Trump’s crusade to oust disloyal Republicans underscores the party’s dilemma: From the Politics Desk

From the Politics DeskTrump’s crusade to oust disloyal Republicans underscores the party’s dilemma: From the Politics DeskPlus, surveying GOP officials for a vibe check ahead of the midterms. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleMassie ‘unbothered’ as Trump tries to oust him in Kentucky GOP primary16:14Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 18, 2026, 6:03 PM EDTBy The Politics DeskWelcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.In today’s edition, Sahil Kapur takes stock of President Donald Trump’s efforts to unseat Republicans who have fallen out of favor with him. Plus, Matt Dixon surveyed GOP officials across the country for a temperature check ahead of the midterms. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.— Adam WollnerTune in to Here’s the Scoop’s special Supreme Court Edition, where Senior Legal Correspondent Laura Jarrett goes deep on major cases.Trump’s crusade to oust disloyal Republicans underscores the party’s dilemmaAnalysis by Sahil KapurPresident Donald Trump ousted another Republican perceived as disloyal to him over the weekend as Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., lost his primary, ending a 20-year political career. Trump faces another test tomorrow as his No. 1 GOP foe in Congress, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., faces a primary opponent running with Trump’s “complete and total endorsement.” In his 2024 campaign, Trump ran in part on “retribution” against those who he believes have wronged him. In some cases, that includes calling on the Justice Department to prosecute critics like former FBI Director James Comey and Democratic lawmakers.In the cases of Republicans like Cassidy and Massie, he is wielding his commanding influence with GOP primary voters...