The speaker in the 119th Congress has absolutely no role in seating members of the 120th Congress. What an ignorant question!
Robert Hubbell
@rbhubbell.bsky.social
60K followers 193 following 144 posts
Author, Today’s Edition Newsletter on Substack. roberthubbell.substack.com
![Graham was offered a life of opportunity and promise. He initially opposed Trump, refusing to vote for him in 2016. But by 2020, Senator Graham was working with Trump to overturn the 2020 presidential election. According to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger, Graham called the top election official of a state that Graham did not represent, asking if Georgia could effectively “toss out legally cast votes.” (Graham denied the request; two state officials on the call confirmed Graham’s statements.)
By 2026, Graham said of Trump, “I am his north star,” a self-description that could serve both his epitaph and the judgment of history on Graham’s life.
But before claiming to be Trump’s muse, Graham sounded the alarm as to who Trump was and the threat he posed. In Graham’s own words:
“You know how you make America great again? Tell Donald Trump to go to hell.” December 2015.
“He’s a race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot. He doesn’t represent my party.” December 2015.
“I think he’s a kook. I think he’s crazy. I think he’s unfit for office.” Fox News, February 2016.
“My party has gone batshit crazy.” Speech at the Washington Press Club Foundation dinner, February 2016.
“If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed . . . and we will deserve it. ” Twitter, May 3, 2016.
“[A]ll I can say is count me out. Enough is enough.” January 6, 2021, from the floor of the Senate, after the assault on the Capitol.
“I am his north star.” February 2026.
Graham will be remembered only for his capitulation to Trump. Whatever modest good he achieved as a member of the House and Senate has been erased by his aid and comfort to Trump’s anti-democratic lawlessness.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ya7gfadgypyypiva5pboi6mi/bafkreie5xz3zvd5xacommircuk7b242srpsfi5bs5cgtamksv7i2ui7lkm)
