Trending Now - Senators Push for Simplified Path to Revive SAVE America Act
WHO:
Sen. Thom Tillis, Republican from North Carolina, stated, “I have made it crystal clear that I will never vote to do this.”
Sen. John Kennedy, Republican from Louisiana, said, “You don't know till you try, and we haven't tried.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Republican from South Dakota, mentioned, “Nobody really knows how this ends, and the people who are out there saying they do, don't.”
Sen. Thom Tillis, Republican from North Carolina
Sen. John Kennedy, Republican from Louisiana
President Trump
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Republican from South Dakota
Sen. Mike Lee, Republican from Utah
45 Democrats and 2 independents who caucus with them
WHAT:
Tillis warned that a “talking filibuster” would allow Democrats to block every single Trump judge and executive branch nominee.
Kennedy admitted he is “in the minority on this” regarding support for reworking the SAVE America Act.
Thune argued that the talking filibuster has “never proven successful in passing legislation.”
Sen. Tillis criticized the idea of ending the Senate filibuster to pass the “SAVE America Act,” calling it a “foolish and lazy idea.”
The “SAVE America Act” aims to require voters to show ID and proof of U.S. citizenship in federal elections.
Sen. Kennedy suggested reworking the “SAVE America Act” to pass it with a simple budget reconciliation majority.
Kennedy stated that the bill is important for maintaining the confidence and trust of the American people in elections.
The bill is expected to fail in the Senate due to lack of support.
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate.
WHERE:
U.S. Senate
WHEN:
The Senate is currently in debate over the legislation, expected to extend into the weekend of March 21st-22nd, 2026.
Kennedy made his remarks on March 18th, 2026.
WHY:
Thune stated that he has “looked at it, ran all the contingencies, gamed it out, mapped it out,” and found no successful examples of a talking filibuster in modern Senate history.
Tillis argued that eliminating the filibuster would cause long-term harm to the nation and allow Democrats to control the Senate.
Kennedy believes the bill is crucial for election integrity and public trust.
HOW:
Thune and Senate Republicans are engaging in a version of the talking filibuster that allows for unlimited debate but prevents an unlimited number of amendments from Senate Democrats.
Kennedy urged “smart lawyers” to craft the bill to meet the Senate parliamentarian's requirements for budget reconciliation.
Tillis expressed that focusing on a bill without the necessary votes is a misuse of the Senate’s time.
(UPDATED March 20, 2026 11:09 UTC)
Senate Republicans are currently debating the implications of a proposed "talking filibuster," with Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina asserting he will never support it, while Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana acknowledges he is in the minority regarding backing changes to the SAVE America Act. Senate Majority Leader John Thune from South Dakota expressed skepticism, stating that he has thoroughly analyzed the situation and found no successful instances of a talking filibuster in modern Senate history. Thune and his colleagues are pursuing a version of the talking filibuster that permits unlimited debate but restricts the number of amendments that Senate Democrats can introduce.
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(UPDATED March 19, 2026 23:11 UTC)
In a heated debate in the U.S. Senate, Republican Senators Thom Tillis and John Kennedy, along with President Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, discussed the controversial “SAVE America Act,” which aims to require voters to show ID and proof of U.S. citizenship in federal elections. Tillis criticized the idea of ending the filibuster to pass the bill, calling it a “foolish and lazy idea,” while Kennedy suggested reworking it to secure passage through budget reconciliation, emphasizing its importance for maintaining public trust in elections. Despite the Republican majority in the Senate, the bill is expected to fail due to a lack of support, with discussions continuing into the weekend.