Trump’s top priority is splitting Republicans — and could reshape the Senate The Senate GOP’s most consequential fight this week may not be with Democrats, but among Republicans themselves. As the United States continues its military standoff with Iran and the Department of Homeland Security remains shut down, the Senate is preparing to take up what President Donald Trump has called his “No. 1 priority”: an election overhaul bill known as the SAVE America Act. Trump has also threatened to refuse to sign any other legislation until the bill passes. But rather than building momentum, the president’s pressure campaign has exposed deep divisions among Republicans over whether to upend the Senate’s rules to force the bill through. The measure is all but destined to fail under current rules. Because the Senate filibuster requires 60 votes to advance most legislation, Republicans would need support from Democratic senators who have shown no interest in backing the bill. At the same time, many Republicans remain wary of eliminating the decades-old rule simply to satisfy Trump’s demands. Still, the long odds haven’t stopped hard-line conservatives from pushing for a rules change—or stopped Trump from urging Republicans to go all-in on an overhaul of election laws. In an effort to partially appease the party’s right wing, Senate leaders plan to allow an extended series of floor speeches and votes next week. But they are stopping short of touching the filibuster itself—at least for now. Leaders will “give everybody as much time as possible,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., told MS NOW on Thursday. “So I don’t know how long. It depends on who wants to talk, but I imagine it’s going to be a long week.#donald_trump #save_america_act #chuck_schumer #senate_filibuster #john_cornyn
