballroom fund.”
  —Sen. Cassidy (08:00)
• “Even Congress pays attention to [a billion dollars].”
  —Sen. Rounds (15:54)
• “None of us control what the president does.”
  —Sen. Thune (16:24)
• “If you don’t [serve the people who sent you], you’re going to find yourself out of step with voters or… with the President.”
  —Sen. Vance (17:46)
• “Texas is now lost to Democrats…”
  —Sen. Murkowski (07:40, paraphrased by the hosts)

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Important Timestamps for Key Segments

• Symbolic Senate Rebuke of Trump on Iran: 01:10–04:00
• Breakdown of Trump’s Funding Schemes and GOP Objections: 04:00–10:00
• Texas Senate Race Fury—MAGA vs the GOP Establishment: 10:00–14:00
• Scott Pressler’s Boastful Video & House Spillover (Epstein Files): 13:03–14:38
• Rising GOP Voice of Dissent - Cassidy, Cornyn, Thune, Rounds: 09:09, 12:20, 16:24, 15:54
• J.D. Vance: MAGA Loyalty Test: 17:27–19:23

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Summary Flow & Takeaways

The MeidasTouch brothers use breaking news, direct interviews, and their sharp progressive commentary to illustrate a Republican civil war. Key moments include sitting senators openly criticizing Trump, the unraveling of GOP unity in Texas, and the emergence of the “MAGA enforcement” wing flexing its power across primary season. Congressional Republicans are increasingly—if cautiously—willing to rebuke Trump’s most controversial policies and power grabs, signaling a profound shift in party dynamics mere months before pivotal elections.

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For listeners seeking more behind-the-scenes drama in DC and a front-row seat to the unraveling Trump-Republican alliance, this episode is packed with firsthand remarks, sharp reporting, and the kind of banter and analysis that has made MeidasTouch a go-to for pro-democracy news.

Transcript

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[Midas Touch Network Host]

FD on this vote, the A's are

[Senator Bill Cassidy]

50, the nays are 47.

[Midas Touch Network Host]

The motion is agreed to.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

The joint resolution is discharged and will

[Senator Bill Cassidy]

be placed on the calendar.

[Midas Touch Network Host]

