The GOP's Running Shoes Are On—And Trump Just Lit the Fuse

Inside the Panic, Retaliation, and Destructive Spiral of a Man Who Knows He's Losing the Party

*Senator Thom Tillis, (R), an increasingly outspoken critic of Donald Trump.

The GOP's Running Shoes Are On—And Trump Just Lit the Fuse

Inside the Panic, Retaliation, and Destructive Spiral of a Man Who Knows He's Losing the Party

The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter #445: July 25th, 2025

“When the king knows the court has turned on him, he doesn’t just leave quietly. He burns the castle.”
— an old political axiom that’s about to be proven true… the hard way

Let me tell you a little secret that the D.C. elite don’t want to admit…not to their donors…not to their staff…and certainly not to the American public:

Donald Trump is panicking.

No, not the red-faced, finger-pointing, “I’m being persecuted!” pantomime panic he uses to rile up MAGA land. I mean the real kind. The kind that has a man pacing barefoot through Mar-a-Lago at 2:12 a.m. with bloodshot eyes and a phone gripped like a grenade.

Because the whispers he’s heard for months are now too loud to ignore:

The GOP is done with him.

The fundraising emails may still carry his name. The spineless sycophants may still appear on Newsmax to pledge fealty.

But behind closed doors? They're drafting the escape plan. They're shoving money into lifeboats. And Trump…ever the showman turned mob boss turned would-be monarch…is reacting exactly as you'd expect a cornered narcissist to act:

He's lashing out.

And the fuse he just lit? Could blow a hole straight through the Republican Party.

The Schiff Smear: A Panicked Man's First Shot

On July 15th, Donald Trump took to Truth Social and hurled what he hoped would be a political death sentence:

He accused Rep. Adam Schiff of mortgage fraud.

Not misconduct. Not poor judgment. Not even hypocrisy.

Criminal fraud.

Let that sink in.

Trump’s rant claimed Schiff…his longtime antagonist…the man who led impeachment inquiries…intelligence briefings…and now a Senate campaign in California…had committed a “long-running scam” by lying on mortgage applications about where he lived.

Where’d Trump get this intel? A criminal referral from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), reportedly based on occupancy irregularities tied to Schiff’s D.C. and California residences.

The timing? Curious.

The facts? Thin.

The implications? Nuclear.

Because this wasn’t about exposing financial malfeasance.

This was about punishment.

Retribution.

And it was loudly public, which tells us something crucial:

Trump didn’t do this because it would work. He did it because he’s scared.

Retaliation Is the Tell of the Terrified

Trump’s base doesn’t understand this…but you and I do:

Powerful men don’t show you the blade unless they’re afraid you’re about to take theirs away.

And Trump? He's been watching his blade rust for months.

The GOP isn't just cooling on him…they’re in a full-blown emotional breakup. Except Trump’s the kind of ex who sets your clothes on fire in the driveway.

Let’s connect the dots:

• The Koch network cut him off.

• Major GOP donors are flirting with Youngkin and JD Vance.

• Republican strategists are whispering about 2028 and skipping 2026 altogether.

• Fox News went soft. Then hard. Then cold.

• And the Heritage Foundation? They're mumbling about “long-term viability.”

Translation: Trump’s “Golden Age” is now green-tarnished brass.

Let’s Talk Psychology: The Narcissist Spiral

This isn’t a political story anymore.

It’s a psychological one.

When narcissists sense abandonment…they don’t just sulk. They don’t just cry into a Diet Coke. They retaliate.

It’s textbook.

Dr. Ramani Durvasula calls this the “narcissistic collapse”: a sudden…erratic…and often destructive reaction to perceived rejection.

That’s where we are.

This Schiff attack isn’t about policy. It’s not even about revenge.

It’s about the unbearable feeling of power slipping away.

And Trump’s wiring doesn’t allow for graceful exits or quiet retreat.

No, if he’s going down, he wants to take everyone with him:

• Adam Schiff

• The Department of Justice

• The Federal Reserve

• The GOP

Yes…even the party that made him president.

Because in Trump’s mind…if they’re not loyal…they’re the enemy.

And there are no brakes on that train.

The Republican Party Is Sitting on a Live Wire

You’d think Republicans would see this coming.

But most are still in a daze…shell-shocked from the last eight years of walking the MAGA tightrope without a net.

They’ve played nice. They’ve sucked up. They’ve kept quiet. All because they feared the base.

But here’s what they’re just now realizing:

The base isn’t as loyal to Trump as he thinks…and neither are they.

We’re entering the final act of the Trump saga.

And it’s going to be scorched-earth politics on steroids.

Because when you strip a man like Trump of institutional protection…you don’t get humility…you get vengeance.

