Welcome to The Daily Politic Briefing! In today's fast-moving political landscape, the stakes couldn't be higher as Senate Majority Leader John Thune aligns with President Trump on midterm strategy, while Congress faces another potential funding showdown. Meanwhile, House Republicans grapple with internal divisions over the Epstein files, and North Carolina emerges as a key battleground for 2026. Let's dive into today's essential political developments. Today we'll cover: - Thune's coordination with Trump on the 2026 midterm strategy - Congressional funding challenges ahead of October deadline - The growing House GOP conflict over Epstein files - North Carolina's evolving Senate race - New legislation on cryptocurrency and healthcare - And the Capitol food service worker dispute Senate Majority Leader John Thune is working closely with President Trump to shape the GOP's 2026 midterm strategy. Thune is focusing on candidate selection, saying he's willing to intervene in contested primaries to ensure the party fields candidates who can win general elections. "We're all about preserving and protecting and expanding our majority," Thune stated. He's particularly focused on Alabama, Kentucky, and North Carolina, where Republican senators are retiring. In North Carolina, Thune has discussed the possibility of Lara Trump running for the seat being vacated by Senator Thom Tillis, saying she "would be great" as a candidate. Speaking of North Carolina, former Governor Roy Cooper is expected to announce a Senate campaign as early as Monday. This would give Democrats one of their few offensive opportunities in 2026. On the Republican side, besides Lara Trump, RNC Chair Michael Whatley has expressed interest but is reportedly deferring to Trump's preference. Turning to immediate congressional challenges, Thune indicated that Congress will need to pass a short-term funding bill to prevent a government shutdown in October. His strategy involves passing as many of the 12 appropriations bills as possible, then using a temporary patch for the remainder. Thune warned against a full-year continuing resolution favored by some GOP hardliners, saying it "locks in spending from the last year" without allowing for new priorities. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise echoed these concerns, calling stopgap funding "not ideal" and "bad for defense." Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson is struggling to manage internal conflict over the Jeffrey Epstein files. The issue has created tension between Trump and key House GOP allies, with Republicans rebelling against leadership after being forced to vote against Democratic efforts to release more information. The situation escalated when Rules Committee Chair Virginia Foxx and committee member Erin Houchin refused to advance any rules without a better solution on the Epstein issue, prompting Johnson to shut down the committee entirely. Adding to the drama, an Oversight panel approved a Democratic motion to compel Chair James Comer to subpoena the Justice Department for all Epstein files. On the legislative front, several initiatives are gaining momentum. Representative Max Miller is circulating details of cryptocurrency tax legislation that would establish clear rules for various crypto transactions. Senator John Boozman is introducing bipartisan legislation to increase Medicare-supported medical residencies. However, legislation on college athlete brand rights faces challenges in the Senate despite progress in House committees. Finally, House food service workers, backed by the Democratic Labor Caucus, have called for a boycott of six Capitol complex restaurants. They're demanding that new dining vendors rehire existing workers and maintain union-negotiated pay and benefits. The affected venues include Starbucks, CHA Street Food, Jimmy John's, and several others. As we wrap up today's briefing, the political landscape continues to show deep divisions and strategic maneuvering on multiple fronts. From Thune
