TASK DEFINITION: Given a document, find the main entity about whom the author is writing. Write the full name if mentioned in the text. Note that URLs in the text have been replaced with [Link].
PROBLEM: After four years of taunting and torturing fellow Republicans , Ted Cruz is shedding his just-say-no persona in the Senate for a new identity : Team player . 
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell -- a man Cruz once derided as a liar and an ally of Democrats -- is counting on the Texan to help navigate an Obamacare repeal bill through the Senate with virtually no margin for error . 
As a trusted voice of the conservative wing of the GOP and conduit to the House Freedom Caucus , Cruz is fast emerging as a pivotal player in the Republican bid to do away with the landmark Democratic health care law . 
But after receiving so much blowback for that and many other episodes , there 's nary a Cruz critic in the Senate Republican Conference nowadays . 
Cruz 's work on health care has been uncharacteristically low profile so far . 
It began with a private dinner in mid-February at the upscale D.C. steakhouse Capital Grille with the more compromise-minded Alexander , who once chided Cruz for calling McConnell a liar on the Senate floor by noting that one thing "you learn in Kindergarten is to respect one another ." 
Alexander and Cruz agreed to assemble a group of GOP senators to prepare for the eventuality that the House would send them a health care bill riddled with flaws that could not pass the Senate as written . 
But when it comes to passing a new health care law , Republicans believe the inclusion of Cruz and his close ally , Sen. Mike Lee -LRB- R-Utah -RRB- , could pay critical dividends by building support among conservative groups and the House Freedom Caucus . 
"One of the challenges when the Obamacare bill was in the House , was that early on was that the different parts of the party were not talking to each other ," Cruz said in an interview in his office . 
Collaborative and inclusive are not typically words associated with Cruz . 
Now that President Barack Obama is out of office , Cruz said his mission in the Senate is no longer to be the "loyal opposition ." 
"Different circumstances call for different approaches ," said Cruz , who is gearing up to run for a second term next year in a closely watched race . 
Cruz 's leading role has shocked some of his colleagues . 
The group that Cruz helped develop is , in some ways , a substitute for the traditional committee process . 
"We have skin in the game ," Cruz said . 
Still , there 's concern among some more centrist senators that the end-product could appeal too much to Cruz and not enough to the dozen or so Republican senators who have grave concerns about slashing Medicaid and removing protections for preexisting conditions . 
Clearly he believes Lee and Cruz are crucial ; but some GOP sources said there are deep doubts among senators that Collins or Sen. Rand Paul -LRB- R-Ky . -RRB- 
Though GOP leaders believe by getting Cruz involved they are minimizing the possibility that Cruz will later demolish their repeal efforts , the Texas firebrand is n't on the same page about everything . 
Cruz wants to go as big as possible , and if Senate rules prohibit his idea , he believes Vice President Mike Pence should simply overrule the parliamentarian . 
"The parliamentarian merely advises , the vice president decides ," Cruz said . 
But on almost every other front , Republicans say , Cruz is being highly productive .

SOLUTION: Ted Cruz

PROBLEM: Washington (CNN)  Sen. Lindsey Graham  R-South Carolina   warned against a potential conflict with North Korea "if things don't change."
"If we have to go to war to stop this  we will "  Graham  told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday. "If there's a war with North Korea it will be because North Korea brought it on itself  and we're headed to a war if things don't change."
 Graham 's comments on CNN's "The Situation Room" come amid rising tension between the US and North Korea  and on Tuesday  the Pentagon confirmed that North Korea had launched what the US military believes to be an intercontinental ballistic missile.
 Graham  clarified that  he  doesn't think war would be the best outcome but said the US won't let Kim Jong Un have the ability to strike America's mainland.

SOLUTION: Graham

PROBLEM: Former Nixon aide Jeffrey Lord noted to Newsmax TV on Tuesday that the "undercurrent" in the relationship between President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell most likely is  the Kentucky Republican's wife  Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao .
" He  doesn't hesitate to say what's on  his  mind  which is a good thing "  Lord  told "Newsmax Now" host Bill Tucker of their news conference on Monday at the White House. " He  doesn't do the whole political schmoozing.
"When  he 's pleased   he 'll say so. When  he 's displeased   he  will say so.
"And one of the other undercurrents here  one of the things that we should always be aware of  the secretary of transportation is named Elaine Chao.

SOLUTION:
Elaine Chao