Time to Take the Hit

Episode summary:

Republicans just took two big hits at the Supreme Court—but the real message wasn’t for the justices, it was for Congress. The Court has made it clear that if conservatives want to secure elections, address birthright citizenship, and make other generational changes, they must do it through legislation, not executive orders or court battles. This Daily Update explains what the Mississippi ballot ruling and the reversal of President Trump’s birthright citizenship order actually mean for Republican lawmakers. It also challenges Republicans in both the House and Senate to stop playing it safe and use their power in Congress to pursue real, lasting conservative reforms—even if it means taking a political hit.

What you’ll learn / Key moments

• 00:01 – Two new Supreme Court losses and why they matter for Republicans
• 00:17 – How SCOTUS opened the door to counting ballots after Election Day in states like Mississippi
• 00:25 – Why reversing Trump’s birthright citizenship order puts the fight back in Congress
• 01:00 – The core question: hold office comfortably or risk it to change the country
• 01:55 – Why Republicans must be willing to “take the hit,” confront the filibuster, and govern boldly for generational change

What you can do

If you are frustrated with watching courts decide issues that Congress should have settled long ago, now is the time to act. Call and email your representatives and senators, and tell them you expect them to use their majority to write clear election laws, reform citizenship policy, and stop hiding behind procedures and Senate traditions. Share this episode with others who care about secure elections and constitutional government, and help build pressure for a serious, unified conservative agenda that is passed in Congress instead of left to the courts.

Republicans – it is time to take the big hit and create generational change.

This is the Wilmington Standard Daily Update for Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

This week the Republican party – and America itself – lost two major Supreme Court cases.  First, SCOTUS ruled that Mississippi – and by extension any other state – may receive and count ballots after election day.  Second, the Justices reversed President Trump’s Executive Order concerning Birthright Citizenship – ridiculously continuing the idea that just being born here – regardless of the legal status of parents - makes one eligible to participate in our Republic in every way.

But Republicans need to take a bigger lesson from these court cases.  In every case – both in the wins and losses – the justices decided – and sometimes erred – on the grounds of legislative authority.  SCOTUS effectively said that if Republicans want to change election laws, change citizenship status, or make any other huge changes – they need to do it through Congress – and not through the courts or the President’s pen.

Which brings us to the major question for Republicans – are you in this for power and prestige of being an elected official – or are you actually there to make laws for the good of this country? If it is the first, you will do anything to stay in power – avoiding the big controversies – raising a ruckus when not in the majority but treading carefully when you are – just so you can stay in that office in Washington, DC. 

If you want to actually make a difference – it might mean that your term of office might be short – but you will make a difference that will last for years while you are there.

It is quite clear that Republicans need to be willing to take a big hit and be willing to risk everything in order to fix the mess that the liberals have made of our country.  The Senate needs to be willing to blow away the filibuster – or at least the procedural or silent filibuster – so that bills may be brought to the floor and acted upon by the majority Republican members.  Republicans in the House must stop dancing and preening to the cameras to satisfy whatever voter base they have and knuckle down to get some work done.  It means that Republicans across both Houses need to have a plan – a plan that might end them up in court or out of office – but a unified plan that will result in a generational change to our country through the implementation of conservative ideal.

They might just realize that when Republicans in office are bold and decisive – and are willing to risk everything for the good of our country – and are smart about it - voters will probably keep them in office to get even more things done.

For the Wilmington Standard, I’m Reuel Sample.  Thanks for listening.