Behind the scenes: McConnell said on the call that the January 6th vote is “a vote of conscience,” these sources said.

A source paraphrased McConnell as saying, “I’m finishing 36 years in the Senate and I’ve cast a lot of big votes.” including over war and impeachment.

“And in my view, just my view,” McConnell said, “this is will be the most consequential I have ever cast.”

“The context was McConnell saying we’re being asked to overturn the results after a guy didn’t get as many electoral votes and lost by 7 million popular votes,” the source said.

Between the lines: Many Republican senators are furious at Hawley for forcing them to take what Trump is setting up as the ultimate loyalty test on January 6th.