Here’s what’s at risk:

• Bureaucratic sabotage: weaponizing a hell of a lot more DOJ investigations before leaving office.

• Internal blackmail: releasing kompromat or threatening key allies.

• Base radicalization: calling for “justice” against fellow Republicans he deems traitors.

• Cultural chaos: encouraging unrest if he’s tossed out on his ass, indicted, or convicted.

And if you think that’s hyperbole?

Go reread the Truth Social post where he calls Schiff “a lowlife who should be prosecuted and jailed.”

Then remember: this is the same man who told an armed crowd on January 6 to march to the Capitol and “fight like hell.”

You think he's bluffing this time?

Schiff’s Response: Cool, Collected, and Dangerous

Now here’s the kicker.

Schiff didn’t panic. He didn’t flail. He didn’t even issue a defensive press release.

He mocked Trump.

Called the threat “a letdown.” Dismissed the accusation as “more political theater.”

Then calmly explained that dual residency is standard…the banks knew everything…and the so-called referral was another wet fart from Trump’s revenge machine.

And that response?

That’s what really burns Trump alive.

Because narcissists don’t just hate rejection…they crave acknowledgment.

They need you to scream back.

But Schiff didn’t scream.

He smirked.

And in doing so…he drove another nail into Trump’s increasingly unhinged political coffin.

What Happens Now? Let Me Give It to You Straight

Here’s the real danger:

As Trump continues to feel abandoned…he’ll shift from kingmaker to kingbreaker.

That’s the trajectory.

From influencer… to spoiler… to saboteur.

First…let’s play a crazy game…because when you’re dealing with Trump…playing out crazy scenarios is time well spent.

Let’s say he survived the GOP until 2028 (he won’t) and planned to force his way into a third term run.

Here’s how it could play out:

1. He runs anyway.

   • Splits the conservative vote.

   • Drags down Senate and House tickets with MAGA baggage.

   • Costs the GOP the suburbs again.

2. He doesn’t run…but endorses chaos.

   • Declares the system rigged.

   • Refuses to endorse the nominee.

   • Rallies his base to abstain or protest vote.

3. He releases dirt.

   • From private convos to kompromat collected via loyalists.

   • Think: kompromising photos, private recordings, internal texts.

4. He starts naming names.

   • And not Democrats.

   • But Republicans he believes betrayed him: Kemp, Haley, DeSantis, even McConnell.

5. He demands immunity.

   • Behind closed doors…he’ll offer peace in exchange for protection.

   • No deal? Expect scorched earth.

Are you beginning to see why they realize they need to do something….right now?

They can’t afford to let him hang on until anywhere close to 2028.

The GOP’s Last Chance to Grow a Spine

If Republican leadership wants to survive Trump’s political death spiral…they need to stop playing diplomat and start playing hardball.

That means:

• Calling out this Schiff attack for what it is: revenge.

• Admitting Trump has become a liability to down-ballot races.

• Refusing to indulge fantasies of a Trump-led resurgence.

• Planning for the damage he’ll do on the way out…not just hoping he fades.

Because this isn’t 2016.

There’s no Trump surprise coming.

There’s only a slow…ugly…embarrassing collapse of a man who once had the crown…and now only has bitterness.

A Mentor of Mine Used to Say...

“When a system breaks down, it reveals its deepest structure. And if the structure is corruption, then the collapse is a gift…it lets us rebuild honestly.”

Trump’s collapse is ugly. Loud. Petty. But it’s clarifying.

It’s the chance for Democrats to lead with transparency…vision…and spine.

It’s the moment the GOP must decide whether it wants to be a political party or a personality cult.

And for the rest of us?

It’s the clearest sign yet that the American experiment can still survive the demagogue.

But only if we’re willing to tell the truth…again and again and again.

Are You Skeptical? Would you like more? Okay….

Here are a few more reasons why I am making the statements I am about Trump and the GOP.

1. Donor Defections and Quiet Funding Shifts

Follow the money…because it always tells the truth.

• The Koch Network’s Americans for Prosperity Action openly backed Nikki Haley in the 2024 run-up… and declared Trump a losing proposition. While that failed to stop him in the primary, the intent was clear: build an infrastructure for post-Trump conservatism.

• Major bundlers like Ken Griffin (Citadel) and Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman withdrew early financial support citing concerns about electability and “chaos.”

• Reports from within the RNC donor circle showed hesitance to pour big money into Trump’s legal defense funds…especially after the Save America PAC began hemorrhaging donor cash to pay legal fees instead of election infrastructure.

Translation: GOP’s biggest donors were already hedging hard in 2024. They were quietly investing in Trump-alternatives…down-ballot protection…and…weren’t at all excited about throwing more cash at Trump.

