Mar 16, 2026
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By Calen Razor and Mia McCarthy
Presented by
IN TODAY’S EDITION:
— Storms disrupt House votes
— First Senate SAVE vote as soon as Tuesday
— Senate GOP anxious about the midterms
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is expected to start what could be up to two weeks of debate on the SAVE America Act. | Francis Chung/POLITICO
John Thune is preparing to rip off the Band-Aid.
Starting with a procedural vote as soon as Tuesday, the Senate majority leader will kick off what could be two weeks of debate on the elections overhaul known as the SAVE America Act.
The bill is likely doomed thanks to bipartisan opposition and the GOP conference’s desire to protect the filibuster.
With SAVE’s fate all but sealed, the coming days will put Republicans to the test as they at least try to pass what President Donald Trump says should be their “No. 1 priority.”
Adding to the chaos, some of the bill’s most outspoken champions in the House GOP are warning that a failed attempt won’t be enough to keep them satisfied and that they’re ready to block any Senate legislation outside of DHS funding.
Here’s what to expect going forward:
— LOSING REPUBLICANS ON LAUNCH: Thune will kick things off as soon as Tuesday with a vote that requires only a simple majority to open debate. At least one Republican — Sen. Thom Tillis — is planning to oppose the move, but Thune will likely have the votes to proceed. Potential opponents of the bill know it will ultimately be blocked when the Senate moves to end debate — something that will require 60 votes.
Tillis told Jordain Carney there’s “no path for success.”
“I was a no on the talking filibuster path and this one’s going to produce the same result,” he said.
Other Republicans to watch are Sens. Mitch McConnell and Lisa Murkowski, who last week declined to say how she would vote and said she needed more clarity on the mechanics of the debate.
— MESSIER FROM THERE: Look for the possibility of further GOP divisions as Republicans prepare amendment votes to expand the bill to include additions called for by Trump — changes that require 60 votes to be approved. The underlying bill would create new citizenship and ID requirements for voting, and the president wants to add provisions to prohibit gender-affirming surgery for children, ban transgender women from participating in women’s sports and restrict mail-in voting.
Look for late nights as well, as Republicans and Democrats keep senators on or near the floor to fend off procedural hijinks on both sides.
“We don’t know what Thune’s going to do yet,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Sunday. “But we have prepared for every eventuality, and that includes if they do amendments.”
Democrats expect to force a vote on at least one Iran war powers resolution this week, a person granted anonymity to discuss the plan told Jordain.
Senators foresee the whole SAVE drama taking seven to 10 days, if not longer.
“We’ll see,” Thune said last week.
GOOD MONDAY MORNING. Email us: crazor@politico.com and mmccarthy@politico.com. Follow our live coverage at politico.com/congress.
A message from The Alzheimer’s Association:
A simple blood test can detect Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear, enabling significantly more effective treatment. The bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act ensures people benefit from this scientific milestone. Congress has acted to allow Medicare coverage for mammograms and other pivotal screening tests. Now Congress has the same generational opportunity to redefine Alzheimer’s care: Unlock early detection to enable early treatment. Congress must pass the ASAP Act.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
With help from Jordan Williams
The House is in session but votes are postponed until Tuesday because of the incoming storms.
The Senate will vote at 5:30 p.m. to advance Anna St. John’s nomination to be a judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
— House Rules will meet at 4 p.m. to consider immigration legislation.
— Republican and Democratic leaders in both chambers are expected to hold private meetings today.
Pro subscribers receive this newsletter with a full congressional schedule and can browse our comprehensive calendar of markups, hearings and other notable events around Washington. Sign up for a demo.
POLITICO’s Economy Summit
Washington power players are transforming the economy with consequences that reach well beyond Wall Street and Silicon Valley as upcoming midterms add to mounting political pressures. Join POLITICO’s Economy Summit on Wednesday, March 25 for urgent conversations with government and industry leaders about the policy decisions that will determine tomorrow’s market risks and opportunities. RSVP to attend in person or virtually.
THE LEADERSHIP SUITE
Sen. Thom Tillis warned that the 2026 midterms could parallel Democrats’ wins in 2018. | Francis Chung/POLITICO
Senate GOP worries about November
Senate Republicans are growing anxious about the midterms, Jordain reports.
The mood is shifting, according to interviews with 10 GOP senators and aides, as the U.S. engages in open-ended war in the Middle East, rising oil prices threaten to slow the economy and Trump stokes intra-party divisions with the SAVE America Act.
“I’m glad I’m not on the ballot,” Sen. Kevin Cramer said in an interview.
Tillis, whose home state of North Carolina is very much in play with his retirement, said he’s seeing parallels to 2018, when Democrats won the House.
“Democrats are going to … take advantage of the increase in energy and drive the affordability message and we’ve got to have an answer for affordability,” he said.
