Thune's next nightmare

Per Axios, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is facing a precarious moment. The Republican conference under his leadership is experiencing a power shift away from institutionalists and toward hardline MAGA conservatives. Several moderate Republican senators are departing or facing tough races, while senators who've historically challenged leadership are ascending to powerful committee positions. Rick Scott now chairs the Aging Committee, Ron Johnson leads the Budget Committee, Rand Paul heads Homeland Security, and Utah's Mike Lee is positioned to lead the Judiciary Committee—which oversees Supreme Court nominations. Adding pressure: a wave of House-bred conservatives, including Representatives Barry Moore, Kevin Hern, and Harriet Hageman, are headed to the Senate, along with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The implications are significant. Thune may face mounting pressure on partisan legislation, controversial nominees, and pressure to abandon the filibuster. And that's before accounting for the narrowing Republican majority, which is no longer guaranteed. Even if Republicans hold the Senate, dysfunction and gridlock likely await.

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