The effort to get the SAVE America Act to President Donald Trump’s desk intensified on Wednesday, when Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) released an op-ed highlighting that he would back “whatever changes to Senate rules” were deemed necessary in order to pass the bill.
Cornyn’s op-ed comes as he and Attorney General Ken Paxton are battling for Trump&#8217;s endorsement in the heated Texas Republican Senate primary that is already headed to a May 26 runoff election.
The president has said that the SAVE America Act is his top legislative priority, even vowing not to sign any other legislation until he sees it on his desk, and some Republicans have suggested using the “talking filibuster” — or ending the filibuster altogether — in order to get around Democratic obstruction. The measure would require documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration and voter ID at the ballot box.
“For many years, I believed that if the U.S. Senate scrapped the filibuster, Texas and our nation would stand to lose more than we would gain,” Cornyn wrote in his op-ed for the <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/11/opinion/sen-cornyn-why-the-save-act-matters-more-than-the-filibuster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a>.
“My fellow conservatives and I have proudly used the 60-vote threshold to protect the country from all sorts of bad ideas and dangerous policies,” he added, saying that “when the reality on the ground changes, leaders must take stock and adapt.”
“Today, Democrats are weaponizing the Senate’s rules to block the SAVE America Act, defund the Department of Homeland Security and hurt the American people — all to spite President Donald Trump. But they say openly that if these same rules ever get in Democrats’ way, they won’t hesitate to rip them up,” he said, noting how many Democrats have sought to get rid of the filibuster in the past.
Critics of using a “talking filibuster” — or ending the practice altogether — have warned that it could open the floodgates to certain legislative proposals that the Democrats, and perhaps a small number of Republicans, could pass.
“A lot of that is, it&#8217;s in that kind of, you know, paid influencer ecosystem,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told <a href="https://x.com/brennanleach/status/2031083867503743376?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a> on Monday.
“What people don’t realize, I think, is that’s unlimited debate but it’s also unlimited amendments,” Thune has previously warned, according to <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5777802-talking-filibuster-gop-debate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a>.
Attorney General Ken Paxton used Cornyn&#8217;s op-ed as an opportunity to attack the incumbent senator, reminding everyone that he had posted on X one week prior that he “would consider dropping out of this race if Senate Leadership agrees to lift the filibuster and passes the SAVE America Act.”
“John Cornyn did exactly what I predicted. In one week, I&#8217;ve made him more conservative than in the past 24 years,” Paxton posted Wednesday. “The historic flip-flop&#8217;s great and all, but why aren&#8217;t you calling out your buddies like McConnell opposing the bill? Tell the American people who&#8217;s opposing this.&#8221;
The Republican primary has taken a strikingly personal tone as the runoff approaches, with the Cornyn campaign releasing a commercial on Friday regarding Paxton’s personal scandals and accusing the sitting attorney general of breaking several of the Ten Commandments.
Democrats have begun coalescing around state Sen. James Talarico, who defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the primary last week — but according to the Cook Political Report, the general election race still skews “Likely Republican.”

