Trump demands. Republicans shrug.

Republicans are quietly defying him.

Before we get into it: if you’re receiving this via email, thank you. You’re already subscribed. If you’re not, now is the time.

Something genuinely interesting is happening in Washington right now.

For years, the assumption inside the Republican Party was simple: if Donald Trump demanded something, Republican lawmakers would eventually find a way to give it to him. Sometimes eagerly. Sometimes reluctantly. But they would comply.

That assumption is starting to crack.

Trump wants mail-in voting gone

For a long time, Donald Trump has railed against mail-in voting. Recently, the demand has escalated. He is not talking about reform or limits.

He is calling for a blanket ban. No more mail-in voting, period.

As always, the justification is the same. It’s corrupt. It cost him 2020. It cannot be trusted.

There is still no evidence to support those claims. But that has never been the point. The point is that Trump wants it gone.

So what did Republicans in Congress do?

Nothing.

The SAVE Act without the ban

Republicans passed an election bill in the House called the SAVE Act. It includes some voter ID provisions and additional proof-of-citizenship requirements. Whether it can even survive the Senate is a separate question.

But here’s what it does not include: a ban on mail-in voting.

Behind the scenes, the White House reportedly pushed to insert language eliminating mail-in voting altogether. Republican lawmakers refused. They believed it would sink the bill and go nowhere.

Think about what that means.

They chose passing legislation over pleasing Donald Trump.

For a long time, the movement did not operate that way.

Public contradictions

This isn’t quiet resistance happening in back rooms.

Republican Congressman Mike Lawler said openly that he has no objection to mail-in voting. He just wants people to vote. Early, in person, by mail, on Election Day. However they choose, as long as they vote.

That is a direct, public contradiction of Trump’s position.

Other Republicans have said the same thing. Republican voters rely on mail-in ballots. Banning it could hurt their own turnout. Party strategists are even emphasizing that encouraging vote-by-mail can help them win.

Trump is demanding one thing, but Republicans are calculating something else entirely.

And they are choosing what they believe helps them electorally.

What this says about power

This is what the weakening authority of a would-be authoritarian looks like. It does not always come in dramatic speeches or open rebellion. Sometimes it looks much smaller.

Authoritarian-style leadership depends heavily on perception. The perception that the leader is fully in control, loyalty is absolute and that deviation is unthinkable.

The moment followers stop asking “What does the leader want?” and instead begin asking “What helps me survive politically?” is the moment everything changes.

Republicans have not suddenly rediscovered principle. They are just making a calculation.

If banning mail-in voting risks costing them seats, they will not do it.

And we are seeing similar patterns elsewhere. On tariffs, House Republicans defected and moved to end tariffs on Canada. On budget issues, there has been visible pushback. Selective compliance instead of automatic loyalty.

But that distinction matters.

Influence vs. control

Trump still has enormous influence over the Republican base. That has not evaporated. His rallies still draw crowds. His endorsements still matter in primaries.

But influence and control are not the same thing.

What we are watching right now is not the disappearance of Trump’s influence, but the beginning of slippage in control.

And once politicians start realizing that following the leader might cost them their own jobs, the dynamic changes quickly.

The question going forward is simple: How many more times will Republicans choose electoral survival over obedience?

Because once that calculation becomes routine, the perception of absolute authority becomes much harder to sustain.

---

We’re reaching over 150 million people every month across YouTube, podcasts, Substack, and beyond. But algorithms can change. Platforms can fold. And when that happens, this newsletter is how we stay connected.

If you’re not yet a paid subscriber, please consider joining.
If you’re already paid on one platform, consider supporting us on both Substack and our website.

You can subscribe on our website and right here on Substack.

And if you’re really on fire, consider gifting a subscription—we’ve got thousands on our waiting list ready to read, watch, and fight back.

Let’s keep building.

—David

PS: Can’t contribute right now? No problem. You can support us for free by subscribing on YouTube, listening to our audio podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or become a free subscriber to this very Substack. Every bit counts.