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

GOP legislative priorities could be at odds with voters as midterms come into view and Democrats attempt a resurgence

When the chief Republican budget writer took to the floor of the House of Representatives this week to tout a plan to spend tens of billions of dollars on the war with Iran, he avoided using the words war", conflict" or even Iran".

Just baseline battlefield readiness" is what Jodey Arrington said the money in the $95bn budget blueprint would be used for. Bullets and bombs to finish the job and come home safely and victoriously, strengthen our food supply, and ultimately safeguard the integrity of our elections."