Sen. John Cornyn

The Fight Over Proof Of Citizenship To Vote Reaches Boiling Point

2026 midterm

Congress

election integrity

John Cornyn

Ken Paxton

Senate

Texas

Trump-backed Republican Clay Fuller and Democrat Shawn Harris will presumably face off in an April 7 runoff special election in former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Georgia district, based on the results available as of Tuesday evening.
Greene resigned from her position representing the 14th Congressional District on Jan. 5 after a public falling out with President Donald Trump over the Epstein files, despite once being close allies.
The special election comes as Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) Republican majority remains extremely slim, as Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) announced that he would still caucus with Republicans, but would leave the party. This leaves only 217 registered Republicans in the House.
Fuller is the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit’s District Attorney and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard, according to his campaign website.
&#8220;We have to come together and beat the Democrat, Shawn Harris, in this race, and go and win this thing on April 7th,&#8221; Fuller said in a video on Wednesday morning.
His website also lists an “America First economy” and supporting for mass deportations as someone his top issues.
“And I have Fuller on my side. I know that I got my Fuller. You better win that election,” Trump said during an economy-focused visit to Rome, Georgia, which is in the district, in February.
He was also backed by Johnson, who touted his runoff advancement on Tuesday night.
“Congratulations to Trump-endorsed and our endorsed candidate, [Clay Fuller], for advancing to the [GA-14] April 7 runoff!” Johnson posted.
There are two other vacancies in the House, one in a Republican-leaning seat and another in a Democratic-leaning seat, with those special elections in the coming months.
Harris, a farmer and retired brigadier general, wrote in an X post on Tuesday night that “Marjorie Taylor Greene isn’t on the ballot, but the fallout from her feud still is.”
“This race isn’t about loyalty to Trump. It’s about loyalty to the voters of Northwest Georgia,” he wrote. “I’m running to serve the people here at home — not chase anyone in Washington.”
The Democrat has gotten the attention of some high profile Democrats, like former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
&#8220;There&#8217;s no such thing as a permanently red state or district, and I believe Shawn Harris has the background and values to bring people together and win,&#8221; Buttigieg said in a February statement. &#8220;Shawn is running because he knows the status quo in Washington isn&#8217;t working for people in the district, and he&#8217;s ready to get to work to lower prescription drug prices, pass a farm bill that works for rural Georgia, and defend Medicare and Medicaid.&#8221;
Former State Sen. Colton Moore and Brian Stover were other key Republicans in the special election, but Fuller ultimately earned the Trump nod in February, with the president writing on Truth Social that Fuller is “strongly supported by the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Georgia, and many Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
In November, Greene shared a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/marjorie-taylor-greene-to-resign-from-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> explaining her decision, saying that “loyalty should be a two-way street.”
“I’ve been blessed to represent the 14th District of Georgia for five years. That district is filled with some of the most wonderful, kind-hearted, God fearing, patriotic, hardworking people you will ever meet. Good, regular, common Americans,” the congresswoman said.
“Because my self worth is not defined by a man, but instead by God, who created everything in existence,” Greene added at the time.
The district is deeply Republican, with Greene winning re-election in 2024 with over 64% of the vote compared with Kamala Harris’ roughly 36%. Trump won the district with 68% of the vote, and he won the battleground state of Georgia with just under 51%.
All eyes will remain on the Peach State through November, as the United States Senate race is considered a “toss-up,” according to the Cook Political Report.
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) will face off against either Reps. Mike Collins, Buddy Carter, or former football coach Derek Dooley, depending on who wins the Republican primary on May 19. Trump has yet to endorse a candidate in the race.

President Trump Participates In National Day Of Prayer Event At White House

Top Two Candidates Emerge In Runoff For Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Open Congressional Seat

2026 election

Elections

Georgia

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Mike Johnson

Politics

A California voter ID proposal could land on the November ballot as debate over federal election policies intensifies.
Roughly 1.3 million petition signatures were submitted for verification — well above the 875,000 threshold required for a constitutional amendment pitch to go before voters, according to <a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/03/california-voter-id-initiative/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CalMatters</a>.
“This is a true, grassroots, broad-based, bipartisan movement. It’s about good government,” Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-CA) said in a recent video regarding the effort.
“In November, we will strike a blow for democracy. We will improve public trust and confidence in our elections, and the fact that that frightens the establishment politicians who have failed us, we need to keep this bipartisan movement going,” DeMaio added.
Specifically, the initiative would require photo identification for those who choose to vote in person, or “the last four digits of a government-issued identification number when voting by mail.” Secondly, it would require proof of citizenship in order to be registered to vote.
It would also require the Golden State to “provide voter identification cards on request” and for election administrators to provide an annual update on the “percentage of each county’s voters whose citizenship they have verified.”
The amendment, if passed, would have “tens of millions” in “one-time” expenses, as well as “tens of millions of dollars to the low hundreds of millions of dollars to fulfill new requirements related to elections administration,” according to the Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance <a href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/initiative-and-referendum-status/initiatives-referenda-cleared-circulation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimate</a>.
Some of the key ideas in the proposal are similar to those outlined in the SAVE America Act, which President Donald Trump has been urging the Senate to pass.
“It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Sunday.
“MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed, AND NOT THE WATERED DOWN VERSION &#8211; GO FOR THE GOLD: MUST SHOW VOTER I.D. &amp; PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXCEPT FOR MILITARY &#8211; ILLNESS, DISABILITY, TRAVEL: NO MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS: NO TRANSGENDER MUTILIZATION FOR CHILDREN! DO NOT FAIL!!!” he wrote.
Opposition to the California-based initiative remains, including from liberal groups such as the League of Women Voters of California and the American Civil Liberties Union.
“This voter ID measure is not about protecting voters; it is about importing the current federal administration’s election lies and intimidation tactics into California,” Jenny Farrell, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of California, said in a March 2 statement. “It would expose voters’ sensitive personal information, create new ways to reject eligible ballots, and wrongly target voters through error-prone citizenship checks.”

