Donald Trump’s MAGA movement with its scary online shock troops has long since subdued the Republican Party, and on November 5, it won a solid election victory that bagged the White House and very likely control of both chambers of Congress. Trump’s minions are itching to take over the executive branch and wreak havoc with federal agencies. But without too much question, the most hidebound of Washington institutions is the U.S. Senate, under either party’s leadership. This week, the now-reigning Senate Republican conference is meeting to elect a successor to Mitch McConnell as leader. McConnell was a constant source of annoyance to Trump as president and as party chieftain. While for the most part he ultimately did whatever Trump needed him to do, he did so with the bare minimum of respect. So the new administration will be happy to see Mitch self-demoted to back-bencher, and whoever wins the leadership election (the longtime front-runners are senators John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas) will be an improvement over the wily Kentuckian.

But some of the more eager MAGA leaders want to bring the Senate to heel right away, and they have united to promote the long-shot........

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