Episode #77: Is Mitch McConnell Sabotaging His Own Party?

In this episode, the Right Take guys react to the stunning loss of the Alaska special election by Sarah Palin, with the state’s sole U.S. House seat going Democratic for the first time in half a century. They then react to Joe Biden’s dark speech about the “fascism” of the MAGA agenda in front of Independence Hall, and what this means for the escalation of civil conflict in the United States. For the main topic, Jacob and Eric take a look at several questionable moves by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell that appear to serve the purpose of undermining pro-Trump Senate candidates and costing them a possible majority in November, perhaps proving that he would rather continue being leader of the minority than see a new GOP majority lead the way forward without him in 2023.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro
03:17 What in the world happened in Alaska?!?
18:00 Biden declares war on Americans
37:00 Main Topic: Is Mitch willing to sink the ship to remain the captain?

SHOWNOTES

Mitch McConnell’s Senate Leadership Fund PAC cancels over $10 million in ad buys in the crucial states of Alaska and Arizona: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/26/shifting-strategy-senate-gop-super-pac-cancels-ad-buys-in-arizona-alaska-00053965

Blake Masters, the Trump-backed nominee in Arizona, previously pledged to oppose McConnell’s leadership: https://rollcall.com/2022/07/07/trump-backed-masters-wants-to-join-senate-america-first-caucus/

Masters now changing his tune in response to McConnell cutting the funding: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/masters-changes-tune-mcconnell-hopeful-gop-leader-will-offer-financial-support-arizona

McConnell still willing to show support for some pro-Trump candidates, including Herschel Walker and Dr. Oz: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/mcconnell-host-gop-senate-candidates-walker-oz-candidate/story?id=88890998

McConnell publicly declares that the GOP may not retake the Senate, due in part to “candidate quality:” https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/mcconnell-gop-may-not-retake-senate-2022

President Trump issues a statement formally calling for McConnell to be replaced as Senate Republican leader: https://thehill.com/homenews/3614769-trump-calls-for-mcconnell-to-be-ousted-as-gop-leader-immediately/

One possible replacement? Florida Senator Rick Scott openly clashing with McConnell ahead of the midterms: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3624417-mcconnell-scott-feud-bursts-out-into-the-open/