SAVE Act and Election Control Push Intensifies; Trump Admin 0-23 in Court; Deportation Surge; DNC FOIA Suit
Key Questions
What is the status of the SAVE Act ahead of the midterms?
Trump allies are intensifying efforts to pass the SAVE Act, including floating a national emergency declaration, but the bill remains stuck without 60 Senate votes and faced House procedural failures. Speaker Johnson is attempting revival through budget reconciliation.
Why is the FY2027 NDAA stalled?
Hardliners blocked the defense bill, and the Senate parliamentarian previously objected to SAVE Act provisions. GOP internal divisions have increased the risk of a government shutdown.
What election integrity actions has the Trump administration taken?
Trump fired EAC commissioners and tied terrorism preparedness grants to state election rule changes while releasing election integrity files. Fox News could not verify the claims made in the files.
What campaign finance reforms are being pursued?
A bipartisan bill by Raskin and Whitehouse aims to close foreign money loopholes, and Rep. Gottheimer has called for an audit of Idemia's role in federal identity systems. The top 50 megadonors have already contributed $1.6B to the 2026 midterms.
What changes were made to stock trading limits in the House?
The House passed stock trading limits that include a Trump exemption and a voter ID poison pill. The measure is popular but likely to fail in the Senate due to the added provisions.
How is the census rule change expected to affect apportionment?
Trump's stealth rule change seeks to exclude immigrants from the census count used for House seats and federal funding. Legal challenges are anticipated as it could shift representation away from immigrant-heavy states.
What judicial checks have occurred on election-related executive actions?
A federal judge blocked the DOJ's bid for Kentucky voter rolls citing privacy concerns, and a US appeals court upheld an injunction against a federal list executive order. These rulings limit executive overreach on election integrity measures.
What ethics legislation targets luxury aircraft use?
The Luxury JET Act (S.4999) was introduced to prohibit personal use of Qatar-donated VC-25B Bridge aircraft and require GAO review. It forms part of a broader bipartisan push for ethics reforms in Congress.
Trump allies intensify push for SAVE Act; national emergency floated. Bill stuck in Senate. New midterm polling: Dems favored for House, GOP for Senate. Trump's deportation agenda underwater. Federal judge blocks DOJ bid for Kentucky voter rolls. Trump administration has lost 0-23 in court on election meddling. New: Minnesota DOJ voter data challenge decision due Aug 17; DNC files FOIA suit over potential DOJ seizure of ballots/voting machines; experts question noncitizen voting claim (0.019% wouldn't flip states); deportation surge 30% in June with 125 immigration judge dismissals; CRS report clarifies Congress's election power boundaries. Florida primary upset: Nixon beats Vindman. Blanche refuses to pledge independence from White House.