Residents Cast Ballots For US Presidential Election During Early Voting Period In California

Voter ID Could Land On Blue State Ballot As Debate Intensifies

Voter ID Proposal To Likely Land On Blue State Ballot Amid Federal Elections Fight

California

SAVE America Act

Voter ID

Rep. Kevin Kiley is ditching the Republican Party and re-registering as an independent, but he still plans to caucus with the party facing a razor-thin majority in the House.
Republicans now hold just 217 seats, and Kiley’s exit makes him the only member of the House not registered under any party.
Kiley is running in California’s Sixth Congressional District this November, and he currently represents the 3rd Congressional District. Kiley was heavily impacted by Prop. 50&#8217;s passage last year, which instituted mid-decade redistricting in favor of five Democratic-leaning seats in the Golden State.
“Gerrymandering is a plague on democracy, one that Gavin Newsom has brought back to California. But there’s a way we can fight back and protect our democracy from his partisan games: by removing partisanship from the equation. Today, I filed for reelection as ‘No Party Preference,’” Kiley posted to X on Friday.
“This means I will not have a party affiliation on the ballot or as an officeholder. That’s how it already is with most offices in our state: mayors, city councilors, school board members, county supervisors, sheriffs, and DAs are all nonpartisan,” he continued.
On Monday, he said that he’s &#8220;asking the clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives to have that reflected in the official roster,” according to <a href="https://x.com/kate_santaliz/status/2031053849016828317?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Axios</a>. However, he did not inform Republican leadership ahead of his decision on Friday, <a href="https://x.com/casssemyon/status/2031054700426985473?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spectrum News DC</a> reported.
The congressman has sponsored legislation to end mid-decade redistricting at the federal level, saying in an August statement that it would &#8220;stop a damaging redistricting war from breaking out across the country.”
Kiley took office in 2023 after being endorsed by President Donald Trump in 2022, after several years as a foe of Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats as a state assemblyman in Sacramento. The congressman voted in agreement with the president 98.3% of the time in 2025, according to VoteHub.
The Cook Political Report currently ranks both the third and sixth districts as “Solid Democrat” in the upcoming election, as Prop. 50 allows for a more Democrat-friendly redraw until the formal redistricting process occurs after the 2030 census.
The report ranks 18 House races as “toss-ups” this election cycle, with 14 others considered “Lean Democrat” and 4 considered “Lean Republican.” Both parties are expected to pour a hefty amount of financial resources into the hotly competitive districts in order to keep the majorities for the remainder of Trump&#8217;s presidency.
Mid-decade redistricting took place in several other states this year, including Texas, which added five Republican-favored seats.
On April 21, Virginia will also be voting on an amendment to allow for mid-decade redistricting intended to favor Democrats.

