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Trump takes his revenge on disloyal Republicans

5/8/202636 min

The US president is going after his fellow Republicans in Kentucky and Indiana. Donald Trump is getting involved in key state primaries - often in cases where US presidents don’t intervene - urging voters to stay away and not vote for candidates who Trump regards as his political enemies. From Indiana to Kentucky, Louisiana and beyond, Anthony and Justin look at how Trump’s MAGA Republican party is targeting fellow Republicans and whether it’s succeeding. Trump’s top target is the seven term Republican congressman in Kentucky, Thomas Massie who has stood up to Trump on issues including the Epstein files, congressional spending and the war in Iran. Massie now faces a challenge from a multi million dollar funded Trump backed candidate… we look at Massie’s chances, and what this race tells us more widely about what happens to Republicans who stand up to Trump. We also look at Louisiana and Indiana, where Trump has recently wiped out state senators he regarded as disloyal.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

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This episode was made by Purvee Pattni, Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producers were Jack Graysmark and Stephen Bailey. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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Clips

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds
  1. Justin Webb· Host0:00

    This is how Donald Trump feels about a seven-term Republican congressman.

  2. Donald Trump· Soundbite0:05

    We got to get rid of this loser. This guy is bad. He's disloyal to the Republican Party, he's disloyal to the people of Kentucky, and most importantly, he is disloyal to the United States of America.

  3. Justin Webb· Host0:18

    The president's talking about Thomas Massie. Thomas Massie is a Republican congressman from Kentucky who has stood up to Donald Trump, particularly on the Epstein files, and Trump is now funding an opponent in a primary election to get him to lose his seat. The president is not just acting in Kentucky. He's wiped out his critics in Indiana, in Ohio as well. He's pushing to oust a Republican senator in Louisiana. So what happens to Republicans who go up against Donald Trump? Are they all still going to lose? Might they manage to fight back? Welcome to Americast.

  4. Anthony Zurcher· Host0:54

    [upbeat music] Americast.

  5. Thomas Massie· Soundbite0:58

    Americast from BBC News.

  6. Donald Trump· Soundbite1:00

    You hear that sound? Oh, I think when I hear that sound, it reminds me of money.

  7. Speaker 4· Soundbite1:05

    We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it.

  8. Speaker 5· Soundbite1:09

    This is a big cover-up, and this administration is engaged in it.

  9. Thomas Massie· Soundbite1:12

    This guy has Trump Derangement Syndrome.

  10. Speaker 4· Soundbite1:14

    I have four words for you. Turn the volume up.

  11. Justin Webb· Host1:20

    [upbeat music] Hello, it's Justin in the worldwide headquarters of Americast in London, England.

  12. Anthony Zurcher· Host1:27

    And it's Anthony in the American

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