Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Escalating Discord Between Trump, McConnell Puts Shockingly Public Spotlight On Party's Problems
Politico: Trump To GOP: Get Obamacare Repeal Bill Done
President Donald Trump renewed his call for Senate Republicans to take another crack at dismantling Obamacare, saying Thursday it’s a “disgrace” that they failed to pass a repeal bill. “They lost by one vote,” Trump said from his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf course. “For a thing like that to happen is a disgrace.” (Cancryn, 8/10)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Trump Again Jabs At McConnell Over Failure Of GOP Health Care Bill
“I’m very disappointed in Mitch,” Mr. Trump said. “All I hear is ‘repeal and replace,'” the President said of the GOP push to do away with Obamacare, as he blasted his own party’s leadership in the Senate for failing to get a bill over the finish line in late July. (Dupree, 8/10)
The Washington Post: Trump Attacks On McConnell Bring Rebukes From Fellow Republicans
President Trump aimed a fresh barrage of criticism at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday, escalating an extraordinary fight with a key Republican leader that could undermine the party’s ability to regroup and pass shared legislative priorities this fall. ... Trump associates said the attacks, which began Wednesday night and resumed Thursday, were intended to shore up Trump’s outside-the-Beltway populist credentials and would resonate with core supporters frustrated by a lack of progress in Washington. But the tweets were quickly met with public and private defenses of McConnell — and rebukes of Trump. Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), tweeted: “@SenateMajLdr has been the best leader we’ve had in my time in the Senate, through very tough challenges. I fully support him.” (Wagner, O'Keefe and Kane, 8/10)
The New York Times: Trump’s Twitter Fury At McConnell Risks Alienating A Key Ally
By preventing President Barack Obama from filling a Supreme Court vacancy, Senator Mitch McConnell secured Donald J. Trump the signature accomplishment of his young presidency: the confirmation of Justice Neil M. Gorsuch. But any gratitude President Trump felt for Mr. McConnell’s first-of-its-kind maneuver appears to be exhausted as the president, upset at the failed health care repeal, has turned his Twitter fire and fury on Mr. McConnell, the one person he may most need to execute a stalled Republican legislative agenda. (Hulse, 8/10)
Bloomberg: McConnell Given Daunting To-Do List To Regain Trump Favor
President Donald Trump laid out a path for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to get back in his good graces: replace Obamacare, overhaul the U.S. tax code and find a way to pay for big infrastructure improvements. Yet clearing Trump’s agenda anytime soon is close to impossible in the narrowly controlled Republican Senate that already has a packed agenda of must-pass legislation. (Litvan, 8/11)
