SCOOP: RNC blasts The Bulwark for "actively laundering DNC talking points and calling it news"

We break down the spat between the RNC and The Bulwark.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) is pushing back against the Bulwark, claiming that it selectively quoted the GOP’s chairman, Joe Gruters.

“The Bulwark is actively laundering DNC talking points and calling it news,” Kiersten Pels, the GOP’s national press secretary, told the Washington Reporter. “They did not reach out for comment and instead manipulated a transcript to remove the line: ‘I like our chances in the midterms’ in order to orchestrate this sloppy hit piece against Chairman Gruters.”

At issue is a story in the Bulwark which quoted Gruters as saying “we are facing almost certain defeat” in 2026. While Gruters said that, the Bulwark piece omits the critical context that Gruters said that, thanks to President Donald Trump, he “like[s]” his party’s chances next year.

Pels added that “the Bulwark is nothing more than a bunch of shameless hacks pretending to be journalists. The Bulwark is laundering false smears on behalf of the DNC by deliberately lying about Chairman Joe Gruters’ remarks.”

“Chairman Gruters stated a basic historical fact,” Pels said, “that only three incumbent parties have won midterms in the last 100 years — and then said Republicans will defy history because of President Trump and the successful policies of the America First movement.”

Gruters for his part called the story “absolutely fake news.”

“Democrats are desperate to find any reason to erode confidence in President Trump and Republicans’ agenda,” Gruters said. “What’s true: The Party in power has only won the Midterms 3 times in the last 100 years. What’s true: The American people trust the President. What’s true: This country is better off with Republicans in charge. What’s true: We will win in 2026.”