Rep. Kevin Kiley

Republican House Member Leaves The Party — But Spares Mike Johnson’s Majority

House of Representatives

Kevin Kiley

Between lengthy TSA lines and increased concerns about national security threats amid the conflict with Iran, conservative experts told The Daily Wire that there are serious risks associated with the continued shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, as talks in Washington stall.
DHS has faced a lapse in funding since Feb. 14, as Democrats and Republicans are at odds on federal immigration enforcement tactics, despite Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection already being heavily funded through the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” last year. Still, other agencies under DHS like TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard are unfunded.
“We’re dealing with a heightened threat environment right now, and we need the federal government security capabilities to be firing on all cylinders,” Nathan Sales, former special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS, said.
“If you’re a Hezbollah operative and you want to carry out an attack in the United States, you have to cross the border, and that’s a DHS responsibility,” he noted, later adding that “this is not the time to be playing politics with national security.”
Sales specifically highlighted the risks of FEMA not having the money it needs to fully operate.
“What happens if, God forbid, there is a terrorist incident on American soil and we need an immediate federal response to that,” Sales asked. “It’s not a great time for FEMA to be sitting on the sidelines either.”
Meanwhile, Garrett Exner, an adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute focusing on terrorism, national security, and defense, slammed the lack of funding for TSA as “insane,” saying &#8220;it&#8217;s not a good faith argument&#8221; for Democrats to use the other agencies under DHS as leverage for immigration reform.
“We have 11 million people that came here, and we don’t know who they are, and ICE is doing the legal business of moving those people out of the country, and Democrats are trying to stop that. They’re trying to slow it down,” Exner said, referencing the Biden-era border crisis.
Recent incidents like the attempted <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-york-city-in-heightened-state-of-alert-after-saturdays-attack?author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=New+York+City+In+%E2%80%98Heightened+State+of+Alert%E2%80%99+After+Saturday%E2%80%99s+Attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ISIS-style terrorist attack</a> outside the New York City mayoral residence, along with the Southwest Airlines flight bomb threat over the weekend, are also sparking concerns, according to Lora Ries, the director of The Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center.
“The House passed the DHS funding bill last week, so now it’s down to the Senate, and Senate Democrats are playing chicken with terrorists in this country,” Ries said, adding that it’s a “dereliction of duty by refusing to fund securing our homeland.”
In addition, the FBI is currently investigating the Austin, Texas, bar shooting from March 1 as a possible act of terrorism, as the alleged shooter was wearing a “Property of Allah” hoodie and a pro-Iran shirt.
Outside of the security risks, those who are essential workers, like TSA agents, are now working without pay, which will likely lead to a higher number of callouts at airports nationwide.
“They’re not getting rich doing these jobs. They live paycheck to paycheck,” Ken Cuccinelli, a former top Homeland Security official during the first Trump administration, pointed out regarding TSA, as shutdowns can “dissuade people from doing those jobs.”
Cuccinelli noted potential for the shutdown to hurt “morale” within DHS, and it could also create a ripple effect as FEMA responds to disasters like the recent Potomac River sewage spill.
TSA and other essential workers, like air traffic controllers, also bore the brunt of the 43-day-long full federal government shutdown last fall, which was triggered by Democrats pushing for an extension of the Affordable Care Act’s pandemic-era subsidies, but no permanent deal on the subsidies was ultimately reached. The remainder of the federal government is fully funded through September.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will be leaving her role at the department at the end of the month amid multiple controversies, and President Donald Trump plans to replace her with Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK). However, Noem&#8217;s ouster is not considered enough to warrant a deal with Senate Democrats.
&#8220;I’ve been asked if I would support Sen. Mullin as Noem’s replacement. The answer is a resounding NO. The rot in DHS is deep, much deeper than any individual. It’s a question of policy not personnel. The Senate should not consider any DHS Secretary nominee until DHS and ICE are reined in,&#8221; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) posted to X last week.

Denver International Airport scenes

Top National Security Experts Warn Dems ‘Playing Chicken With Terrorists’

Chuck Schumer

Immigration

National Security

Senate Democrats

Terrorism

U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON—The Trump administration and outside groups continue to prepare for America’s 250th anniversary, unveiling a nationwide transportation campaign that will place patriotic-themed graphics in airports, train stations, and baseball stadiums.
The Department of Transportation on Friday launched its &#8220;Freedom Moves You&#8221; initiative at Washington&#8217;s Union Station. The campaign will feature a series of civics-focused graphics donated by the Heritage Foundation, which DOT says will be displayed at transportation hubs, including New York&#8217;s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Officials say the materials are intended to spark conversation about American history and the nation&#8217;s founding principles.
“Now more than ever, our nation needs to unite around the shared principles our founding fathers enshrined in 1776,&#8221; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. &#8220;America’s 250th birthday is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity [to] bring people together, cherish our national heritage, and inspire the next generation of patriots.”
Among the graphics are slogans such as “It’s Morning Again in America. Again.” Others promote historical tourism, including one that reads “For Your Next Family Vacation, Remember The Alamo.”
&nbsp;
<div id="attachment_1055829" style="width: 565px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1055829" class=" wp-image-1055829" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/7-DOT_F250-Startup_Founders-300x169.jpg" alt="The campaign is meant to highlight critical moments of American history, including the nation's founding. " width="555" height="313" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/7-DOT_F250-Startup_Founders-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/7-DOT_F250-Startup_Founders-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/7-DOT_F250-Startup_Founders.jpg 900w" sizes=" (max-width: 555px) 100vw, 555px" />The campaign is meant to highlight critical moments of American history, including the nation&#8217;s founding.</div>
&nbsp;
<div id="attachment_1055825" style="width: 566px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1055825" class=" wp-image-1055825" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/10-DOT_F250-Remember_The_Alamo-300x169.jpg" alt="A &quot;remember the Alamo&quot; graphic that will be appearing at transportation hubs throughout the country." width="556" height="313" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/10-DOT_F250-Remember_The_Alamo-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/10-DOT_F250-Remember_The_Alamo-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/10-DOT_F250-Remember_The_Alamo.jpg 900w" sizes=" (max-width: 556px) 100vw, 556px" />A &#8220;remember the Alamo&#8221; graphic that will be appearing at transportation hubs throughout the country. (Department of Transportation/Heritage Foundation)</div>
“This campaign is probably the biggest that will connect all Americans, because we are all in constant movement,” Monica Crowley, chief of Protocol of the U.S., said at the launch event on Friday. “Every American will have eyes on this campaign in some form or another,” she added.
The DOT is also supporting commemorative passports to be distributed through congressional offices and &#8220;The Great American Road Trip,” a tourism initiative highlighting destinations throughout the country in partnership with corporate sponsors.
Some Democrats have pushed back on the planning for the anniversary. Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-OR) accused the Freedom250 nonprofit, which is affiliated with the National Parks Foundation, of misusing taxpayer funds.
“Today, in a House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I exposed Freedom 250 for what it really is—a scam,” Dexter posted on X on February 10, an accusation that organizations have pushed back on, according to the <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2026-02-10/potential-conflicts-over-celebrating-americas-250th-anniversary-spill-out-in-congressional-hearing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a>.

