NEWS: Trump asks Republicans if he should fire Noem

IN THIS EDITION

Republicans want it both ways on Iran

Trump mulls Noem firing

What is next for Tony Gonzales?

Special project: How AI is reshaping health care

THE TOP

Republicans want it both ways on Iran

Happy Thursday morning.

News: President Donald Trump has been surveying Hill Republicans on whether he should fire Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, according to multiple Republicans who have spoken with the president. We have much more on this below.

Bombshell Senate news: Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), the 63-year-old former NRSC chair, announced late Wednesday that he won’t seek a third term in the Senate.

Daines withdrew from the November ballot just minutes before the 5 p.m. filing deadline. That was around the same time that Kurt Alme — the U.S. attorney for Montana — filed to run for the seat. In a statement announcing his retirement, Daines endorsed Alme as his successor, raising questions about the coordinated timing of Daines’ withdrawal and Alme’s entry into the race. Alme has twice served as the U.S. attorney in Montana under Trump, plus he’s a former state budget director.

Department of Waffling. Congress seems to want it both ways as the war with Iran progresses: Republicans want a piece of overseeing the unfolding conflict, but they don’t want to do it publicly — lest they risk being saddled with the consequences.

With few exceptions, top Republicans have no plans to hold public hearings or exert any immediate pressure on the Trump administration for more disclosure as U.S. and Israel forces continue to attack Iran.

Instead, senior Republicans say they’re satisfied with the classified briefings they’ve gotten from top Trump officials and are hoping the military campaign wraps up quickly.

“Ultimately, if we can prevail here — in weeks, not months — take away [Iran’s] offensive capability, get these other countries working with us, this is a chance to change the paradigm and hopefully end this 20-year global war on terror,” Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said, noting that Iran is “at its weakest point.”

“Weeks, not months” is the key line here. Hoeven was speaking for most Republicans on this. Nobody knows how long the bombing campaign against Iran will last, and another war powers vote could be triggered — as Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) has threatened to do. Republicans would prefer to keep their hands clean on the conflict for as long as possible, especially given the uncertainty over how long this could last and how it’ll play politically.

Senators were forced Wednesday to go on the record on whether to back a war that Trump senior administration officials are warning could drag on for weeks and may eventually include U.S. boots on the ground.

Even Republicans who have supported war-powers efforts in the past and could face political blowback by voting to back the Trump administration’s actions are defaulting to a position that unites the GOP: Hawkishness toward Iran.

That includes Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the most at-risk Republican in the midterms, who voted against reining in Trump over Iran.

The House will take an identical war powers vote later today, and that’s also expected to fall short due to Republican opposition. The anticipated outcome means GOP lawmakers across both chambers will officially have an ownership stake in the conflict.

That reality hasn’t changed Republicans’ clear preference to keep the war in Trump’s hands for as long as they can without requiring further congressional action. That’ll shift if the Trump administration requests supplemental funding to carry out combat operations, although this vote could be a tough one for Democrats too, as we’ve reported.

Several Senate Republicans told us they don’t think public hearings are useful at this moment, arguing they won’t learn much that they haven’t already gleaned from classified briefings.

“There’s nothing preventing us from having congressional involvement,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) acknowledged. “The [classified briefing] was one of the best I’ve ever been to. They were straight-up. Very transparent… Most briefings suck. This was a good one.”

Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who helped secure public testimony from Secretary of State Marco Rubio on U.S. operations in Venezuela, indicated Wednesday he’s not inclined to mount a similar push for a hearing tied to the Iran war.

“I tend not to ask for things that I don’t feel like I can get,” Young said. “I’m open to it. You’ll recall in the last scenario, I felt like I had some leverage. And I used it. And I got what I could.”

The day before, Young lamented during a closed-door GOP lunch meeting that there wasn’t enough congressional involvement on the war and that Senate Republican leaders should be pushing the White House for more buy-in. Young had also argued that there should be public hearings.

