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Trump takes his revenge on disloyal Republicans
TL;DR
Donald Trump is retaliating against Republicans he deems disloyal. This move is part of his ongoing influence within the party as he seeks to reshape its future.
Key points
- Trump is retaliating against disloyal Republicans
- This move reflects his influence within the party
- He aims to reshape the future of the Republican Party
Episode details
News,·08 May 2026,·36 mins
Trump takes his revenge on disloyal Republicans
Available for over a year
The US president is going after his fellow Republicans in Kentucky and Indiana. Donald Trump is getting involved in key state primaries - often in cases where US presidents don’t intervene - urging voters to stay away and not vote for candidates who Trump regards as his political enemies. From Indiana to Kentucky, Louisiana and beyond, Anthony and Justin look at how Trump’s MAGA Republican party is targeting fellow Republicans and whether it’s succeeding. Trump’s top target is the seven term Republican congressman in Kentucky, Thomas Massie who has stood up to Trump on issues including the Epstein files, congressional spending and the war in Iran. Massie now faces a challenge from a multi million dollar funded Trump backed candidate… we look at Massie’s chances, and what this race tells us more widely about what happens to Republicans who stand up to Trump. We also look at Louisiana and Indiana, where Trump has recently wiped out state senators he regarded as disloyal. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Purvee Pattni, Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producers were Jack Graysmark and Stephen Bailey. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. Newscast: Top Comment: Radical: The Global Story:
Q&A
What actions is Trump taking against disloyal Republicans?
Trump is reportedly targeting specific Republicans for retaliation, although the exact actions have not been detailed.
Why is Trump focusing on disloyal Republicans now?
Trump's focus on disloyal Republicans aligns with his efforts to consolidate power and influence within the party ahead of upcoming elections.
How might Trump's actions affect the Republican Party?
Trump's actions could lead to increased divisions within the Republican Party, potentially impacting its unity and electoral prospects.