President Trump Holds Press Briefing On Crash Of American Eagle Flight 5342 And Army Helicopter

Trump Admin Launches ‘Freedom Moves You’ Campaign Ahead Of America 250

America250

Department of Transportation

Sean Duffy

Washington DC

With Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) being President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Mullin’s seat will presumably be vacated soon.
Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt will have the opportunity to appoint a replacement until the November general election, since Mullin was already up for reelection this year.
“Markwayne Mullin has been a fighter for Oklahoma and will fight to keep our nation secure. There isn’t a better choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security,” Stitt said in a statement on Thursday. Mullin&#8217;s nomination was triggered by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem being moved to a special envoy role, as the secretary is currently facing several controversies, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-fires-dhs-secretary-kristi-noem-announces-replacement?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Fires+DHS+Secretary+Kristi+Noem%2C+Announces+Replacement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported.
“Oklahoma has been an example to the nation for smart immigration enforcement, and Markwayne will bring that common sense to DHS. I will be looking to appoint a strong, small government conservative voice to support President Trump and protect Oklahomans’ way of life,” he continued.
No shortlist of names has emerged as of late Thursday afternoon.
Those who want to run for a full six-year term cannot be considered for the appointment, as appointees are legally unable to run for the seat due to state law, <a href="https://x.com/reesejgorman/status/2029631710950736153?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NOTUS</a> reported. Reps. Stephanie Bice and Kevin Hern are reportedly considering campaigning for the seat, according to the <a href="https://www.notus.org/2026-election/oklahoma-republicans-markwayne-mullin-senate-seat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outlet</a>.
Oklahoma is a deep red state with all five congressional seats held by Republicans, including Reps. Josh Brecheen, Frank Lucas, and Tom Cole.
The state government is also dominated by Republicans in the top offices, including Lt. Gov Matt Pinnell, Secretary of State Josh Cockroft, and Attorney General Gentner Drummond.
As for the general election for the seat, it is currently rated as “Solid Republican” by the Cook Political Report. Trump won the 2024 presidential election in Oklahoma with over 66% of the vote. Trump recently took aim at the Oklahoma governor over a disagreement about a National Governors Association event at the White House, as Stitt chairs the group.
When it comes to Mullin, Trump said that he “will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.”
Many Republicans spoke out in support of the DHS shuffle, including Trump-critic Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who said in a post that the Oklahoma senator will “restore competence” to the department that’s currently facing a lapse in funding. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) also indicated that he will support Mullin’s confirmation.

