[guest post by Dana]

So, rather than fine-tuning their messaging in an effort to make constituents understand why the President’s cost-cutting decisions are beneficial to the nation at large, House Republicans are being told instead to not waste their time holding any more townhalls. Of course, that informs us of two things: It’s bad business for Republicans when videos of town halls showing angry constituents, who are less than pleased about ongoing cuts, go viral, and, there simply is no positive spin to put on these quickly made decisions that will hurt so many.

Congressional Republicans are again being advised against holding in-person town halls after several instances of lawmakers being berated by attendees went viral.

The chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is the Hill committee that works to get Republicans elected to the House, told lawmakers in a closed-door meeting Tuesday morning that there were more efficient ways to reach constituents than in-person town halls, according to two sources in the room.

[Ed. – Pretty sure that “more efficient ways to reach constituents” is code for out of the public eye.]

Anyway, Trump is addressing a joint session of Congress tonight. Consider this an open thread.

—Dana