GOP Considers Budget Reconciliation To Pass SAVE Act Without Dem Support
Senate Republican Leader John Thune signaled that Republicans are prepared to use aggressive legislative tactics to pass the SAVE America Act. He said budget reconciliation remains a viable option if it becomes necessary to overcome Democratic opposition.
“I think that budget reconciliation, as I’ve said before, you have to have a reason to do it. And if we have reasons to do it—and we may, very well may—I think there are a number of our colleagues in the Senate—we just came out of a luncheon where this was discussed—and I think there’s a lot of support for a budget reconciliation bill,” Thune said.
Thune noted that Republicans have multiple legislative pathways available to advance the measure. He said leadership is prepared to consider using those tools if it ensures the bill reaches the finish line.
“We have two legislative vehicles, as you know, available to us, so we could tee one of those up. And that’s an option. And we’ll see—if that’s what it takes to get some of these things across the finish line, and we can do it with simple majorities, we’ll take a hard look at it,” he said.
Under the reconciliation process, legislation can pass the Senate with a simple majority rather than the usual 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster. That would allow Republicans to pass the measure with 50 votes, with Vice President JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote if needed.
However, the process is limited by the Byrd Rule, which restricts reconciliation bills to provisions that directly affect federal spending or revenue. Items considered “extraneous” can be removed if they do not meet those criteria.
Sen. John Kennedy also voiced support for pursuing the reconciliation strategy to advance the legislation. He said Republicans should explore all available legal avenues to ensure the bill meets procedural requirements.
“I think we are, Mr. President—I know you are—we need to try to pass this legislation through reconciliation,” Kennedy said. “Now, you know how reconciliation works, Mr. President. It means we can pass this bill with 50 Republican votes and the Vice President to break the tie,” he said.
Newly minted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin indicated that discussions around this approach are already underway. He said Republican leadership, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, is actively working on a reconciliation framework.
“Lindsey Graham, the chairman where the reconciliation will funnel through, is committed to making sure we get reconciliation through,” Mullin said. “If that is in some form with funding ICE, possibly backfilling from the One Big Beautiful Bill, but also, more importantly, the SAVE America Act—there’s a framework that we can use through reconciliation, paying for it and putting in some of the policies that cost money,” he said.
“Because there’s nothing more important than the SAVE America Act. I mean, that’s what the American people want. Eighty percent of the population says they want only Americans voting—citizens who are registered to vote, citizens who have done it the right way,” Mullin said. “And I believe that everybody wants election integrity. So fortunately, Lindsey Graham has said that, through reconciliation, he’s willing to put the framework out for that,” he said.
BREAKING NOW: 'National Emergency' Declared, Trump Called In
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the United States has imposed a blockade preventing Iranian ships from transiting the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to restrict passage for other vessels.
Rubio stated that the measure has already cost Iran hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue. He said the decision followed Iran’s failure to reach an agreement on reopening the waterway to all shipping.
Rubio described the current talks with Iran as distinct from negotiations with other countries, noting that the Iranian decision-making process is slow and fragmented.
He said the regime has recently agreed to discuss aspects of its nuclear program that it had previously refused to address. At the same time, he indicated that U.S. patience is limited and that further progress is required on nuclear issues and the status of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media reported that Tehran had suspended talks with the United States, citing Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon. President Trump stated on social media that negotiations between the two countries remain ongoing.
Rubio’s testimony did not directly address the Iranian media reports but emphasized that any agreement would need to include verifiable steps on Iran’s nuclear activities and the restoration of open passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The blockade and the status of talks come as the United States continues to enforce export controls and sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program and regional activities.
Administration officials have described the current approach as combining diplomatic engagement with measures to increase pressure on Tehran. Rubio’s remarks before the committee provided the most detailed public update on the status of the discussions in recent days.
The situation remains fluid, with both sides continuing to exchange messages through diplomatic channels. No timeline for further rounds of talks or specific next steps was announced during the hearing. Congressional committees are expected to continue monitoring developments related to Iran policy in the coming weeks.
