GOP Revolt Grows Over Trump's $1.8 Billion 'Slush Fund'
Republicans are increasingly breaking with Donald Trump over a controversial $1.8 billion fund, created via a Justice Department settlement, intended to compensate alleged victims of government weaponization, including January 6 insurrectionists, and exempting Trump from IRS audits. GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick announced legislation to block the fund, prompting Trump's angry tirade. Senate Majority Leader John Thune also raised concerns. New polling shows Trump at record economic lows, highlighting growing intra-party conflict over corruption allegations.
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
Transcript: Trump Rages as GOP Revolt Grows Over $1.8 Billion Slush Fund
This transcript from The New Republic's Daily Blast podcast discusses a growing Republican revolt against Donald Trump's $1.8 billion slush fund, created via a Justice Department settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS. The fund is intended to pay alleged victims of government weaponization, including January 6 insurrectionists, and would also exempt Trump and his associates from IRS audits. GOP Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania publicly opposed the fund, calling it 'bad news' and vowing to 'kill it' through legislative options. Host Greg Sargent and Salon's Amanda Marcotte analyze how Trump's corruption is becoming politically toxic, especially as a new poll shows him at a record low on the economy. Trump reportedly reacted with rage to Fitzpatrick's dissent, but the analysts argue his political weakness is emboldening intra-party breaks.
The New RepublicTranscript: Trump Rages as Slush Fund Prompts Quiet GOP Revolt
This transcript from The New Republic's Daily Blast podcast discusses a growing Republican revolt against Donald Trump's $1.8 billion 'slush fund,' created via a Justice Department settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS. The fund is intended to compensate alleged victims of government weaponization, including January 6 insurrectionists, and includes a provision making Trump and his associates unauditable by the IRS. GOP Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania publicly opposed the fund, calling it 'bad news' and vowing to pursue legislative options to block it, including undoing the audit immunity. Host Greg Sargent and Salon's Amanda Marcotte analyze the situation, noting that Trump's political weakness and record-low economic approval ratings are emboldening some Republicans to break with him, despite his efforts to purge disloyal members in primaries. Marcotte suggests Fitzpatrick is trying to save the party from Trump's corruption, which could become a major liability if Democrats retake the House.
The New RepublicTranscript: Trump Rages as Slush Fund Prompts Quiet GOP Revolt
This is a transcript of a May 2 episode of The Daily Blast podcast from The New Republic. Host Greg Sargent and Salon's Amanda Marcotte discuss a growing Republican revolt against Donald Trump's $1.8 billion 'slush fund,' created via a Justice Department settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS. The fund is intended to pay alleged victims of government weaponization, including January 6 insurrectionists, and includes a provision exempting Trump and his associates from IRS audits. GOP Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania publicly opposed the fund, calling it 'bad news' and vowing to 'kill it' through legislative options. Trump reportedly reacted with rage. The analysis highlights Trump's political weakness, a new poll showing record-low approval on the economy, and the GOP's internal anxiety over corruption ahead of potential Democratic control of the House.
The New RepublicTranscript: Trump Rages as Slush Fund Prompts Quiet GOP Revolt
This transcript from The New Republic's Daily Blast podcast discusses a growing Republican revolt against Donald Trump's $1.8 billion 'slush fund,' created via a Justice Department settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS. The fund is intended to compensate alleged victims of government weaponization, including January 6 insurrectionists, and includes a provision making Trump and his associates unauditable by the IRS. GOP Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania publicly opposed the fund, calling it 'bad news' and vowing to 'kill it' through legislative options. Host Greg Sargent and guest Amanda Marcotte analyze how Trump's corruption is becoming politically toxic, especially as a new poll shows him at a record low on the economy. Trump reportedly reacted with rage to Fitzpatrick's dissent, but the analysts argue his political weakness is emboldening intra-party breaks despite his primary influence.
The New RepublicTrump Rages at GOP Lawmaker as $1.8 Billion Slush Fund Sparks Republican Revolt
Republicans are increasingly breaking with Donald Trump over a controversial $1.8 billion fund, described as a 'slush fund' by critics. Vulnerable House Republican Brian Fitzpatrick announced legislation to block the fund, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune and others have raised serious questions. In response, Trump launched a bizarre, angry tirade against Fitzpatrick, accusing him of disloyalty and warning that such opposition 'doesn't work out well' for Republicans. Fitzpatrick also opposes Trump's ballroom project, further fueling tensions. New polling shows Trump at record economic lows. Salon's Amanda Marcotte argues that Trump's corruption will define his legacy. The episode highlights growing intra-party conflict as Republicans seek distance from Trump amid corruption allegations and poor public opinion numbers.
The New RepublicTrump Rages at GOP Lawmaker as Revolt Grows Over $1.8 Billion Fund
Republicans are increasingly breaking with Donald Trump over a controversial $1.8 billion fund, which critics call a corrupt slush fund. Vulnerable House Republican Brian Fitzpatrick announced legislation to block the fund, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune has raised serious questions about it. In response, Trump launched a bizarre, angry tirade against Fitzpatrick, accusing him of disloyalty and warning that such opposition 'doesn't work out well' for Republicans. Fitzpatrick also opposes Trump's ballroom project, further fueling tensions. The article cites new polling showing Trump at record economic lows and features analysis from Salon's Amanda Marcotte, who argues that Trump's corruption will define his legacy. The piece discusses why the fund is politically damaging for the GOP and why Trump's personality prevents him from allowing Republicans to distance themselves from him.
The New RepublicTrump Rages at GOP Lawmaker as $1.8 Billion Slush Fund Sparks Republican Revolt
Republicans are increasingly breaking with Donald Trump over a controversial $1.8 billion fund described as a 'slush fund.' Vulnerable House Republican Brian Fitzpatrick announced legislation to block the fund, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune and others raised serious questions. In response, Trump launched a bizarre, angry tirade against Fitzpatrick, accusing him of disloyalty and warning that such opposition 'doesn't work out well' for Republicans. Fitzpatrick also opposes Trump's ballroom project, further fueling tensions. New polling shows Trump at record economic lows. Analysts argue that Trump's corruption will define his legacy and that his pathologies prevent him from allowing Republicans to distance themselves. The episode highlights growing intra-party conflict over Trump's conduct and its electoral implications.
The New RepublicTrump Rages at GOP Lawmaker as $1.8 Billion Slush Fund Sparks Republican Revolt
Republicans are increasingly breaking with Donald Trump over a controversial $1.8 billion fund described as a 'slush fund.' Vulnerable House Republican Brian Fitzpatrick announced legislation to block the fund, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune and others raised serious questions. In response, Trump launched a bizarre, angry tirade against Fitzpatrick, accusing him of disloyalty and warning that such opposition 'doesn't work out well' for Republicans. Fitzpatrick also opposes Trump's ballroom project, further fueling tensions. New polling shows Trump at record economic lows. Analysts argue that Trump's corruption will define his legacy and that his pathologies prevent him from allowing Republicans to distance themselves. The episode highlights growing intra-party conflict over Trump's conduct and its electoral implications.
The New Republic