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Trump Goes To War With The GOP

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The firestorm in the GOP over Donald Trump and the future of the Republican Party.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pumps his fist during a campaign rally in Panama City, Fla. (Evan Vucci/AP)
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pumps his fist during a campaign rally in Panama City, Fla. (Evan Vucci/AP)

Suddenly, it is mayhem in the GOP. After months of crackling tension over the candidacy of billionaire Donald Trump, the party has now erupted in dissent and recrimination after the weekend release of sexually explicit, vulgar tapes of Trump demeaning women. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan says he cannot defend Trump, will not campaign for Trump. Trump is blisteringly defiant. Says he’s now unshackled. This hourOn Point, the Republican Party in crisis over Donald Trump. — Tom Ashbrook

Guests

Glen Thrush, chief political correspondent for POLITICO, and host of the Off Message podcast. (@GlennThrush)

Mike Murphy, Republican Party strategist and media consultant. Host of the Radio Free GOP podcast. (@murphymike)

Rich Lowry, editor of the National Review. (@RichLowry)

Betsy McCaughey, former Lieutenant Governor of New York. Columnist for the New York Post. Supporter of Donald Trump's campaign for president. (@Betsy_McCaughey)

From Tom's Reading List

New York Times: Split Over Donald Trump Threatens to Tilt Republican States — "Donald J. Trump’s intensifying battle with his own party is tearing open the nation’s political map, pulling Republicans across the country into a self-destructive feud that could imperil dozens of lawmakers in Congress and potentially throw conservative-leaning states into Hillary Clinton’s column."

POLITICO: Why Ryan and McConnell split over Trump — "Paul Ryan immediately came under fire from Donald Trump after declaring he’ll no longer defend or campaign for his party’s bombastic nominee. Mitch McConnell, on the other hand, went mum, privately sharing advice with vulnerable Republican Senate candidates on how to handle Trump’s vulgar sex talk — and publicly telling those interested in his take to take a hike."

BuzzFeed News: Paul Ryan, So Handsome, So Sad — "Sources close to Ryan said he endorsed Trump in June in hopes of gaining access to the candidate’s inner-circle and steering him away from his more destructive behavior. Ryan also believed he could convince Trump to infuse his platform with more orthodox conservative policy. Of course, neither initiative has been particularly successful — and along the way, Ryan has put himself in the deeply degrading position of having to respond to every outrage Trump committed on the campaign trail."

This program aired on October 12, 2016.

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