The senators who'll make Trump sweat over RFK Jr. and Gabbard votes

Chart: Axios Visuals

RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard will have to sweat their confirmations over the weekend, based on what GOP senators said at hearings the past two days.

Why it matters: Republicans with choice committee seats can blow up confirmations before they reach the Senate floor.

Any GOP “no” vote means the nominee won’t get the committee’s recommendation.
No recommendation = no floor vote, or at least a very unlikely one, as Majority Leader John Thune said Wednesday.

Senate Finance, which votes on Kennedy for secretary of Health and Human Services:

Bill Cassidy (R-La.) told RFK Jr.: “I’ve been struggling with your nomination” and “you may be hearing from me over the weekend.” Cassidy questioned Kennedy about vaccines at Thursday’s HELP Committee hearing and has a vote on the Finance Committee.

Senate Intel, which votes on Gabbard for director of national intelligence:

Susan Collins (R-Maine) asked Gabbard if she’d seek a pardon or commutation for Edward Snowden. Gabbard said no to both. “I was happy with her responses to my questions,” Collins told reporters Thursday night, per CNN.
Todd Young (R-Ind.) told Gabbard, “It would befit you and be helpful for the way you’re perceived by members of the Intelligence Committee” to say Snowden harmed national security. Gabbard repeatedly refused to call Snowden a traitor at the hearing.
Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) offended Gabbard by saying he wanted to be sure Russia doesn’t “get a pass in either your mind or your heart.”
John Cornyn (R-Texas) could not get a direct answer from Gabbard on whether warrants should be required for wiretaps under Section 702 of FISA. (He posted Thursday he’s a yes on Gabbard).

The bottom line: Even senators who support Gabbard were taken aback by her Snowden answers.

“I think there are a lot of questions after,” Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) told reporters. “I thought that was going to be an easy softball question.”
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