Did Rob just suggest that Republicans will lose the Senate majority in 2026?

Wittman on the filibuster, tariffs, Epstein, redistricting, elections, and ICE

On 12 February Rob Wittman was a guest on the John Fredericks Show, “America’s Godzilla of the TRUTH!”, apparently. This is Wittman in his favorite environment: among fellow conservatives. So we took some notes. Here’s what he said. First, here’s the video if you’d like to watch it.

The other guests were Chris Saxman (former VA Delegate for HD-20 (Staunton)), Iowa State Representative Steve Holt, and Iowa State Representative Eddie Andrews, who’s a candidate for Governor there this year.

Next Chair of the House Armed Services Committee?

Fredericks asserted that Wittman “will be the next Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, one of the most powerful positions in government, especially under President Trump.” The idea that Wittman would be in charge of the ASC should terrify anyone who values integrity and backbone.

Filibuster

Wittman advocates a return to a speaking filibuster in the Senate. He believes the Senate can (should?) change the rules for specific votes, such as that for DHS funding, as he doesn’t doubt that the Democrats will eliminate the filibuster entirely if they win a majority.

(Fact break: Democrats could have eliminated the filibuster in 2009-2010, 2013-2014, and 2021-2022. But they didn’t, as they rightfully feared how Republicans could use that power once they regained the majority. The Dems did change the rules in 2013 for executive branch and lower court nominations, and in 2017 Republicans extended that to Supreme Court nominations. No party has eliminated the filibuster to apply to regular legislation. So while the fear that Wittman mentioned could happen, it hasn’t yet occurred despite several opportunities to do so. What’s happened that makes them think it’s more likely now, we wonder?)

Wittman expressed fears that, if the Senate doesn’t change the rules and pass whatever they want, voters will think that the Republican majority didn’t get anything done during this term.

The fact that Wittman is even suggesting that Democrats might win a majority in the Senate is astounding compared to where things were just a year ago. Wittman believes a Democratic majority in the Senate is possible and already fears the consequences.

This fear was amped up as Fredericks commented that Democrats are “radical whack jobs.” We don’t often use emojis on here but: 🙄 seems appropriate.

Tariffs

This just floored us. Wittman said that tariffs are too complex for Congress to debate, so it’s wise to hand Trump all that power. Congress can step in when they feel it necessary, Wittman suggested, but otherwise the Executive is best placed to handle tariffs.

Essentially, Wittman believes that the deliberative process that the Constitution designed in and assigned to Congress is too much for Congress to handle. So he advocates just… giving it up.

The lack of respect and adherence to the Constitution is simply incredible, especially from a nine-term member of Congress. He’s clearly unwilling or unable to do the job he’s been elected to do.

Epstein Files

“Transparency is the best thing,” Wittman said, and noted that whole documents shouldn’t be redacted. He expressed concern that innocent people’s names not be released in the files, but also noted that redacting those names is “easy.”

He’s not once questioned DOJ AG Bondi’s failure on all these counts, or her failure to redact the names of victims of Epstein, which should have been “easy.”

Virginia Redistricting

Host Fredericks said that he suspects Virginia is being redistricted to target Wittman. Aside from the transparent pandering to his guest, clearly he hasn’t seen the election results from last year. VA-01 is competitive with or without redistricting!

When this show was recorded, the Virginia Supreme Court hadn’t handed down its ruling that the referendum can proceed, and that they’d rule on the redistricting attempt after the election. But Wittman predicted during this show that the Supreme Court wouldn’t undermine the lower court decision, and wanted a ruling before early voting starts. He was likely disappointed last Friday evening!

Rob said that, if redistricting proceeds, Republican voices will be silenced, “and also independents!” he added quickly. Wittman said that Democrats believe that what happened in Texas was wrong, and now they’re righting a wrong with another wrong. It’s “irrational and contradictory,” he said.

