The Powers That Be: Daily Between Trump and a Hard Place
Mar 17, 2026
Leigh Ann Caldwell, a Capitol Hill political reporter and analyst, breaks down Republican senators' private concerns about a possible war with Iran. She discusses worries over timelines, economic fallout, funding fights in Congress, and how casualties and gas prices could sway voters. Short, sharp insights into how political calculations and regional alliances shape decisions.
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GOP Senators Privately Want A Quick End
- Many Senate Republicans publicly support Trump but privately worry this war must end quickly to avoid long-term costs.
- Leigh Ann Caldwell reports isolationist Republicans like Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt want a swift conclusion and view open-ended wars skeptically.
Congress Is Still Focused On Domestic Agenda
- Republican leadership in Congress is still focused on domestic agenda items, not the war, showing institutional inertia despite the conflict.
- Caldwell says closed-door Senate and House retreats centered on SAVE Act and voter ID, not Iran.
Economic Pain And Casualties Will Shrink Support
- GOP patience is limited and will erode as economic pain and casualties mount, even if Republicans initially rally behind the president.
- Caldwell says members track gas and fertilizer prices and expect public tolerance to last only a few to several weeks.