Markwayne Mullin

Homeland Security Shakeup Creates Major Opening For Deep-Red Senate Seat

homeland security

Oklahoma

Republicans

The House of Representatives failed to pass a War Powers Resolution on Thursday over Operation Epic Fury in Iran, just one day after a Senate vote on the unlikely effort to halt military action against the country until Congress signs off on it.
The vote was 219-212, with most Republicans voting against the proposal and most Democrats voting for the resolution.
The House push was led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), as Khanna argued on the House floor Wednesday that “the world needs a new moral vision.”
“The world needs an America that finds its moral center, Mr. Speaker,” he said.
“Let us rise to this historic challenge, in this body let us declare with courage and clarity that we reject this illegal and unjust war in Iran. Let us choose moral renewal over further moral decay,” the California lawmaker added.
Massie said in an X post earlier on Thursday that “the VOTE IS TODAY, but we’ve already won by forcing a debate and a vote.”
The Senate effort was led by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rand Paul (R-KY), but it failed 53-47 on Wednesday.
“Congress hereby directs the President to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force,” the Senate resolution stated.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) explained her vote against the resolution in a lengthy X post on Wednesday, explaining that the resolution “would send the wrong message to Iran and to our troops.”
“The Administration has adhered to the provisions of the War Powers Act that require notification to Congress within 48 hours of hostilities commencing, and it has provided numerous classified briefings to Congress,” she wrote.
The nature of the resolution, even if the Senate and House did successfully pass it, is likely a lost cause, given that the president would have to give it the final stamp of approval, according to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-vote-iran-war-powers-resolution-trump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS News</a>.
Republicans have primarily been in support of the recent military actions, whereas Democrats have largely been against them, with the notable exception of Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
Operation Epic Fury kicked off over the weekend, resulting in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other top Iranian leaders. Many Democrats have argued that the threshold has not been met to justify military action, with Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) stating that the president “has presented no evidence that Iran or its nuclear program — which he falsely claimed to have ‘obliterated’ — pose an imminent threat to the United States, or that diplomacy was exhausted.”
Trump said on Thursday that the U.S. will need to play a direct role in deciding who is put in charge of the large Middle Eastern nation.
&#8220;We&#8217;re going to have to choose that person along with Iran. We&#8217;re going to have to choose that person,&#8221; the president told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-tells-reuters-us-will-have-role-choosing-irans-next-leader-2026-03-05/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a>.

US-ISRAEL-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-TRUMP-NETANYAHU

Capitol Hill Takes New Shot At Trump’s Iran War Powers

Iran

Military

Ro Khanna

Thomas Massie

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) announced his retirement an hour after the re-election filing deadline on Wednesday, and a new candidate quickly earned the endorsement of President Donald Trump, Daines, and other key leaders.
Daines pulled his re-election bid shortly before the 5 p.m. filing deadline through the Montana Secretary of State’s office, just moments after United States Attorney for the District of Montana Kurt Alme filed to run, according to the <a href="https://x.com/JSAmbarian/status/2029348091531542936?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Montana Television Network</a>. Alme is now the presumptive favorite for the Republican nomination, with the primary slated for June 2.
“Serving the people of Montana in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate the past 13 years has been the greatest honor of my professional career. I’m grateful to God for allowing me to serve. But after much careful thought, I’ve decided not to seek re-election,” Daines said in a video posted Wednesday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
An announcement👇 <a href="https://t.co/7HCofBTUMA">pic.twitter.com/7HCofBTUMA</a>
— Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveDaines/status/2029361794179908086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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On Wednesday evening, Trump announced his support for Alme, who also served in the U.S. attorney role in the prior Trump administration, calling him an “exceptional person.”
“In fact, if Kurt didn’t have the highest level of aptitude and talent, Steve would have remained exactly where he is but, Kurt is exceptional, and I will be giving him, based on Steve’s strongest recommendation, my Complete and Total Endorsement,” the president wrote on Truth Social, highlighting Daines’ decision to “pass the torch.”
“A Highly Respected Criminal Prosecutor in my Administration, and distinguished Harvard Law School Graduate, Kurt knows the Wisdom and Courage it takes to ensure LAW AND ORDER, advocate for our Heroes in Law Enforcement, and strongly support our Military and Veterans,” he continued.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee also backed Alme, with Sen. Tim Scott, who chairs the group, stating that “the NRSC looks forward to keeping Montana red this November, and welcoming Kurt as the state’s next U.S. Senator.” Daines was the NRSC chairman during the 2024 election cycle.
Alme and Charles Walking Child are now the only two Republicans in the primary, with a handful of Democrats also seeking the seat. Former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar recently entered the race as an independent, according to the <a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2026/03/04/bodnar-announces-independent-campaign-for-u-s-senate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Montanan</a>.
Democratic candidate Reilly Neill, a former state representative, said in a video posted to X after Daines’ announcement that it shows disorganization within the Montana Republican Party.
“Daines dropping out of this race is another example of the Montana Republican Party being in complete disarray,” she said. “The Montana Republican Party, they’ve done nothing but bend the knee to an administration that’s hurt our farmers, our ranchers, and this is unacceptable.”
“His stepping down opens the field for the United States Senate, and this is a good development for Montana,” she continued.
On a national level, Rep. Marie Glusenkamp Perez (D-WA) called the timing of Daines&#8217;s exit and subsequent filing for Alme &#8220;bullshit.&#8221;
&#8220;A Montana Senator is rigging an election and it’s miles beneath the dignity of our democracy,&#8221; she <a href="https://x.com/RepMGP/status/2029391818073264360?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> to X.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told <a href="https://x.com/LauraEWeiss16/status/2029596587375169981?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Punchbowl News</a> that Daines may have chosen to retire &#8220;recently.&#8221;
“You&#8217;ve got filing deadlines in your states and you&#8217;re going to take into consideration that in terms of your timing. You know, how he handled it is his business and will be up to the people of Montana to decide who the next senator is,&#8221; he added.
In 2024, Montana was the subject of a battleground Senate race between Republican Tim Sheehy and Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, and Sheehy won with over 52% of the vote.
Currently, the Cook Political Report ranks this year’s contest as “Solid Republican.”

