This is your RNC News podcast.

The US Republican Party’s latest headlines center on a mix of election maneuvering, major legislative fights, ongoing party infighting, and preparations for the Republican National Committee’s upcoming convention. New Hampshire just saw a notable development as former US Senator John E. Sununu launched a fresh campaign for his old Senate seat, aiming to reclaim it from Democrats after nearly two decades away. His entry quickly drew endorsements from national Republican leaders and the Senate Leadership Fund, positioning Sununu as a strong contender against Scott Brown, the former Massachusetts senator who lost to Shaheen in 2014. Sununu advocates for lowering the temperature in Washington and focuses on economic, health care, and veterans’ issues, but faces a complicated GOP primary due to his previous opposition to Donald Trump and endorsement of Nikki Haley. Scott Brown, on the other hand, is aligned closely with Trump, reflecting the ongoing split in the party over loyalty to Trump’s leadership.

The Republican-controlled North Carolina legislature finalized a new US House map designed to help the GOP win an additional seat next cycle. The map, backed by President Donald Trump, redraws a key swing district and could cement Republican dominance in the state. Nationally, similar redistricting efforts have stalled in states like Indiana, indicating state-level struggles for the RNC’s broader strategy. These efforts parallel the ongoing fight for congressional control as the midterm atmosphere intensifies.

At the federal level, the Republican National Committee is under pressure as the government shutdown stretches into its third week. Party leaders in the House and Senate—Mike Johnson and John Thune respectively—are struggling to resolve intense negotiations over federal funding and healthcare, specifically around the Affordable Care Act. President Trump, now in his second term after his 2024 win over Kamala Harris, has been doubling down on executive orders, immigration reform, and government overhaul initiatives like the Department of Government Efficiency. Critics claim these moves, combined with attempts to expand presidential power, have heightened partisan division and gridlock. Recent polling by Quinnipiac University shows public approval for congressional Republicans dropping, with only about one-third of voters supporting their handling of the shutdown and slightly fewer favoring Republican control in the House if elections were held today.

Meanwhile, the RNC is gearing up for its national convention in Milwaukee, a critical swing state, promising both traditional and tech-savvy formats aimed at boosting energy for the general election. The convention will finalize nominations for president and vice president—though with Trump as the sitting president, the process is more about party unity and momentum than uncertainty. Prominent speakers expected include Trump family members, media personalities like Tucker Carlson, and party figures such as Senators Tom Cotton and Marco Rubio. The GOP’s updated platform is expected to continue emphasizing populist and nationalist themes, focussing on immigration restriction, trade protectionism, and a hard-line approach to national security.

Looking at party priorities, many Republicans and Democrats agree reform of the US permitting system for energy infrastructure is critical, but bipartisan progress is stymied due to the shutdown postponing key policy summits and legislative initiatives. The GOP is leveraging the shutdown to push its agenda on federal spending while resisting Democratic calls for healthcare funding extensions.

Listeners should tune in for updates as the 2026 Senate map evolves, with Republicans defending seats in states like Ohio, Maine, and North Carolina while targeting Democratic-held seats in Michigan, Georgia, and now, notably, New Hampshire. Internal party...