A group of Republican lawmakers publicly at odds with President Donald Trump has a real opportunity to mount a meaningful resistance against his agenda, but according to a new analysis from MS NOW, they have so far wasted their chances to "do more than just spit in Trump's eye."

Trump's campaign to drive out congressional Republicans he considers insufficiently loyal has produced an unintended consequence: what many observers now call the "YOLO caucus." These GOP lawmakers, departing office at the end of their current terms following conflicts with the president, have used their remaining time to obstruct his legislative priorities, causing notable delays given the razor-thin Republican majorities in Congress. In a Senate controlled by such a narrow margin, just two or three Republican defections are enough to block legislation or stall nominations, since virtually all procedural hurdles require a 60-vote threshold. That arithmetic gives departing senators who no longer face primary voters outsized leverage through tools like confirmation holds and floor objections — if they choose to use them.

Writing for MS NOW on Monday, Republican strategist Susan Del Percio examined the phenomenon in detail.

"These YOLO Republicans are finishing the final months of their six-year terms, with Sen. Thom Tillis choosing retirement over another brutal primary battle and Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and John Cornyn of Texas losing their primaries to Trump-backed upstart challengers. It has been a tough summer for lawmakers who dared question the president's whims," Del Percio wrote. "President Donald Trump's 'revenge tour' had a secondary consequence: Republican senators with grievances, and a lot less to lose. But pettiness is one thing — leverage is quite another. And due to the GOP's incredibly thin majority in the Senate, these three now have a big opportunity to do more than just spit in Trump's eye — if they choose to take advantage."

Yet several of these senators have let critical opportunities slip away. Del Percio pointed specifically to Cassidy's decision to back Trump's CDC director nominee, Dr. Erica Schwartz.

"Cassidy claims he backed her nomination in part after she assured him the CDC would revise language on its website related to autism and vaccines," she noted. "But why didn't he fight for more? At the very least, he could have secured a commitment to increased funding for vaccine education, given that measles cases in the U.S. have hit a 35-year high."

Del Percio also addressed the controversy surrounding Trump's attorney general nominee, Todd Blanche. On Sunday evening, reports emerged that Blanche had conceded to demands from Tillis and Cornyn to issue a formal written order rescinding Trump's $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund and his immunity from future tax audits — two highly controversial provisions in the settlement of his lawsuit against the IRS. The move appears to pave the way for Blanche's confirmation, dashing hopes that the senators would help "permanently sink" his nomination.

Looking ahead, Del Percio argued that the YOLO caucus still has ample opportunity to maximize what remains of their tenure.

"These men could team up for a legislative priority like increased FEMA funding, for example, something both North Carolina and Texas have a tremendous need for right now — or they could do it alone and push for any one of their many respective statewide needs," she wrote. "The point is, make these next few days count. Why not show your constituents what government can actually do, if you know how the game is played?"

She concluded: "Government is not meant to be used as a tool for vengeance; it is meant to serve the best interests of the people. This might just be the last time Tillis and Cornyn will be able to do that — even if it means holding their noses and helping Republicans install Trump's former personal lawyer in the attorney general's office. This form of politics isn't pretty. But if you're only going to live once, you should at least try to make it count."