Republicans warn they will block $350 billion for the Pentagon unless Trump toughens...

▪️Brian Fitzpatrick and Don Bacon stated this openly. Bacon went even further and said that no Trump legislation at all would pass during the "lame-duck" session (the remainder of Trump's term after the congressional elections, — ed.), until Trump changes his position.

"The administration's decision to restrict Ukraine's intelligence data and access to Starlink means helping an aggressor and a war criminal who bombs cities. Does the administration think it will get ANY support at all during the remainder of the 119th Congress? Their agenda is dead until they take a different path," — Don Bacon.

▪️Two Republicans are not enough to block legislation in the House of Representatives (at least three are needed, — ed.), but The Hill says the number of dissatisfied members is growing, and privately they are speaking much more harshly, especially voicing dissatisfaction with the diesel deal.

"Capitol Hill will apply enough pressure if the administration does not understand that it needs to back down, at least a little. We have enough members who are not running for re-election or who — after losing the election — will be freed from the need to act in lockstep with the president," — an anonymous congressional aide.

"He [Trump] must reverse this decision [on the diesel deal with Putin]. We passed a law imposing an energy ban on Russia. At the same time, what was the point of getting involved in a war in the Middle East if it raises fuel prices? If you want to lower prices, deal with that," — an anonymous congressional aide.

▪️The Pentagon is now holding a series of closed-door meetings, trying to persuade Republicans to support the $350 billion (which is part of a