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Longtime Senator Steve Daines Abruptly Retires, Paving Way For Trump-Backed Successor

Kurt Alme

Montana

Steve Daines

President Donald Trump says he will make an endorsement in the Texas Senate Republican primary soon, and when he does so, he wants the other candidate to drop out so that Republicans in the Lone Star State can focus on gearing up for a potentially expensive and closely watched general election fight with Democratic nominee James Talarico.
The president explained his strategy after Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton both advanced to a runoff election on Tuesday night after an already brutal primary race. Trump had initially opted not to endorse any specific candidate in the three-way race that also included Rep. Wesley Hunt, who failed to earn enough votes to move forward.
“The Republican Primary Race for the United States Senate in the Great State of Texas, a State I LOVE and won 3 times in Record Numbers (the HIGHEST vote ever recorded, by far!!!), cannot, for the good of the Party, and our Country, itself, be allowed to go on any longer. IT MUST STOP NOW!” Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday afternoon, saying that the party needs to “TOTALLY FOCUS” on beating Talarico, who defeated Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX).
“Both John and Ken ran great races, but not good enough. Now, this one, must be PERFECT! My Endorsements within the Republican Party have been virtually insurmountable!” he said.
“It is such an honor to realize and say that almost everyone I Endorse WINS, and wins by a lot, especially in Texas! I will be making my Endorsement soon, and will be asking the candidate that I don&#8217;t Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE! Is that fair?” the president added, stressing that Republicans “must win” the midterms. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, but that margin could shift in either direction, thanks to several competitive races on the table in November.
The attacks between Cornyn and Paxton, which colored much of the primary race, showed no signs of stopping as of Tuesday night.
“I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything we&#8217;ve worked so hard to build over these many years,” Cornyn said, according to CSPAN.
Meanwhile, Paxton posted to X on Wednesday morning that he wants to “fire John Cornyn once and for all.”
“Last night, in a historic failure for John Cornyn, he failed to get nearly 60% of the GOP vote after spending $100 million,” he wrote. “It&#8217;s time to finish the job in the runoff.”
The Cook Political Report currently ranks the race as “Likely Republican,” but there has been some concern among Republicans that a lengthy, messy primary — especially one that drags even further through a contentious runoff — could continue to drain resources and boost the Democrat in the general election. Trump won the state of Texas with over 56% of the vote in 2024.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump

Trump Wants To Play Kingmaker In Heated Texas Senate Race

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) has remained skeptical of the Trump administration&#8217;s &#8220;Operation Epic Fury,&#8221; despite previously saying he could support the use of military force against Iran.
In a statement over the weekend, the Georgia Democrat said President Donald Trump “has presented no evidence that Iran or its nuclear program – which he falsely claimed to have &#8216;obliterated’ – pose an imminent threat to the United States, or that diplomacy was exhausted.”
“Iran&#8217;s support for terrorism and uranium enrichment have long destabilized the region. But sending American forces into harm&#8217;s way should only ever be a last resort,” he added, warning against what he described as a potential “regime change war-of-choice.”
Ossoff said he plans to back a War Powers Resolution in Congress, expressing frustration that the military operation occurred “without the consent of Congress.&#8221; The Senate is expected to vote on Wednesday on a resolution aimed at limiting further U.S. military action, according to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-vote-iran-war-powers-resolution-trump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS News</a>.
However, Ossoff struck a different tone during a 2017 congressional debate, when he said he would support military actions under certain circumstances.
“If Iran poses an imminent threat to Israel, to the United States, to any of our allies, then we should use force to prevent them from striking our allies,” Ossoff said at the time.
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“And as we seek to ensure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapons capability, if economic policy, diplomatic policy, are unsuccessful in dissuading them from developing a nuclear weapon, then we should be prepared to use force if necessary,” he said.
The Daily Wire reached out to Sen. Ossoff&#8217;s office and campaign to clarify what threshold he believes would justify military action and whether his position has changed.
Democrats have largely criticized the operation, though some have voiced support. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) has defended the strikes.
“Every member in the U.S. Senate agrees we cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. I’m baffled why so many are unwilling to support the only action to achieve that,” Fetterman posted to X on Monday. “Empty sloganeering vs. commitment to global security — which is it?”
The debate is likely to spill into the campaign season. Ossoff is up for re-election this November in a race the Cook Political Report ranks as a “toss-up.” He could face Reps. Mike Collins or Buddy Carter, or former football coach Derek Dooley, depending on who wins the Republican primary.
“Jewish Georgians deserve a Senator they can count on to fight the antisemitism rampant in the Democrat Party. But Jon Ossoff says one thing in Georgia and then does another in D.C. — caving to pro-Hamas radicals,” Nick Puglia, National Republican Senatorial Committee Regional Press Secretary, said in a statement.

