The GOP’s YOLO caucus is small but growing. That may spell trouble for Trump’s congressional agenda

WASHINGTON (AP) — The YOLO group is in session.

In a Republican-led Congress defined by respect for the president Donald TrumpThere is a small but steadily growing group who feel they are more willing to break away from the White House. Although the president maintains a tight grip on Republican voters, the expanding club could hinder his agenda on everything from the Iran war to immigration financing at a moment when his party has a slim majority on Capitol Hill.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is the club’s newest member. Just days after losing her primary to Trump-backed rival Cassidy on Tuesday turned itself around He passed the bill on the war in Iran and voted with Democrats to rein in U.S. military action.

“The way our Constitution was created, Congress must hold the executive branch accountable,” he told reporters a day earlier.

Texan Senator John Cornyn could be next Trump endorses Ken PaxtonHe will be Cornyn’s opponent for the Republican nomination in next week’s runoff elections.

Representative Thomas Massie The president from Kentucky, perhaps a founding member of the YOLO group, has frustrated Trump since the president’s first term and his status has solidified. after losing the primary right on Tuesday against a Trump-backed opponent. Massie angered Trump by voting against the signature tax and spending bill and pushing for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

He hinted that he still has a lot to do before leaving office.

“I have seven months left in Congress,” Massie said with a grin during his concession speech as the crowd erupted.

More Republicans feel comfortable shrugging their shoulders at Trump

Other similarly situated Republicans include Sen. Thom TillisHe harshly criticized the former Secretary of Homeland Security. Kristi Noem and recently turned his attention to the Minister of Defense Pete Hegseth. There is also You. Lisa Murkowski Alaska joined Democrats last week in pushing to restrict Trump’s war powers in Iran. Sens. susan collins Maine and Mitch McConnell Kentucky officials voted against some of Trump’s cabinet picks. And in the House, Rep. Don Bacon Nebraska pushed to take back Congress’ authority over taxes.

“If the legislature always voted with the president, we would have a king,” Massie said in his concession speech Tuesday.

This doesn’t exactly mean a new revival Never Trump movement Some Republicans had hoped it would rein in the excesses of the president’s first term or prevent him from returning to office, but that failed. Many in the party, including those who occasionally opposed Trump, either stood by or failed to block President Trump as he launched. war in Iran and chaired an aggressive meeting migration enforcement operation and elimination of the federal workforce.

Today’s able-bodied Republicans do not fit into an ideological framework. But they are united by a sense of courage that can only be achieved in few ways in Trump’s Washington.

Many, like Tillis, McConnell, and Bacon, have decided to retire and can vote knowing they will never have to face Republican primary voters again. Others, like Collins and Murkowski, have more leeway because they represent states that tend to reward political independence. And some, like Massie, banked on the idea that voters could support both Trump and, occasionally, someone who opposes him.

This is a paradox for Trump. While he demands total loyalty and alienates Republican opponents, he is left with a growing group that, for one reason or another, owes nothing to Trump.

Democrats are trying to gain capital

This could be a problem for the Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker of the Assembly mike johnsonThey already govern with frayed majorities. Shifting loyalties among even a few Republican lawmakers could dramatically complicate both chambers’ ability to pass significant legislation ahead of the November midterm elections.

Thune on Tuesday called Cornyn a “principled conservative” and a “very effective senator.”

“None of us can control what the president does,” he said.

The next tests could come later this week, with Thune pushing a funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol designed to pass on a party-line basis.

Democrats are eager to strike.

The House Democratic leader speaks at an event sponsored by the Center for American Progress in Washington on Tuesday Hakeem Jeffries He said he would aim to drive a wedge between Republicans by using so-called habeas corpus petitions to bring issues directly to the floor for a vote.

This tactic has been successful in securing House passage on issues ranging from the Epstein files to temporary protection of Haitian immigrants.

“When we are disciplined, when we are focused and when we put pressure on swing-seat Republicans in particular, they break away from us,” Jeffries said.

Governor of California Gavin Newsom He told reporters on Tuesday that Trump’s support of Cornyn’s opponent was a sign that his political strength lies with the Republican base, not the American public at large.

“He’s shown the only clout he has, and that’s tremendous clout within the party base,” the potential Democratic 2028 presidential candidate said. “Otherwise it had little or no impact on the American people.”

Counting of votes

That leaves Republicans wondering how they can gather the votes needed to pass the legislation.

You. John Hoeven The North Dakota native called Cassidy “a good friend” and said the loss was “hard on her.” He said Cassidy “will always vote the way he thinks is best,” but he was skeptical he would be a less reliable Republican vote.

Fellow Louisiana Sen. John KennedyHe said Cassidy used power “in a rational and mature manner” and “will continue to do the same.”

Cassidy has repeatedly rejected the idea that he will spend his final months in Washington being a thorn in Trump’s side, saying he will do “what’s good for my country and my state.”

But the independent streak that ended his political career quickly resurfaced. A week after Trump’s visit to China, Cassidy spoke of the Western alliance being “completely falling apart” and “unable to push back the threat that China represents.” He appeared puzzled that the administration would create a nearly $1.8 trillion fund to pay compensation to Trump’s allies who he believes were unfairly investigated and prosecuted.

“I just got off the campaign trail,” he said. “People are more interested in providing for themselves than creating a slush fund without legal precedent.”

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Associated Press writer Stephen Groves in Washington contributed to this report.