Wertheimer Political Report, April 16, 2026

TRUMPWATCH 2.0

Inside Trump’s Effort to “Take Over” the Midterm Elections
“In advance of this year’s midterm elections, President Donald Trump has systematically demolished federal guardrails that prevented him from overturning the 2020 election.” – ProPublica

Trump Floats Ominous “2 Or 3” Supreme Court Shake-Up Prediction
“If Trump were to fill a vacancy on the court, it would be his fourth nomination between both his terms in the White House.” – HuffPost

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas blasts progressivism as threat to America
“He said values in the Declaration of Independence have ‘fallen out of favor.'” – ABC News

How Trump Is Sabotaging Himself on the Federal Reserve
“The president wants Jerome Powell out of the way. He’s making that outcome less and less likely by the day.” – Politico

Pope Leo Decries World “Ravaged By Tyrants” In Cameroon Speech
“’The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild,’ the pontiff said.” – HuffPost

Marjorie Taylor Greene Claims Trump Had “Unimaginable” Response To Death Threats Against Her Son
“The president’s text message was ‘like a nail in the coffin’ and ‘tells me exactly who Donald Trump is,’ the former lawmaker told Piers Morgan.” – HuffPost

Trump tests loyalty of Christian supporters as erratic behavior escalates
“The president maintains his hold on the Christian right, but his bluster, fight with the pope and portrayal of himself as a Jesus-like figure strain that bond.” – Washington Post

Trump avoided punishments for his post-2020 abuses, but many of his lawyers did not
“For the attorneys who helped fuel the president’s efforts to remain in office, the consequences have been severe. Take John Eastman, for example.” – MS Now

It’s Tulsi Gabbard’s turn to target Trump’s enemies
“Declassified documents posted Monday aren’t the impeachment bombshell Gabbard claims — but they say plenty about how unfit she is for her job.” – MS Now

MEANWHILE, ON CAPITOL HILL

House narrowly rejects resolution directing Trump to end “hostilities” in Iran [214-213]. The Senate turned back a similar measure Wednesday seeking to rein in the president as the unpopular war approaches the two-month mark. – Washington Post

Republicans battle over “last chance” to enact Trump agenda. – The Hill

In the House, Republican plans go awry amid party divides. Fresh off a two-week break, lawmakers returned to turmoil in the House, where legislation to reopen the Department of Homeland Security is stalled and the G.O.P. is struggling to keep its agenda on track. – New York Times

Capitol agenda: GOP losing patience over Warsh fight. Republicans eager to install Kevin Warsh as Fed chair with Jerome Powell’s term ending next month are joining the call for the Trump administration to end its probe of Powell. – Politico

Russ Vought confronted by Democrats for constantly breaking laws. Not that Trump’s White House budget chief seemed to care. – HuffPost

Swalwell, Gonzales resignations draw spotlight on other lawmaker scandals. – Roll Call

MONEY IN POLITICS, VOTING, ELECTION & OTHER RELATED INFO

Talarico leads a Democratic cash surge: 7 takeaways from 2026 filings. Democrats in key Senate races out-raised their Republican rivals, but super PACs on the right are poised to play a powerful role in the midterms, new campaign finance filings showed. – New York Times

Largely secret donors pour millions into election that could tip Congress. Most of the almost $100 million raised to influence the vote, heavily favoring Democrats, comes from nonprofits that don’t have to disclose their donors. – Washington Post

Ahead of 2028, Vance Collects Cash, Chits and Contacts. The vice president is also the finance chair of the Republican National Committee, allowing him to court donors who could prove helpful should he run for president. – New York Times

New Jersey voters head to the polls for a special election to fill Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s House seat. Progressive activist Analilia Mejia and Republican Joe Hathaway are competing in New Jersey’s 11th District, which Democrats carried by 9 points in the 2024 presidential election. – NBC News