When campaign politics and Cabinet confirmation struggles collide

Welcome to the online version of From the political officean evening newsletter that brings you the latest reporting and analysis from the NBC News Politics team from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

In today’s edition, campaign manager Alex Tabet and national political reporters Bridget Bowman and Ben Kamisar examine the pressure right-wing Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst is feeling over Biden’s candidacy. Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Plus, “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker details some of the understated responses Donald Trump gave during his interview.

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Joni Ernst’s re-election looms as she weighs Pete Hegseth’s candidacy for Secretary of Defense

By Alex Tabet, Bridget Bowman and Ben Kamisar

Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst faces intraparty turmoil in her home state as she weighs whether to support President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state. Defense, Pete Hegseth, fueling speculation she could face a challenge from the right as she runs for office. elections in 2026.

Ernst’s allies aren’t worried about a possible challenge in the primary, noting that she remains popular among the state’s Republicans and has strong conservative credentials. But conversations with a dozen Iowa GOP leaders and strategists revealed anger toward Ernst among rank-and-file conservatives who want party members to support Trump’s Cabinet selections — and eyes raised from others who say rank-and-file Republicans aren’t excited about Ernst. the degree that some activists say.

The episode illustrates the pressures that Republican members of Congress have faced throughout the Trump years — pressures that are doubling as he prepares to return to office with the party more firmly under his control than ever. Elected officials are fully aware of Trump’s penchant for seeking revenge for perceived disloyalty, as are activists who can use high-profile situations as pressure points against these politicians.

And all of this is happening at a time when voter anger and anti-establishment sentiment have made the primaries difficult. much more dangerous for holders.

“That’s my problem: She doesn’t fully support President Trump and his agenda and his team selection,” said Bob Vander Plaats, an evangelical power broker from Iowa.

No prominent Republicans have opposed Ernst, who is in his second term, but conservative radio host Steve Deace recently suggested he might enter the race.

Deace, however, said he would need Trump’s support.

“Donald Trump is the king of the Republican Party; he earned it and he earned it,” Deace told NBC News. “If he doesn’t want Joni Ernst to be a senator anymore, she won’t be.”

Trump has not suggested he would support a challenger to Ernst if she opposed Hegseth. And a person familiar with the Trump transition team’s view of Ernst’s role in the confirmation process said any threats or discussions to mount a primary challenge against her in 2026 were premature.

But some Trump allies, like Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk, said senators like Ernst would face primary challengers if they don’t support his nominees.

These threats provoked reactions from Ernst’s supporters.

“A lot of this is due to gaslighting and attention seeking – what can we say today to get more clicks? Let’s attack a U.S. senator for not doing what we’re asking her to do this very second,” said Will Rogers, former chairman of the Polk County GOP.

“Charlie Kirk did not elect Joni Ernst to office,” Rogers added. “The people of Iowa did it.”

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Trump Is Open to Raising the Minimum Wage — and Three Other Things He Said to Me

By Kristen Welker

In my interview with Donald Trump Last week, the president-elect said he would deport millions of undocumented immigrants, reiterated his desire to pardon those convicted in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and said he would work to extend the tax cuts passed during this period. his first term.

But Trump told me other telling things during our 80 minute conversation this did not air on our hour-long “Meet the Press” program last Sunday. And I wanted to highlight this timely information before Trump takes office next month.

1. He told his children and family not to work in his administration – unlike his first term. “I’ll tell you what, I’m going to miss them, and they’re really good. But I say, “Go ahead, have fun, do your thing, do what you want.” But don’t come in. Because no matter what they did, they did a great job. Although I have to say that (daughter-in-law) Lara (Trump) has done a phenomenal job leading the Republican National Committee, alongside Michael (Whatley).”

2. He said he wouldn’t — or couldn’t — divest from his businesses, like the parent company of his social media site Truth Social. “Well, I don’t know how I can part with it?” What does this mean? I’m not allowed to open and use it? I mean, all I do is… I… I don’t overtly look at the… the business. I’m not even on the company’s board of directors. I didn’t want to be on the board. I have other people, and they run it, and they run it very well because Truth has become a very, very successful platform.

3. He responded to a federal court’s ruling that could result in TikTok being banned. “And I used TikTok, so I can’t really, you know, I can’t totally hate it. It was very effective. But I will say this: if you do that, something else will come along and take its place. And maybe that’s not fair. And in reality, what the judge said was that there can’t be any Chinese companies. In other words, they have the right to ban it if you can prove that Chinese companies own it. This is what the judge actually said.

When I asked Trump if he would intervene to protect TikTok, he replied: “I’m going to try to make sure other companies don’t become an even bigger monopoly. »

4. And he said he would consider raising the federal minimum wage, which currently stands at $7.25 an hour. “It’s a very low number. I agree, it’s a very low number. Let me give you the downsides, though. In California, they took that number to a very high level. And your restaurants are going bankrupt everywhere. The population is decreasing. This had a very negative impact. But there is a level at which you could do it, absolutely. »

How will Democrats and progressives respond to Trump’s push to raise the federal minimum wage? Tune in to “Meet the Press” this Sunday, when I interview Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as well as Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C.

That’s all that’s coming from the politburo for now. If you have any comments (like or dislike), please email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com

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