{"id":2606509,"date":"2026-05-24T15:29:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T19:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thom-tillis-says-not-having-a-filter-is-great-in-cnn-interview\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T15:30:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T19:30:20","slug":"thom-tillis-says-not-having-a-filter-is-great-in-cnn-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thom-tillis-says-not-having-a-filter-is-great-in-cnn-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Thom Tillis says not having a filter is &#8216;great&#8217; in CNN interview"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthom-tillis-says-not-having-a-filter-is-great-in-cnn-interview%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2606509&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Sen. Thom Tillis said that once members of Congress are not seeking reelection, thay feel freer to criticize President Donald Trump and his allies more openly as they no longer need the \u201cfilter\u201d that keeps their remarks politically safe. Speaking on CNN\u2019s *State of the Union*, Tillis described this as \u201cgreat\u201d and said it allows politicians to communicate more directly.<\/p>\n<p>He then sharply attacked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, calling him \u201ca failure\u201d and saying he \u201cdoesn\u2019t deserve to be in the U.S. Senate.\u201d tillis\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-senator-stabenow-doubles-down-on-tone-deaf-electric-car-comments\/\" title=\"Dem ...ator Stabenow Doubles Down On Tone-Deaf Electric Car Comments\">remarks reflect<\/a> his growing public distance from Trump and MAGA politics since announcing he would not run for reelection in 2026. he also praised Sen.John Cornyn as highly influential and respected, contrasting Cornyn with Paxton.<\/p>\n<p>The article notes that Trump\u2019s endorsement of Paxton could strengthen Paxton in a potential Senate primary and worry other Republicans, as it may create challenges for Cornyn from the right. It also points out that Sen. Bill Cassidy has similarly become more critical of Trump-aligned efforts after breaking with aspects of GOP leadership, including his support for <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >bipartisan war powers legislation<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4579245\/trump-claims-tillis-quit-reelection-bid-after-trump-refused-endorsement\/\">Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC)<\/a> on Sunday said Republicans no longer worried about reelection have the freedom to more openly criticize President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> and his allies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking on CNN\u2019s <em>State of the Union<\/em>, Tillis joked that lawmakers <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/midterm-elections\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"308\">no longer facing voters<\/a> can finally drop the political \u201cfilter\u201d that shapes many public comments.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4580963\/massie-says-lost-due-epstein-files\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Massie says he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massie-says-he-lost-reelection-due-to-his-bipartisan-efforts-to-release-the-epstein-files\/\" title=\"Massie says he lost reelection due to his ... to release the Epstein files\">lost reelection due<\/a> to his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/surge-in-fentanyl-seizures-show-cartels-taking-advantage-of-lax-border-policies-dhs-officials-say\/\" title=\"Surge in Fentanyl Seizures Show Cartels Taking Advantage of Lax Border Policies, DHS Officials Say\">bipartisan efforts<\/a> to release the Epstein files<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4579519\/democrats-poach-maha-voters-midterms\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Can Democrats poach MAHA voters ahead of the midterm elections?<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4577942\/platner-trump-like-response-maine-scandals-polls\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Platner demonstrates Trump-like Teflon response to scandals in polls<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou know what I try to tell everybody, folks, if you\u2019re not running for reelection, then that one filter that you need to make sure your words are measured, so that the Democrats can\u2019t use it against you, and maybe some Republicans, you\u2019ve just got to have that extra filter,\u201d Tillis said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd I\u2019m telling you, it\u2019s great not having it,\u201d he said. \u201cSo that you can get the same point across, but now you can use unambiguous words.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tillis then turned directly to<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4579975\/paxton-appeal-texas-sb-4-immigration-law\/\"> Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-TX)<\/a>, delivering a sharp rebuke of the conservative firebrand and Trump ally.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd I\u2019m being unambiguous on Paxton,\u201d Tillis said. \u201cHe is a failure. He doesn\u2019t deserve to be in the U.S. Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tillis\u2019s comments underscore how he has become increasingly critical toward Trump and the elements of the MAGA movement since announcing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3867731\/trump-losing-leverage-stubborn-gop-senators-align-with-agenda\/\">he would not seek reelection in 2026<\/a>. In recent months, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4579903\/thom-tillis-trump-stupid-stuff-hurting-gop\/\">Tillis has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/qb-dak-prescott-explains-why-hes-not-disclosing-vaccine-status-its-all-up-to-your-belief\/\" title=\"QB Dak Prescott Explains Why He\u2019s Not Disclosing Vaccine Status: \u2018It\u2019s All Up To Your Belief\u2019\">publicly pushed back<\/a> on issues hurting Republicans politically<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tillis on leading a YOLO Caucus: It&#8217;s &#8220;great&#8221; not having a filter. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HgLLPxwPEM\">pic.twitter.com\/HgLLPxwPEM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CNNSOTU\/status\/2058552597020074351?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. Bill Cassidy has similarly sharpened his criticism of Trump and MAGA-aligned Republicans after losing support from his state GOP following his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4571925\/trump-thomas-massie-worse-bill-cassidy\/\">vote to convict Trump<\/a> during the president\u2019s second impeachment trial. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cassidy recently broke with many Republicans by backing a bipartisan war powers resolution and criticizing GOP efforts surrounding an \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-announces-anti-weaponization-fund\">anti-weaponization fund<\/a>\u201d backed by Trump allies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his CNN interview, Tillis also contrasted Paxton with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4573446\/john-cornyn-trump-no-endorsement-texas-senate-runoff\/\">Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)<\/a>, whom he described as one of the Senate GOP\u2019s most effective and respected members. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJohn Cornyn is one of the most powerful, one of the most influential, one of the most patriotic members I\u2019ve had the privilege to serve with over the last 11 years,\u201d Tillis said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4579903\/thom-tillis-trump-stupid-stuff-hurting-gop\/\"><strong>THOM TILLIS CLAPS BACK AT TRUMP OVER \u2018STUPID STUFF\u2019 HURTING GOP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s endorsement of Paxton has significantly boosted the Texas attorney general\u2019s standing in a potential Senate primary and increased concerns among Senate Republicans that Cornyn could face some serious challenges from the right.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s backing of Paxton <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4575122\/senate-gop-fumes-trump-endorses-ken-paxton-texas\/\">reportedly<\/a> frustrated some GOP senators who view Cornyn as a key Republican figure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sen. Thom Tillis: non-reelection GOPs can drop the political \u201cfilter.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4275,"featured_media":2606510,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26085753027920_e560e3-e1779643688194.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50623,5894,41388,44832],"class_list":["post-2606509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-cnn-2","tag-politics","tag-thom-tillis","tag-us-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26085753027920_e560e3-e1779643688194.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606509","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4275"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2606509"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606509\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2606513,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2606509\/revisions\/2606513"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2606510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2606509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2606509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2606509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}