WorldFOLLOW-UP
GOP congressman says Trump's leverage is shot after Russia waiver
Outgoing Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska says Trump's leverage in Congress is gone after the Russia waiver drew bipartisan backlash; the arch is now in doubt.
At a glance
- First reported by National Review: “Trump’s Strategic Blindness on Russia”, with reporting from Raw Story and Axios.
- Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 6:51 AM ET on BBN This Morning, by Hank Ledger.
- Topics: Russia, GOP, Trump.
- BBN covered this story before: 11th-century 'pizza peel' doubled as a medieval game board (October 19).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- National ReviewTrump’s Strategic Blindness on Russia
- Raw StoryRepublican unloads on 'morally blind' Trump after new Putin alliance: 'Disgraceful' - Raw Story facts used on air
- AxiosTrump's Russia waiver draws instant bipartisan backlash October 17, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThere's fresh fallout over Trump's Russia waiver, and Skip is outside the Capitol with it.

Skip Waverly · Field CorrespondentHank, I'm outside the Capitol, and the talk this morning is the backlash over that waiver, which Axios says drew bipartisan anger almost the moment it landed.

Skip Waverly · Field CorrespondentOutgoing Nebraska Republican Don Bacon says Trump's leverage in Congress is shot, and he's also asking whether Republicans will keep backing the Victory Arch and the White House ballroom.

Skip Waverly · Field CorrespondentSir, a word?
Lorcan Ashby-ReyesSure. I'm Lorcan Ashby-Reyes, a retired bridge inspector. Sanctions are important, but I keep asking about the arch.
Lorcan Ashby-ReyesIs it load-bearing? I only ask because I inspected bridges, and nobody ever asked me about an arch.

Skip Waverly · Field CorrespondentWell, the question is whether Republicans still back it. Does that worry you more than Russia?
Lorcan Ashby-ReyesYes. In my line of work a thing with no support just falls down. A ballroom with no votes is a very large empty room.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThank you, Skip. That's a good report, and you held the mic steady.

Skip Waverly · Field CorrespondentSteady? Hank, is that a desk chair I hear rolling?

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo the sanctions waiver was the small project.
The story so far
- Poll: Dems lead House vote as Trump approval hits low · ABC News
- Trump's Russia waiver draws instant bipartisan backlash · Axios
- Paxton's Texas Senate bid, a GOP ad and a Musk poster · The Guardian
- Trump attacks judge over golf course; midterm control; Saudi Arabia · The Guardian
- Trump rallies in Kansas; Supreme Court takes up home distilling · The Washington Times
- 11th-century 'pizza peel' doubled as a medieval game board · Live Science
- GOP congressman says Trump's leverage is shot after Russia waiver (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · the World archive · all months