Republican Party

President Trump is dealing with growing defections from within his own Republican Party, while preparing for a U.S.-China summit and continuing a public feud with the press. Commentators say the intraparty rift could complicate his agenda even as foreign policy and media battles dominate headlines.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remains firmly protected by President Trump, but his backing on Capitol Hill is weakening, according to the Wall Street Journal. Lawmakers who once tolerated his controversies are growing wary, raising questions about how long his political cover can hold as friction within the president's own party builds.

Lisa Demuth, a Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota, has publicly come out against the war with Iran, saying it is hurting Minnesotans. Her comments position her against military escalation at a time when the conflict's economic effects, including fuel and costs, are being felt at home. The statement marks a notable stance for a Republican candidate as the party debates America's role in the conflict.

CNN reports that Republican leaders are focusing their messaging on crime, immigration and transgender issues, but voters are not prioritizing those topics. The piece suggests a mismatch between the party's campaign themes and the concerns motivating the broader electorate, raising questions about how effective the GOP's messaging strategy will be heading into upcoming elections.

The US Supreme Court has once again blocked the use of a Republican-favored congressional map in Missouri, stopping the state from using district boundaries the Court had previously rejected. The repeated intervention underscores an ongoing legal fight over redistricting in the state, with GOP lawmakers pushing for maps that favor their party and courts repeatedly stepping in to halt their use.

CNN reports on a new survey suggesting political trouble for Donald Trump ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections. The polling points to headwinds for Trump and his allies, though the network has not yet detailed the survey's methodology or exact figures. Commentators are likely to debate what the numbers mean for Republican prospects and the president's influence over the party.

President Trump is publicly predicting success for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections, but members of his own party are increasingly worried about their prospects. According to the Wall Street Journal, GOP officials are panicking privately even as the president projects confidence, reflecting concern that campaign dynamics may not favor them this cycle.

A sitting US senator from Texas has publicly criticized a fellow Texas Republican who is running to succeed him, delivering a pointed jab in a contest that was expected to stay friendly. The remark highlights growing friction inside the state's Republican Party as candidates jockey for position ahead of the race, and it has drawn attention from political observers watching for open divides on the right.

Florida congressman and gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds said he would have participated in a debate against David Jolly at the Sunshine Economy Summit, an economic forum held in Florida. Donalds, a Republican running for governor, suggested the absence of a head-to-head exchange was not his choice, framing Jolly, a Democrat and former congressman, as the party that declined the matchup.

Southern Democrats say they see a genuine opening for the first time in years, as the party works to convert voter discontent from the midterm elections into lasting gains across the American South. Party leaders and organizers are aiming to build on the momentum by investing in local races and voter outreach, betting that frustration with the status quo can translate into electoral breakthroughs in a region long dominated by Republicans.

A Democratic congressional candidate in East Texas is speaking publicly about a run for the district's US House seat, which Republicans have held since 2005. The candidate discussed the campaign, the district's political lean, and the case for a Democratic win in an area that has voted Republican for nearly two decades.