The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is pending before Congress, and it is a law that is typically fairly easy to pass.
That is probably not going to be the case this time, as House Democrats are packing the bill with amendments to complicate the process.
Additionally, President Donald Trump has just learned that two GOP senators with whom he has been feuding are backing an amendment by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
I am really starting to wonder if there is something in the water in Kentucky, as Republicans from this state continue to be a problem for Trump.
Sen. Rand Paul is someone for whom I have a high level of respect, even though I don’t always agree with what he has to say. Such disagreements have been minimal up until recently, as he has begun to take a very confrontational stance against Trump on several key issues.
And, as we know, when Trump is met with resistance, his instinct is to attack, which is what he did against Paul when he was pushing back against the BBB.
Trump went after the Kentucky Republican, stating, "Rand Paul has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming. He loves voting 'NO' on everything, he thinks it's good politics, but it's not.” And that was the nice part.
Sen. Josh Hawley has been going back and forth with Trump on some key issues as well, the latest involving the lawmaker's efforts to block a GOP review of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) stock trades.
When Hawley opposed the measure, Trump posted, “Why would one ‘Republican,’ Senator Josh Hawley from the Great State of Missouri, join with all of the Democrats to block a Review, sponsored by Senator Rick Scott, and with the support of almost all other Republicans, of Nancy Pelosi’s Stock Trading over the last 25 years.”
He continued, “The information was inappropriately released just minutes before the Vote -- Very much like SABOTAGE!”
To this point, even with regard to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, Hawley defended Trump on just about every front.
I have always warned Trump against attacking his fellow Republicans so openly, as I believe those conversations need to take place behind closed doors. When you try to embarrass someone publicly, human nature says they will come back at you at the first opportunity.
Hawley and Paul got their opportunity to do just that when Schumer presented an amendment to the NDAA to force the release of the Epstein files. When Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) floored a measure to block the amendment, Paul and Hawley joined Democrats to support Schumer’s move.
Schumer stated, "There's been so much lying, obfuscation, cover-ups. The American people need to see everything that's in the Epstein files. And my amendment would make that happen."
This is not going away, and Trump may soon face a decision to sign legislation that will force the Epstein files to be released, or risk further stalling on the NDAA, and that is something we simply cannot afford to have happen with everything that is going on in the world right now. This is exactly why you don’t air your dirty laundry in public.
