Bulwark Takes Under Pressure, Trump Retreats on Iran and DHS | Morning Chaser
Mar 24, 2026
A rapid-fire look at the DHS funding showdown and a reported plan to sideline ICE while using reconciliation for border priorities. Close attention to Trump's sudden reversals on Iran and his Memphis messaging tactics. A breakdown of the surprise ICE airport deployment and how off-the-cuff ideas drive White House action. Commentary on party control, political theater, and weakening internal checks.
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Democrats Turn Pressure Into DHS Win
- Democrats held together and forced Republicans to retreat on a DHS package funding TSA and FEMA but excluding ICE.
- Bill Kristol says unified Democratic messaging and pressure made this a political win despite Trump initially killing a deal.
Trump's Control Over Republicans May Be Waning
- Trump exerts exceptional personal control over Republicans, but that control may be weakening as his approval hovers around 40%.
- Bill Kristol points to senators like Kennedy publicly blaming Trump for killing a prior DHS deal as evidence of shifting dynamics.
Trump's Public Maximalism And Private Backdown
- Trump publicly demanded tying the Save America voter ID bill to DHS funding but privately agreed to step back in a meeting with senators.
- Andrew Egger plays Trump's Memphis clip showing his insistence on welding voter ID into homeland security just hours before the reported reversal.