In the House, GOP leaders of the Armed Services and House Foreign Affairs committees said Wednesday they don’t plan on holding hearings on Iran anytime soon.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mast (R-Fla.) said public briefings “will happen eventually, but not in this moment.” While the former Army bomb disposal expert wouldn’t say when such hearings could occur, Mast pointed to the classified briefings lawmakers have received thus far and said “We’ll continue on this route.”

A supplemental funding request, House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) told reporters, will be “the first time that we get engaged from a policy standpoint” in prosecuting the war effort.

Hill on the sidelines. There’s a common hope from many Republicans: they hope the war ends very soon.

“There is enough prerogative to get the president up front,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a member of the Armed Services Committee. “If it’s extended operations, then we should weigh in.”

Congress’ refusal to get involved comes amid shifting rationales for the war being offered by Trump and other administration officials. Trump reiterated Wednesday that Iran was “two weeks” away from having a nuclear weapon, a case his senior officials have repeatedly sought to make in recent days.

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), a senior appropriator, said “No, not yet” when asked if Congress needed to do more to assert itself on the Iran conflict.

“The president has the authority, and he needs to keep us informed,” Simpson said. “Cabinet’s coming in and giving us briefings and all that kind of stuff, which is what we need right now. I’m not saying it won’t happen at some point in time, but hopefully it’ll be over by then.”

Simpson added: “So, I’m good.”

— Andrew Desiderio, Briana Reilly and Anthony Adragna

TODAY: Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) and Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) join us at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the news of the day and access to cancer screening. RSVP to save your spot!

THE LONE STAR STATE

Trump mulls Noem firing

News: President Donald Trump has quietly asked Hill Republicans if he should fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the latest sign of her tenuous standing inside the West Wing, according to multiple Republicans who have spoken with the president.

Even Speaker Mike Johnson speculated about the potential for a change at the top of DHS during a recent House Republican elected leadership retreat in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Trump dialed up some GOP senators after Noem testified in front of the Senate and House Judiciary panels on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Those appearances were marked by extraordinarily bitter exchanges between Noem and Democratic lawmakers, especially over Trump’s harsh immigration crackdown.

But some of the most notable exchanges, especially in the Senate hearing, were with Republicans.

Trump was said to be especially upset about Noem’s response when Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) pressed her Tuesday about a government-funded ad campaign that Kennedy said only served to boost her own personal name recognition nationally.

The $220 million contract for the ad campaign was awarded to an LLC which subcontracted with a company run by the husband of former DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. The ads were filmed in October at Mount Rushmore. Ben Yoho, McLaughlin’s husband, said he made $226,137.17 for his work.

Under questioning from Kennedy, Noem said repeatedly that Trump personally approved the controversial ad blitz featuring her in the lead role. This has so angered Trump that Noem’s future at DHS may be at risk, we’re told.

More from Kennedy: “They were effective in your name recognition. To me it puts the president in a terribly awkward spot.”

Noem also came under heavy scrutiny from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), leading the retiring Republican to declare that he’ll gum up the Senate floor unless Noem addresses his questions over a range of issues. Tillis has called on Noem to resign.

Noem’s relationship with Corey Lewandowski, her top aide, has been the subject of intense speculation as well. Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee asked Noem several times on Wednesday if she had a sexual relationship with Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager. Noem refused to answer the question, calling it “tabloid garbage.”

Can Noem be replaced? Privately, Republicans are divided about whether this is the right moment for Trump to fire Noem.

First, they’re worried about whether Senate GOP leaders could find 51 votes for a replacement in the face of universal Democratic opposition, combined with vulnerable Republicans who may want to flash some independence. Trump’s harsh immigration crackdown and ICE’s operations would be at the center of those confirmation hearings.

Other Republicans have warned Trump that it would be a bad idea to fire Noem in the middle of the now 19-day DHS shutdown, arguing it would embolden Democrats and strengthen their negotiating position as they demand an ICE overhaul.

The White House didn’t reply to a request for comment.

A DHS spokesperson said: “The domestic ad campaign has been the most successful ad campaign in U.S. history… The ad campaign saved the U.S. taxpayers over $39 billion.”

— John Bresnahan, Andrew Desiderio and Jake Sherman

THE LONE STAR STATE

What is next for Tony Gonzales?

