Quick take: I’ll cover the Senate standoff over the SAVE America Act and filibuster, President Trump’s demands and schedule, the Mullin DHS confirmation push, the drama over Sen. Brian Schatz fleeing the floor, a weekend legal note and court action, and a few lighter items with embedded media preserved where they belonged.
The Senate is locked in a bruising debate over the SAVE America Act, and weekend headlines found President Trump pressing Republicans hard. He urged GOP senators to end the filibuster and scrap the Easter/Passover recess so the bill could pass with a simple majority. That push has created friction inside the GOP because leadership and a chunk of senators simply do not have the votes or appetite to dismantle the legislative filibuster.
Democrats remain united against the bill, which leaves the outcome unclear even if the Senate stays in session for an extended period. The President also pushed to add a provision banning men from competing in women’s sports, but that amendment failed to secure a simple majority during a test vote. With both sides dug in, this looks like a political chess match rather than a near-term policy victory.
Meanwhile, the Senate is expected to move on a key confirmation: Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s nomination for DHS Secretary. The chamber may divert from the SAVE America Act long enough to confirm him, and leadership is watching closely for how that vote could ripple through party dynamics. Mullin’s confirmation could mark a headline-grabbing floor action as the week progresses.
No meetings or hearings were teed up for Monday, but the Senate’s calendar remained full of tense negotiations and procedural posturing.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To Trump Demanding Republicans Nuke The Filibuster To Pass The SAVE America Act And Blow Up Recess
Lots of developments on the SAVE America Act over the weekend.
President Trump made two big demands of Senate Republicans last night:
End the filibuster and blow up the Easter/Passover recess to pass the SAVE America Act.
The Senate is into its second week on the bill, one of the longest debates on any singular piece of legislation in recent memory. Proponents of the bill argue that if the Senate just stays in session for weeks, Republicans can wear Democrats out, not need 60 votes to end a filibuster and pass the bill with a simple majority.
It’s possible the Senate could nix the recess. But the bill still lacks the votes to pass. Even with a simple majority. The President also continues to advocate to tack onto the bill a plan to bar men from competing in women’s sports. But a test vote on that amendment failed to even muster a simple majority on Saturday.
The President wants Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to single out GOP opponenents to the bill. And he even suggested that Republicans not negotiate an end to the DHS funding impasse until the bill passes.
Moreover, he also implored Republicans to nuke the legislative filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act. Thune has refused to go there. Plus, there aren’t the votes to do that.
Democrats are united in their opposition to the bill. So most of this is a standoff inside the GOP. It remains unclear how long the Senate will stay on the bill. But it’s possible this could go for a while – not necessarily gauranteeing success.
The Senate likely diverts from the bill this evening to confirm Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as DHS Secretary.
At the White House, President Trump was in Palm Beach but set to return to Washington after events in Memphis. His day included Executive Time, a Memphis Safe Task Force roundtable, and travel back to the White House for meetings. That travel and schedule matter because the President’s public demands influence the pressure applied to recalcitrant senators.
On the cabinet front, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum toured what was described as a “cutting-edge oil site in Texas,” emphasizing the importance of American energy dominance. Energy policy continues to be a major talking point across parties and will likely appear in related floor debates and messaging.
Weekend court action also deserves a quick mention: in Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration v. Bondi, Judge Patti Saras granted administrative motions in part and denied others, dismissing Count V but allowing most of the case to proceed. That split ruling leaves litigation alive and could have follow-on policy implications for how certain administrative records are handled. Litigation like this often winds through appeals and can shape enforcement priorities down the line.
Back in the Senate, a heated moment drew attention when Sen. John Kennedy proposed a resolution to withhold senators’ pay during a government shutdown, arguing parity with unpaid federal employees. The proposed measure was dramatic and intended to force accountability. Sen. Brian Schatz objected to the resolution, then left the chamber, and that exit quickly became fodder for critics.
Describing the episode, observers noted Schatz “objected to the proposed resolution and then promptly fled the chamber. Didn’t give a reason for the objection. Didn’t stick around to debate the matter.” That move was portrayed as a political dodge, and it fed narratives about leadership temperament and willingness to stand and argue positions publicly. The optics of leaving the floor mattered as much as the procedural effects.
There were also lighter items and multimedia moments over the weekend. Deer footage and other bits of levity circulated online, giving readers a break from the Capitol drama.
Before signing off for the morning, remember that these fights are ongoing: legislative strategy, confirmations, and courtroom skirmishes will keep the headlines busy.
Add comment