“Energy prices are high. Everything’s high,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, who added that Republicans should “take some votes to lower the costs.”
A message from The Alzheimer’s Association:
POLICY RUNDOWN
HOPE FOR PERMITTING TALKS — The Trump administration’s decision to forego an appeal in a case involving an offshore wind project near Rhode Island is the latest hint that Capitol Hill talks to revamp energy permitting rules might have legs again with Democrats, Benjamin Storrow and Kelsey Brugger report.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the top Democrat on Environment and Public Works, had warned that the administration would jeopardize negotiations if it appealed federal court orders allowing the construction of five offshore wind projects. Last week was the DOJ’s deadline to appeal an injunction against the Interior Department and it declined to challenge the ruling.
“I think this shows good faith by the administration that they are trying to get an agreement on permitting,” said a former Interior official. “For right now at least, on all sides, it looks like the adults are in the building.”
LESS HOPE FOR WARSH — In another legal battle, Tillis is warning the Trump administration that it should not fight a federal judge’s ruling that blocked a criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell — or risk delaying the confirmation of his successor, Kevin Warsh.
U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro, whose office led the Powell investigation, is vowing to appeal.
Tillis, who has threatened to hold up Warsh until the probe is resolved, said after Friday’s decision that, “This ruling confirms just how weak and frivolous the criminal investigation of Chairman Powell is and it is nothing more than a failed attack on Fed independence.”
LAWMAKERS BLAST CARR — FCC Chair Brendan Carr is drawing criticism from both sides of the aisle after he threatened broadcasters’ licenses over their coverage of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
“I’m a big supporter of the First Amendment. I do not like the heavy hand of government, no matter who’s wielding it,” Sen. Ron Johnson told Fox News on Sunday. “I would rather the federal government stay out of the private sector as much as possible.”
“You know the illegal war in Iran is a disaster when the FCC chair is threatening to revoke broadcaster licenses unless they censor,” Rep. Ro Khanna posted on X Sunday. “Too many Americans have died & gas prices are skyrocketing.”
Best of POLITICO Pro and E&E:
- Pro Morning Score: The VA redistricting fight is heating up
- E&E: Top Democrat slams DOE bid to fast-track advanced reactors
- E&E: ‘Constant contradictions’ as Republicans embrace FEMA funding
THE BEST OF THE REST
How Trump’s Homeland Security Pick, a Prolific Investor, Got a Lot Wealthier in Congress, from Christopher Flavelle, Madeleine Ngo and Georgia Gee at The New York Times
Old Heads May Ruin Democrats’ Plans For Generational Change, from Kevin Robillard and Arthur Delaney at HuffPost
A message from The Alzheimer’s Association:
The ASAP Act is a “mammogram moment” for Alzheimer’s — an opportunity to make early detection the standard of care. When Congress enabled Medicare coverage for routine mammograms, screening rates soared and breast cancer deaths dropped significantly. That early investment led to earlier detection, better outcomes and improved quality of life.
Congress can deliver this same breakthrough for those with Alzheimer’s through the bipartisan ASAP Act, which would allow Medicare to cover a simple blood test to detect Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear. Until Congress acts, Medicare cannot cover screening tests for Alzheimer’s. But fewer than 10% of people receive a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment when today’s FDA-approved treatments are significantly more effective. Expanding access to blood-based screening will help more patients receive an early diagnosis, and the opportunity for earlier, more effective treatment. Congress must support the ASAP Act and appropriate Alzheimer’s care.
JOB BOARD
Jennifer Arnold is now legislative director and counsel for Rep. Derek Tran. She previously worked for Rep. Greg Stanton.
Who’s hiring?
The Senate Sergeant at Arms is seeking a framer for pictures, art, news articles and memorabilia for Senate offices.
Sen. Ted Cruz is seeking a legislative assistant.
Last Energy is seeking a federal affairs lead.
Intel is seeking a director of government affairs.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Rep. Julia Letlow … former Reps. Joe Crowley, Ron Kind and Yvette Herrell … Art Collins … Jeff Nussbaum … Andy Lewin of BGR Group … Ian McCaleb … Scott Simon … Adam Blickstein … CoreWeave’s Carl Holshouser … NYT’s Neil Vigdor … Gary Emerling … Elevance Health’s Ben Steinhafel … Rebecca Coffman … Gabriella Hoffman … The Capitol Forum’s Chris Kane … The Washington Blade’s Michael Key
TRIVIA
FRIDAY’S ANSWER: Bruce Brown correctly answered that Jim Jeffords of Vermont was the last senator to switch parties and immediately flip the chamber’s majority. He switched from a Republican to an independent who caucused with Democrats.
TODAY’S QUESTION, from Bruce: Jeffords was one of four senators in a group known as the Singing Senators. Who were the other three?
The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Inside Congress. Send your answers to insidecongress@politico.com.
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Calen Razor @calenrazor
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