First, this article illustrates why enormous individual wealth is a problem. Musk could finance a primary of each and every Republican Congress member, which would amount to a soft takeover of the federal government. Lowering taxes on the wealthy was a mistake.
> He served at the pleasure of the president. He no longer does
Congressional Republicans continue to act like Trump is king, rather than President.
It's weird reading actual lawmakers refusing to put their names on the record, for fear of retaliation. That's usually for staffers, and the retaliation would come from above. There's not much "above" the legislator themselves.
If I were their constituents, I'd be pretty cranky about their lawmakers saying one thing to them and another to the press. (Obviously, we don't know exactly who they are, but it's not hard to narrow it down. And they appear to be speaking for others, so even if it wasn't your specific legislator, you know if yours likely feels that way.)