Republican defense hawks are riding high after a series of events abroad prompted President Donald Trump to lean away from his more quasi-isolationist roots in his first term. His bombing of Iran, increased aggression toward Russia,

Flattery and pressure — coupled with President Trump’s growing dissatisfaction with President Vladimir V. Putin — have helped build momentum for new economic punishments.

Hours after Pres. Trump railed against Vladimir Putin, saying "he’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless," Russia unleashed more than 700 drones into Ukraine.

FBI Director Kash Patel pledged at his confirmation hearing that the bureau would not look backward, but the Trump administration's fresh scrutiny of the Russia investigation has brought back into focus a years-old inquiry that continues to infuriate the Republican president.