Republicans in the United States Senate are turning against Donald Trump. What you saw right there, the Senate yesterday voting to discharge Senator Tim Kaine's Iran Powers War resolution by a 50 to 47 vote, which was a major rebuke, rebuke of Donald Trump's war. This is the Senate voting to block Donald Trump from having any more authority to prosecute this war against Iran, this unlawful war. It would still need to be passed in the House, then Donald Trump would still have veto power. But it is a very symbolic move that the Senate is saying that this is an unlawful and unauthorized war. Now, to get this vote passed, four Republicans had to work with Democrats and you had Senator Collins, Senator, Senator Murkowski, Senator Paul, and Senator Cassidy, notably Senator Cassidy just lost his primary in Louisiana when Donald Trump endorsed his competitor. Donald Trump has been attacking Senator Cassidy and he has now caused Cassidy to basically lose his job because Cassidy voted to impeach and convict Donald Trump several years back. So Trump holds a grudge for that. And now Cassidy is striking back because Donald Trump attacked him. Also, Cassidy striking back against Donald Trump when it comes to funding of Trump's Golden Ballroom, Cassidy's gonna vote to block that. Also as it relates to Donald Trump Putting forward this $1.776 billion slush fund that Trump wants to give to January 6th insurrectionists unlawfully stealing money from we the people, the taxpayers in a case that he's settling. A lawsuit that he filed against his own IRS and Treasury Department for $10 billion and he settled for 1.776. But then until the judge, there's a settlement that took our taxpayer money and is giving to January 6th insurrectionist. We're seeing Senator Cassidy, but also a lot of other Republicans. We'll talk about this in a moment. Trying to block that and saying we don't support this at all. So stay tuned right there. One of the reasons that you're seeing Senate Republicans particularly livid at Donald Trump is that he' attacking these incumbent senators who Donald Trump feels are insufficiently loyal to him. So yesterday you may have heard this news we reported here on the Midas Touch Network. Donald Trump endorsed the very corrupt Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas, who was impeached but ultimately not convicted in the Texas legislature. And Trump endorsed Paxton over the incumbent, Senator Cornyn. And Cornyn's been pretty loyal to Donald Trump, and he's like, well, highways after you. And anyway, the National Senate Republican Committee endorsed Cornyn, the incumbent, and they're putting millions of dollars to help Cornyn, who they view as a conservative guy. In Paxton, the Republicans in the Senate believe will lose to James Talarico, the Democratic candidate running for Senate in Texas. So Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Paxton yesterday as our and the endorsement not of Cornyn. As our editor in chief, Ron Philip Koski says, Trump endorses a serial fraudster and habitual adulterer, Ken Paxton, for Senate because they have a lot in common. Then you hear Donald Trump go, the highly respected attorney General of Ken Paxton, America first patriot, and someone who has always been extremely loyal to me in our amazing MAGA movement, is running for the United States Senate. He's not a patriot. He's not a highly respected attorney general. But anyway, Donald Trump endorses Paxton, and then Senate Republicans were absolutely livid with Trump. As Andrew Desiderio explains just now, Senator Wicker, Republican, remained stone faced, appeared to be intentional for about 20 seconds as he walked into lunch and we asked him for his reaction. Senator Murkowski says that Texas is now lost to Democrats and she expects James Talarico to win that seat. And as Desiderio also explains, there it is. Trump's endorsement of Paxton over the incumbent Cornyn in Texas is a nightmare scenario for Senate GOP leaders. And this is because lots of tens of millions of dollars have already been spent by the National Senate Republican Committee in order to prop Cornyn, their incumbent and their current colleague. And then Donald Trump supported Paxton. Paxton announced, I'm incredibly honored to have Donald Trump's complete and total endorsement. And as Desiderio Sundays, this past 24 hours, it's been one of those days. So in addition to Senator Murkowski's comments that the GOP has now lost that Texas Senate seat, they expect to lose it now to Tolorico. They expect Talarico to beat Paxton if Paxton wins in the primary. Paxton still has to win the primary. But when does Donald Trump picks someone in the primary, that person and the MAGA cult usually is the person that wins. Senator Murkowski of Alaska is also saying now this $1 billion that Donald Trump and other and Maga Mike want to give Donald Trump for the ballroom, which they're calling ballroom security. Murkowski says this is not gonna fly. She's waiting until what's called the bird bath, and that is to determine if the Senate parliamentarian will allow certain things in a reconciliation bill to go through. The parliamentarian has previously blocked this funding for Trump's Golden Ballroom, saying it violates the Byrd rule. Also. Notably, Donald Trump then demanded that Senator Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, fire the parliamentarian, who is a nonpartisan person. And then Thune said, I'm not firing the parliamentarian. Donald, go away. We're not firing. We just don't do that in the United States Senate. But now you have Murkowski saying that the $1 billion that they want to have go to this Golden Ballroom should just be going to other law enforcement priorities and not to this ballroom. Senator Cassidy, who lost his primary over the weekend because Trump endorsed Cassidy's competitor, told Igor Bobick the following. They don't have a bid regarding the ballroom. They don't have a bid. They don't have engineering. They don't have architecture. They just kind of made that number up a billion. So from what I know now, I will not be voting for the ballroom fund. Also, Senate GOP Leader John Thune criticized Donald Trump's proposed weaponization fund, the $1.776 billion fund that Trump did by filing a personal lawsuit against the government for $10 billion. It also includes a settlement release that says that Donald Trump can never be audited and that any potential tax CR violations he committed, he gets full immunity for. Really? Why would you get full. And I mean, just think about the level of corruption there. Thune says the following about Trump's 1 billion, $1.8 billion fund. I'm not a big fan, and I'm not sure exactly how they intend to use it. I don't see a purpose for that. Just go through some facts. So this was Senator Bill Cassidy forgot their receipts, taking a jab at Donald Trump about losing the 2020 election and Cassidy's conc speech in the primaries. Let's play this clip.

[Senator Bill Cassidy]

I've been able to participate in democracy, and when you participate in democracy, sometimes it doesn't turn out the way you want it to. But you don't pout. You don't whine, you don't claim the election was stolen. You don't find a reason why. You don't manufacture some excuse. You thank the voters for the privilege of representing the state or the country for as long as you've had that privilege. And that's what I'm doing right now.

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[Midas Touch Network Host]

That's SelectQuote.com Midas then you had Senator Cornyn of Texas. He spoke out after Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton. And Cornyn described this as basically by endorsing Paxton, it will be an albatross around the neck of our candidates and Talarico is likely going to win. Play this clip.

[Senator John Cornyn]

Well, you know, we've always had these family fights within the Republican Party and then we unify in order to win the election in November and we'll do that again. But I believe that in terms of our success in November, that Ken Paxton would be an albatross around the neck of our candidates and would likely lose to James Talarico. I think we've come too far and worked too hard to risk that.

[Midas Touch Network Host]

Then Donald Trump sent out his enforcer. Scott Pressler's the new MAGA enforcer. And they send this guy, he's like their hammer right now. And so he's out there mocking Bill Cassidy for losing the primary because Pressler and Trump and the MAGA men were the enforcers and they got Cassidy out. And so watch what Pressler has to say here. Let's play this clip.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Hey everybody, this is Scott Pressler. Breaking news. Senator Bill Cassidy has been defeated today on May 16th. This is a shot peacefully across the

[Senator Mike Rounds]

bow to our Senate majority leadership.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

And for him to come in third place shows that the people are not

[Senator Mike Rounds]

happy with the leadership.

