That Putin is really amazing. In Minnesota there are 12 Trump/Democrat districts--places where 2016 voters broke Republican for president but elected Democrats to Congress-Washington Post, Weigel, 8/30/17 (Article Is about Minnesota and 2018 elections, doesn't mention Putin the magician. Seeks to make narrative about WaPo pal Paul Ryan)

.
The "four Republicans" in the article aren't incumbents. Paul Ryan's super PAC would spend to defeat them if they spoke negatively about him.

8/30/17, "In Minnesota, four swing-seat Republicans decline to back Ryan for speaker," Washington Post, David Weigel

"But the reluctance on display in Minnesota came from candidates running in three of the cycle’s 12 Trump/Democrat districts--places where 2016 voters broke Republican for president, but sent a Democrat back to Congress. Trump’s surge among rural white voters nearly took out Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), whose 1st District in the southern part of the state backed Barack Obama by 1.4 points, then backed Trump by 14.9 points.

Hagedorn, who was nearly elected by that swing, was among the candidates who refused to take a stand on Ryan this week. Saying he did not want to alienate any potential supporters, even “Washington Republicans,” he suggested that it was too early to ask candidates who they’d back for speaker."...

 



..................