Republicans head home for the summer after a string of losses in Congress

Key Points:

• House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, passed a $95 billion budget plan to fund the war with Iran, avoiding direct references to the conflict and framing it as "baseline battlefield readiness" to support military efforts and domestic priorities.
• The GOP's war spending plan passed along party lines but faced internal dissent, with four Republicans joining Democrats to pass a symbolic resolution demanding troop withdrawal from Iran, highlighting divisions within the party ahead of the midterm elections.
• Senate Republicans showed reluctance to advance the House's budget blueprint, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune putting it on hold, signaling the Iran spending debate may continue into September amid broader government funding negotiations.
• The defense budget's prospects in the Senate are further complicated by its merger with the controversial Save America Act, which includes restrictive voting measures favored by Trump and opposed by Democrats, who also object to the bill's $1.15 trillion cost.
• Despite challenges, House Republicans remain optimistic about their electoral chances, emphasizing their legislative achievements and framing Democrats as responsible for economic and social issues, while Democrats grapple with internal divisions and uncertain voter support.