Texas GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales finally acknowledged on Wednesday that he had an affair with one of his aides who later died by suicide, a rare admission of improper behavior by a sitting lawmaker.

Gonzales’ admission — which opens the embattled Republican lawmaker up to serious political and ethical repercussions — is also a big problem for House GOP leaders and their razor-thin majority.

During an interview on a conservative talk show, Gonzales said he “made a mistake” and had a “lapse in judgement and there was a lack of faith.”

“And I take full responsibility for those actions,” Gonzales added.

But the House’s Code of Official Conduct is clear that lawmakers “may not engage in a sexual relationship with any employee of the House who works under the supervision of the Member.”

The House Ethics Committee formally announced on Wednesday that it had begun an investigation into Gonzales over his relationship with his former aide, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles. Santos-Aviles died by suicide in September 2025.

Gonzales — who is married with six kids — insisted that he’s looking forward to the investigation because there is more to the story than has come out already.

Yet much of this is complicated by the fact that Gonzales is now in a May 26 runoff election with Brandon Herrera.

Another dynamic to watch is how Speaker Mike Johnson reacts. Did Gonzales deny to Johnson that he had the relationship with his staffer? And now that he has admitted it, does Johnson believe it’s proper for Gonzales to stay in the House?

The members of the special investigative subcommittee conducting the Gonzales probe haven’t been named yet, and election-year scheduling issues will make the case more difficult to conduct.

But Gonzales’ own admission Wednesday night on the Joe Pags’ show can be used as evidence, as can the comments from and materials released by Adrian Aviles, Santos-Aviles’ husband. Aviles told the San Antonio Express-News last month that he discovered the alleged affair in May and confronted his wife over it.

The three-term GOP lawmaker also reportedly retaliated against Santos-Aviles over the affair and sought “sexy pics” from her.

Gonzales’ other problems. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) has already teed up two resolutions to punish Gonzales. The first would simply censure the Texas Republican. The second would strip Gonzales of his seats on the House Appropriations and Homeland Security committees.

House Republicans involved in pushing the measures say they want to see if Gonzales bows out of the runoff and forgoes reelection before going to the floor. If he doesn’t, Republicans will move against Gonzales.

– John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman

THE AI INNOVATORS

Special project: How AI is reshaping health care

Our latest editorial project, The AI Innovators, launched today.

The four-part series, in partnership with Google, will explore the way artificial intelligence is transforming society across different sectors, with a particular focus on health care, the economy, energy and education.

Each segment will look into the legislative considerations influencing the way those sectors deploy AI tools. We also examine the outlook for each sector navigating the tricky balance between innovation and policy as AI continues to evolve. We’ll include an accompanying podcast with each feature.

The first installment focuses on how AI is transforming health care. The sector has embraced the technology as a new tool for improving many functions, including enhancing efficiency and the drug development process, and aiding in routine time-consuming administrative tasks.

However, AI is advancing rapidly within an unclear regulatory framework. Policymakers in Congress and the federal government are continuing to mull the best way to regulate the technology without hampering its advancement.

We explore the interplay between AI and health care, what role Congress and the administration are playing, as well as the policy considerations that will drive it into the future.

Follow this link to read the full feature, and check back on The Daily Punch feed later this morning to listen to the accompanying podcast.

– Elvina Nawaguna

… AND THERE’S MORE

Money game. House Ways and Means Committee Democrats’ annual DCCC fundraiser has raked in more than $2.2 million to help the party try to flip the chamber this fall.

Ranking Member Richie Neal (D-Mass.) headlined the dinner in D.C. on Wednesday night alongside every Democrat on the committee. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (Calif.) and DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene (Wash.) were special guests.

Tariff news. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.), the top Finance Committee Democrat, plan to pressure U.S. Chamber of Commerce members today to return tariff refunds to consumers.

Schumer and Wyden’s new effort comes after a court ruling that money collected under IEEPA tariffs should be returned to businesses. The Democrats will say in a new letter to the U.S. Chamber that companies should vow to pass on benefits to customers, citing FedEx’s commitment along those lines.

— Laura Weiss

MOMENTS

CLIPS