At Wittman Watch, we believe that when Virginians voted for an independent redistricting commission in 2020, America looked very different than today. The events of 2025 have changed an incredible amount — including Virginians’ understanding of how other states have super-sized their weaponization of redistricting for political gain. Wittman is choosing to ignore these facts, and playing the conservative card of “respect the institutions!” while his party and this president lay waste to government agencies, legal precedent, and established policy. So his wailing complaints ring very hollow. In fact, they’re disgustingly hypocritical.

Upcoming Election

“Can Republicans hold the House?” Fredericks asked. Wittman was unequivocal: “Absolutely.” He believes that the Trump-led return to a manufacturing economy will bring prosperity again. Wittman’s claim is, of course, merely a hopeful fantasy. In 2025, the US added just 5,000 manufacturing jobs, and only 130,000 jobs overall. For comparison: in 2024 the US added 1.46 million new jobs…. but don’t mention Biden!

He said this year’s tax refunds will be “impactful for families,” and that Republicans have “done good things on healthcare with more to come.” (We know that’s all a load of nonsense.) He acknowledged that people need to sense for themselves that things are getting better. Ironically, he noted that this one place where Biden’s campaign failed: the economy was improving but people didn’t feel it yet, and voted the Dems out.

But we thought Trump won because he’s an unstoppable force of nature? Hmm!

ICE, and “removing the 20 million illegals Biden let in”

Wittman struck a relatively balanced note here…mostly.

He reported that VA-01 constituents want people who are here illegally and have committed crimes to be deported. Similarly, if someone entered illegally, was deported, and then returned illegally, they must also be permanently deported.

“What about the other 20m?” Fredericks asked. We must “find another way to deal with that,” said Wittman. He noted that people who have entered the US illegally are contributing to the economy, so we must look at people on a case by case basis. If “these people” are contributing to society, and paying taxes, “we need to find a way to keep those people here.” He also had a note of alarm: “The economy would flip upside down if those people were to be deported. “

But he’s not in favor of amnesty. “No. Absolutely not.” People need to be accountable for breaking the law, he said, but the immigration system is broken. He wants Congress to create legal pathways so people who have entered illegally and contribute to the economy can be here legally. He emphasized that we shouldn’t grant citizenship to these individuals but ensure people have legal status, so they don’t have to look over their shoulder all the time. He stressed, “We need these individuals for the economy.”

(Fact break: This is not a new idea. The Registry Act of 1929 allowed certain people who had entered before 1921 and were of “good moral character” to register as permanent residents despite lacking proper authorization. In 1986, Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), which was a lot like the 1929 Act. In 1990 Congress wrote the Immigration Act, signed by George H. W. Bush, which created Temporary Protected Status (TPS) that applied to nationals of certain countries. And of course there is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), signed by Obama in 2012. Wittman could have voted to make TPS and DACA permanent, under the DREAM Act of 2019, but instead he voted No. If Wittman were actually in favor of what he says he’s in favor of, he would have at least voted in favor or DACA and TPS. He didn’t. Maybe he’s changed his mind. Maybe.)

Rob has only endorsed what ICE has been doing, in Minnesota and across the country, despite all evidence showing the arrest of US citizens, people who have committed no crimes, and the murders of citizens.

We wonder whether his moderate tone here reflects the positions he takes in more private conversations. Sadly we’ll never know because we’re not among Wittman’s favored company.

An underlying tone of fear and delusion

As we watched this video, we were struck by two things.

First, an undertone of fear pervaded the entire show: fear of gerrymandering, voter impressions, Democrat rule-making in the Senate, and election loss. Wittman and his peers are playing defense.

Second, Wittman’s beliefs aren’t bound to facts. His assertion that a return to manufacturing will bring prosperity is hopeful fantasy. His statements on how illegal immigration should be handled are completely misaligned with Trump/Miller’s policies, and his own votes. His position on Congress’s role in setting tariffs is unconstitutional. Name a belief or position and it isn’t backed up by the facts.

Fredericks noted that Wittman has a Ph.D. “I call him Dr. Wittman,” he said. As a scientist, Rob knows objective facts don’t lie. So how can he hold these beliefs? Is he delusional? Or is Wittman choosing to ignore the facts? And, if so, why is he doing that?

Tell us what you think in the comments.