- US House Intelligence Committee chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio) in a Sunday interview on CNN said "it is absolutely true" that other Republicans have been repeating Russian propaganda talking points, even doing so on the House floor. CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- On Jake Tapper's "State of the Union," Turner highlighted how he believes other members of Congress have "incorrectly" stated that the Russia-Ukraine war is being fought "over NATO" and how it's difficult to convince them this is "an authoritarian vs. democracy battle." CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- Turner's comments come after Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) earlier this month told Puck News that Russian propaganda has "infected a good chunk of my party's base." USA Today (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- These comments came as numerous Republicans in Congress have stood in the way of the US sending Ukraine additional aid — often insisting stipulations accompany the funding. NewsNation
- Former Pres. Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election, is also known to be against additional aid to Ukraine and for a closer relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. USA Today (LR: 3 CP: 5)
Pro-establishment narrative:
- Turner speaking out against the so-called "Putin wing" of his party is doing the US a great service, as there's a bipartisan coalition ready to provide necessary aid to Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson should further marginalize that faction of Republicans by putting aid to a vital ally to a vote and getting it passed without satisfying any demands from pro-Russian voices.
MSNBC (LR: 1 CP: 5)
Establishment-critical narrative:
- Republicans who want to waste US taxpayer money on a war that's none of our business and are speaking out against those who oppose Ukraine aid aren't Republicans at all. If they were, they'd be more concerned about domestic problems — including the invasion at the Southern border — that need funding. This isn't Russian propaganda, it's putting American interests first. Traditional "establishment" voices in the GOP and the Democratic party are both at fault.
NEWSWEEK (LR: 1 CP: 5)
Nerd narrative:
- There's a 50% chance there will be a bilateral cease-fire or peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine by May 9, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)