Jon Ossoff

OSSOFF FLIP-FLOP: Georgia Dem Was For Hitting Iran — Until Trump Did It

Israel

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is under fire for ad campaigns that have drawn criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike.
The criticisms began with a $200 million ad campaign in which Noem urges illegal immigrants in the United States to self-deport. Lawmakers have raised questions about the price and efficacy of the campaign, as well as the fact that the ads were produced by the husband of recently-departed DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin.
But the Department of Homeland Security tells The Daily Wire that the ads in question are part of a broader campaign, which also includes ads airing overseas warning illegal aliens not to attempt to cross the border.
“We now have the most secure border in American history in large part because the DHS international ad campaign warning illegal aliens to stay out was a MASSIVE success. This hyper-targeted ad campaign ran in eight countries and reached over 46 million people,” DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said.
“The results show the world heard our message that America’s borders are CLOSED. Daily encounters at the border are down 95%. Under the Biden administration the average daily apprehensions at the southern border were more 5,100. Now under President Trump and Secretary Noem, the average daily apprehensions at the southern border are about 250,” she added.
The Strategy Group, a company that had helped Noem with her 2022 gubernatorial run in South Dakota, ran the ad campaign. The company is currently run by the husband of the secretary’s recently-departed spokesperson, <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/kristi-noem-dhs-ad-campaign-strategy-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to ProPublica.
In a statement Tuesday, The Strategy Group said it “has never had a contract with DHS. We had a subcontract with Safe America for limited production services. Safe America paid us $226,137.17 total for 5 film shoots, 45 produced video advertisements, and 6 produced radio advertisements.&#8221;
“If you’re going to try to question our integrity, bring actual evidence – we did,” the statement concluded.
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The Strategy Group has never had a contract with DHS.
We had a subcontract with Safe America for limited production services. Safe America paid us $226,137.17 total for 5 film shoots, 45 produced video advertisements and 6 produced radio advertisements.
If you&#8217;re going to try…
— The Strategy Group Co. (@StrategyGroupCo) <a href="https://twitter.com/StrategyGroupCo/status/2028931636314710113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
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During a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD) laid into Noem over the domestic ads, saying “You&#8217;re treating the billions of dollars our colleague showered on your department like a personal slush fund, you budget in an astonishing $220 million dollars for media consulting contracts so you can star in self promoting photo shoots in lavish ad campaigns.&#8221;
Bis also responded to Raskin&#8217;s comments, saying that the Maryland Democrat &#8220;and his fellow sanctuary politicians are mad because our ad campaign SECURED the border.”
Noem pushed back in the same hearing when Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) claimed DHS had awarded a &#8220;no-bid&#8221; contract to produce the ads, saying that &#8220;other companies competed for this, because there [were] two different vendors that were chosen.&#8221;
Republican Senator John Kennedy (LA) also questioned Noem about the ads, saying it was &#8220;hard for me to believe&#8221; that President Donald Trump would be ok with the ad campaign. Kennedy, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, also suggested that DHS had not held a proper bidding process before awarding the contract.
DHS is currently facing a funding lapse as Democrats in Congress remain at odds with the White House over federal immigration enforcement tactics. However, the &#8220;One Big Beautiful Bill Act&#8221; signed last year has kept ICE largely funded, as TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard are bearing the brunt of the shutdown.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Holds News Conference

Homeland Security Defends Ad Campaigns Amid Congressional Scrutiny

Border

Kristi Noem

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Cameron Arcand