Ronald Smith

It’s going to be a wild week in the US Senate. Buckle up. I have been calling around to various Republican Senators this weekend. A few takeaways… 1. Conference is just furious — pissed is an understatement. 2. They see their own inaction on critical issues like the SAVE Act and insider trading bills as a major de-motivator for the midterms. They blame Thune and leadership for playing safe. 3. The rushed Leadership vote Tuesday is seen as a blatant insult. Senators want to know how their Leaders will respond to lame duck session and being in a steep minority. 4. Over a dozen Senators are demanding round the clock work on Trump nominations and judicial appointments. Some believe parts of the SAVE Act can still be passed through reconciliation. 5. Recess appointments are also being demanded. Thune is holding them up. 6. Senators are openly questioning their adherence to “tradition” — blue slip, filibuster etc. — as a new crop of Democrats couldn’t care less and will destroy tradition for power in a heartbeat. 7. There’s a sense that something big is going to happen. A real shakeup. Stay tuned… One Senator tells me: “The guys blocking an America First conference are all gone now. It’s never going back to the old ways. Time to try new things…” Buckle up.