[Midas Touch Network Host]

And then while it happened adjacent in the House of Representatives, you had Donald Trump endorse Tom, Endorse Massey's congressmember, Massie's opponent because Republican opponent because Massie helped release the Epstein files. And Donald Trump and the MAGAs are pro Epstein. They're part of the Epstein class. So they went after Massie. And Massie also had a warning to Trump and his crew, which is if you saw what I've been able to accomplish so far in the first six months of this year, I still have seven months. I'm going to be a Congress member. So just wait until you see what I do to you guys here. Play this clip.

[Senator Bill Cassidy]

And we need basic decent, we need basic decency. That's what the Epstein Files Transparency act was all about. By the way, today is the six month anniversary of the Epstein Files Transparency act. We've taken out two dozen CEOs, an

[Midas Touch Network Host]

ambassador,

[Senator Bill Cassidy]

a prince, a prime minister,

[Senator John Cornyn]

a minister of culture.

[Senator Bill Cassidy]

And that was just six months.

[Midas Touch Network Host]

I got seven months left in Congress. Then our Pablo Manriquez Midas Touch Network DC Correspondent able to speak to Senator Mike Rounds. And Mike Rounds also said that not a fan of the $1.8 billion fund that Trump's setting up for January 6th. Insurrectionists. Play this clip.

[Senator Mike Rounds]

Any reaction to this $1.7 billion fund

[Senator Bill Cassidy]

from the IRS for January 6th? We haven't seen the details on it yet. Most certainly would appear to me that Congress will have some say because there's an appropriation of funds someplace along the line. But, you know, right now, just a matter of waiting for details from the White House to come out. You haven't got any documents or anything like that? I have not.

[Midas Touch Network Host]

Yeah, okay.

[Senator Bill Cassidy]

But, but this is something that certainly has congressional authority. Well, we're not that safe. We're not talking a million. We're talking a billion. So.

[Midas Touch Network Host]

Right.

[Senator Bill Cassidy]

In this particular case, even Congress pays attention to that.

[Midas Touch Network Host]

More from Senator Thune right here about how personally disappointed he is that Donald Trump is not endorsing Cornyn. Let's play this clip.

[Senator Bill Cassidy]

Given that you've spent months trying to encourage, persuade the president to endorse John Cornyn in the Texas primary, and given that the NRSC has invested heavily to help Cornyn win that primary, how personally disappointed or frustrated are you with the president's decision to endorse Ken Paxton today?

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Well, I think you all know my position. I on this issue, I've made it very clear for months now. And Senator Cornyn is a principal conservative. He is a very effective senator for the state of Texas. And, but I don't. None of us control what the president does. He made his decision about that. That doesn't change the way I feel. And I am certainly supportive. I will continue to be supportive of Senator Cornyn and his relationship.

[Midas Touch Network Host]

And then finally, as Andrew Desiderio explains, quoting our Asin over at the Midas Touch Network, Acen works for us. Desiderio says this quote that Asen captured from Vance is being talked about by some GOP senators right now who take issue with the Trump regime, attacking Cornyn for not being there for Donald Trump when Cornyn was like the main Republican whip. He whipped up all the votes for Donald Trump during the first two years of Trump's first term to get all of those Supreme Court nominees through. And here's what J.D. vance said. Let's play it.

[Reporter/Correspondent]

Good to see you, Mr. Vice President. Thank you. Today we saw the president endorse Ken Paxton over John Cornyn in the Texas Senate race. Do you think that sends a message going forward for the next cycle to senators, you know, considering running for reelection or any mega allowance potential candidates that are considering challenging them?

[Senator Mike Rounds]

Well, I'd say a couple things, Nick. First of all, the president's very gratified by the response that he's heard from the base and from a lot of voters. I think we're passionate about Ken Paxton. We think Ken Paxton is going to be a great senator for the people of Texas, but most importantly, a great United States senator who can work on solving the problems that all of us confront as a country together. I've known John Cornyn for a long time, but unfortunately, you know, when it really counted, Ken Paxton was there for the country, was there for the president. And that's why he ultimately earned the president's endorsement. He thinks he's going to be a better senator, thinks he's going to make a better candidate. And so I do think it sends a message, but really not just the endorsement, but one of the things the president has done very effectively going back 10 years in his leadership of the Republican Party and the country as president, United States, is he said, you know, I want people who fight for the good. I want people who can't be bought by corporate lobbyists, who can't be bought by Wall street, who can't be bought by special interests who are going to go to Washington and fight for the people who actually elected them to those positions. And I think one of the things we've seen in the Republican Party, while I can't say that all of our representatives are perfect or all of our senators are perfect, we have seen a much better crop of talent come into Washington since Donald Trump has been the leader of the party and the leader of the movement. I do think we're going to continue to see that happening. But I think the message that should take from this is fundamentally you have got to serve the people who sent you. And if you don't do that, you're going to find yourself out of step with voters or out of step with the President, United States. And that's not a good place to be politically.

[Midas Touch Network Host]

So there you have it, folks. What's going on in the House and the Senate right now in Congress? Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe let's get to 7 million everybody. Thanks for watching new Midas merch.

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