Written by Andrew Cooperrider, a Kentucky Conservative Radio/TV/Podcast Show Host
The PAC buys and aggressiveness against Massie right now has more to do with sending a message to the other members of Congress than it does with Massie.
The One Big Beautiful Bill can not lose any more support in Congress, and Massie needs to be made an example of.
This approach I think is a colossal mistake that will permanently hamstring Trump for the next three years and almost guarantee a democrat majority in the House after the 2026 elections.
First to the “Massie Problem”. Massie has always voted this way and behaved this way.
His first year in Congress he sponsored an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to stop Obama from being able to bomb Egypt. He co-sponsored a resolution to stop Biden from bombing Yemen. His resolution has nothing to do with Trump, and has everything to do with his dislike of bombing countries. You can disagree and say he’s wrong, but it would not be accurate to say this has to do with some sort of hate for Trump.
On the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), there are two types of Republicans right now. Those who actually believe that if something doesn’t change America is going bankrupt in the next 10-12 years and those who don’t. If you believe that, you would demand the OBBB be at least closer to perfect. This will probably be the last shot we are going to get. Nothing important or controversial will be passed next year as everyone will be worried about winning their races.
History would tell us that the Republicans will most likely lose the House in 2026, so nothing will pass from 2026-2028. Then in 2028 there is no guarantee that Republicans win the presidency, and that could mean 8 years of a Democrat President.
There is no way to bind future congresses to a law. If Congress wants to do something that conflicts with an old law they just change it. When people like Scott Bessent talk about when viewed over a ten year plan the OBBB is great just remember, we don’t have ten years guaranteed. Once again, this one chance is all that is guaranteed. If you’re the type of person walking around with a debt clock on (like Massie does), of course this isn’t going to be acceptable. You believe the country is headed for bankruptcy.
You have every right to disagree with Massie and no one is 100% right, but it is wrong to think any of this has to do with some hate for Trump. Everyone is only paying attention to Massie more because the Republican Majority is so small.
Massie does get things done, just not always with his name on it. When he has a good idea that he builds support for, Leadership takes it from him and has someone else pass it. Does it matter whose name was on the bill? Massie wrote it, got support for it, and it became law.
What should we be doing instead of spending time, treasure, and talent on replacing Massie?
We should be focusing on growing the Majority.
How will this lead to Democrats winning the House in 2026?
In the same way the Democrat Socialist represents the counterculture young Democrat voters are inspired by, Conservative Libertarianism is the counterculture ideology that young Republican voters are drawn to.
What happens to them in 2026 when they see people spending millions going after Massie? Republicans across the country need these young true believers as volunteers and voters. Trump won by building a coalition of voters, now is not the time to start pushing people out of the tent.
It is not like Massie is out here voting for abortion, or taking away guns, or castrating kids. His positions are reasonable ones for a Conservative to have. The main attack is that he is too inflexible.
So how should Trump fix his Massie problem? Don’t spend millions going after Massie, instead spend millions winning over purple seats and turning out this broad coalition he has built. Then you can grow the majority and Massie won’t matter as much.
If Trump thinks dealing with Massie is bad, wait till he ends up having to deal with a Democrat House.