2. Right-Wing Media is Soft-Pedaling or Shifting the Narrative

Media patterns show fragmented tension and strategic distance within Rupert Murdoch’s empire. Additionally…

• WSJ is behaving like a serious journalistic organ.

• NY Post is refining its tone with occasional jabs.

• Fox remains loyal but cautious.

Translation: They’re laying the media groundwork so that if a Trump implosion comes…they’ve got distance…and an alibi.

3. Strategic GOP Maneuvering Hints at Life After Trump

This is where the clearest signals are. Look at what smart Republican operators are doing right now:

J.D. Vance and Josh Hawley are quietly positioning themselves for post-MAGA influence.

• Vance is courting Silicon Valley donors and national defense conservatives… aiming to bridge Trumpism and establishment appeal.

• Hawley is refining his brand into “family-first populism,” pitching himself as the heir to cultural conservatism minus the chaos.

Ron DeSantis and Glenn Youngkin are behaving like 2028 contenders…not Trump loyalists.

• Both have retooled messaging and are signaling readiness to lead…with veiled jabs at the “baggage” Trump brings to a general election.

State GOPs in Georgia…Arizona…and Pennsylvania are building parallel infrastructures that don’t rely on Trumpworld operatives.

• Example: Georgia’s GOP barely lifted a finger to shield Trump during the Fani Willis indictments…letting him twist while they focused on local power consolidation.

Senate Republicans in McConnell’s orbit have essentially written Trump out of their long-term planning.

• Even as McConnell stepped back due to health…and then announced he would not run for reelection…the strategic posture is clear: distract Trump…avoid entanglement…and protect the Senate map.

Translation: The GOP isn’t staging a hard coup. They’re laying sandbags. They’re not dethroning Trump…just yet: they’re quietly prepping for the day he implodes…and they DO.

Bonus: They Know Trump’s Epstein Risk Is Radioactive

The GOP may publicly downplay it…but behind closed doors they know:

• Trump didn’t release the Epstein files—that enraged his base.

• Ghislaine Maxwell’s name is now in the House Oversight Committee’s crosshairs.

Translation: As the Epstein firestorm grows…Trump becomes more of a liability that they can’t afford. They’re prepping for the moment they have to pull the chute.

What the GOP Just Did to Kill the Epstein Transparency Push

Let’s break this down:

• A bipartisan discharge petition was launched on July 15th by Reps. Ro Khanna (D‑CA) and Thomas Massie (R‑KY).

• Its goal? Force a vote on the public release of Jeffrey Epstein’s sealed DOJ documents.

• It needed 218 signatures to make it to the floor. Just a handful of Republicans needed to break ranks.

What happened?

211 House Republicans blocked it.

Speaker Mike Johnson mouthed words like “transparency” and “truth”…then quietly refused to allow a vote.

Even performative firebrands like Marjorie Taylor Greene voted no.

And then?

They called recess. Packed up early for summer break.

Translation: The GOP didn’t just block the vote. They blocked the process.

They didn’t want the documents unsealed. They didn’t want the names exposed. And they didn’t want to be forced to go on record with their reasons.

So now, the burden isn’t just on Trump or a few rogue players.

The entire Republican Party owns this cover-up.

Final Thought: The GOP Is Like a Mob Family Eyeing a Boss Who’s Lost It

They know Trump made them rich.

But he’s paranoid. He’s messy. He’s inviting too much heat.

They’re not loyal to him. They’re loyal to power.

And now it’s obvious: Trump costs more than he delivers. So, like any good mob family…they’ll take the cannoli… and throw him overboard.

When? That’s the million-dollar question.

Don’t get me wrong..there’s more hell coming. Probably before this blows wide open… and maybe even after.

But here’s what I do know:

We’ve faced worse. We’ve stared down the barrel of chaos before. And every time…no matter how impossible it looked…we met the moment.

We will again. Stronger. Smarter. Battle-tested.

And this time? We’ll make damn sure the truth doesn’t get buried with the bodies.

Enjoy your day! I’ll be back sometime this afternoon or early evening…with a hair curling paid subscriber issue. I was about to say, “You don’t want to miss it.” Only you know whether you do…or don’t. It’s going to be written…whatever you decide.

Eyes_____.Chin_____.You’re ______than you think. (See how fast your brain learns?! It knows :)

Back soon….

-Jack

P.S. What Trump’s doing to Schiff? It’s not just an attack. It’s a test balloon. He wants to see how far he can push the system… one more time.

What happens next depends on whether the press…the Democrats…and the few remaining GOP grownups have the guts to push back…and not just defend Schiff…but expose Trump’s full pattern of behavior: retaliation, disinformation…and destabilization.