{
  "id": 11010624,
  "title": "For MAGA Senators, There’s No Such Thing as a Gaffe",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/for-maga-senators-theres-no-such-thing-as-a-gaffe",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-30T19:05:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Atlantic",
    "slug": "the-atlantic",
    "url": "https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/09/maga-senate-hearing-eric-schmitt/688839/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt had a memorable morning during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. His goal was to expose former Special Counsel Jack Smith as a perjurer in regards to his investigation of Trump's alleged election interference. Schmitt, a staunch MAGA Republican, attempted to plant text messages showing Smith meeting Fani Willis, the district attorney who prosecuted Trump for alleged election interference. However, Schmitt's attempt was quickly dismantled when it was revealed that the texts were actually about a basketball game featuring Caitlin Clark, a star player at the University of Iowa. The Democrats on the committee were quick to mock Schmitt's failed attempt, with Amy Klobuchar even suggesting that the conference call be adjourned until Schmitt could present the correct information. Despite the setback, Schmitt's performance likely won him praise among his MAGA Republican supporters, who see his loyalty to Donald Trump as crucial to their cause.",
  "summary": "How Eric Schmitt’s attempted gotcha failed spectacularly",
  "key_points": [
    "Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt attempted to expose Jack Smith as a perjurer.",
    "Schmitt's texts were actually about Caitlin Clark's basketball game.",
    "Schmitt's performance praised by MAGA Republican supporters."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}