Cassidy Says GOP Midterm Wipeout Is a 'Brand Problem,' Not Just Trump

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy isn't sugarcoating it. The outgoing Louisiana lawmaker told CNN on Friday that his party's midterm shellacking points to a deeper "brand problem," and he made clear Trump shouldn't be the lone scapegoat for the losses, according to the outlet.

Cassidy's diagnosis went beyond personalities. He said most voters don't see politicians as people elected to serve them, arguing they believed lawmakers were so determined to hold power that they'd rewrite the rules to make the people serve the politician. His verdict: politicians should serve the people well — and they aren't.

The scale of the damage is hard to miss. Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate in Tuesday's midterms, with CNN's Decision Desk projecting they'll hold at least 250 House seats — the largest majority in the lower chamber since the 2008 election.

Trump isn't retreating. Axios reported Friday that the president told advisers he'll keep raising money for his political operation, whether through his existing MAGA Inc. super PAC or a new one, giving him a lever to influence the 2028 election and pressure Republican lawmakers weighing a break from him.

The aftershocks keep coming. Fox News reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could face an impeachment vote as soon as next week over the handling of the Iran operation, with calls coming from both parties. Separately, the Independent reported Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on "resignation watch," with insiders expecting a 2028 presidential bid.