Vote To Remove Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar From Congress Being Considered By Republican Congressman
In a closely divided 5-3 vote that fell one short of the required threshold, Minnesota House Republicans failed to secure a subpoena compelling U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar to testify and produce documents tied to the Feeding Our Future fraud scandal.
The outcome on May 5 marked the dramatic conclusion of months of mounting scrutiny over the congresswoman’s legislative actions and community outreach during the pandemic-era program at the center of one of the largest federal fraud investigations in recent Minnesota history. The House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, operating under a bipartisan agreement that demands six votes to authorize a subpoena, saw every Republican member support the measure while all three Democrats opposed it.
Committee Chair Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) argued that the subpoena had become the only remaining tool after Omar repeatedly declined invitations to appear and failed to respond to formal document requests.
“We have reached out to Representative Ilhan Omar on multiple occasions, inviting her to testify and inviting and requesting documents,” Robbins said ahead of the vote. “The only tool left for us as a committee if we want to get these documents is to issue a subpoena.”
Republicans on the panel have focused on Omar’s sponsorship of the federal MEALS Act, enacted in March 2020. They contend the legislation loosened critical oversight requirements in federal child nutrition programs and helped create the conditions that enabled large-scale fraud.
“Representative Omar had some role, whether inadvertent or not,” Robbins said. “She passed the MEALS Act in March of 2020, and that took the guardrails off the federal school nutrition program which created the conditions for Feeding Our Future.”
The Feeding Our Future scandal stands as one of Minnesota’s most significant public corruption cases in recent decades. Federal prosecutors allege that organizers and associates diverted hundreds of millions of dollars intended to feed low-income children through fabricated meal claims, shell nonprofit organizations, and fraudulent reimbursement requests. Dozens of individuals have been charged, including nonprofit founder Aimee Bock and multiple business operators connected to Minnesota’s Somali community.
Committee Republicans specifically sought communications between Omar’s office and several individuals named in the federal investigation, along with records related to her public promotion of Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, a business later linked to the scandal. Robbins also referenced a Somali-language television appearance in which Omar highlighted the restaurant as a meal distribution site during the pandemic.
“We thought it’d be very helpful to understand from Rep. Omar’s perspective how she thought the MEALS Act impacted the community, why she brought it, what communication she had with the fraudsters,” Robbins said during the hearing.
Democrats on the committee strongly opposed the effort, accusing Republicans of politicizing the investigation and targeting Omar for partisan advantage. Dave Pinto, the committee’s lead Democrat, questioned both the timing and practical purpose of pursuing a subpoena with only days remaining in the legislative session.
“Even if Omar were to testify or information is received, I do not see the committee doing anything with that information,” Pinto argued.
Pinto further referenced broader concerns about investigations involving political opponents under the current federal administration.
“We know the president and federal administration have got no hesitation going after political enemies and investigating them in all sorts of ways,” he said during the hearing.
The failed vote effectively prevents the Minnesota House committee from compelling Omar’s testimony or documents before the legislative session ends later this month. Nevertheless, Robbins signaled that Republicans are exploring alternative avenues to continue the pursuit.
“They’re fading,” Robbins said. “But I’ll certainly talk to our friends in Congress to see if they would be willing to issue a subpoena.”
Robbins noted that federal authorities retain “a whole menu of legal options” because Omar is a sitting member of Congress. The controversy unfolds amid broader Republican efforts at both state and national levels to highlight waste, fraud, and inadequate oversight in federal spending programs enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"SAD NEWS: JUST 30 MINUTES AGOIN WASHINGTON, D.C. TRUMP WAS CONFIRMEDAS... THE NATION CAN'T BELIEVE IT SEE MORE IN THE COMMENTS BELOW" 👇
Trump’s Silent Moment in Washington: A Pause That Said It All
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a city where every word is analyzed and every gesture is scrutinized, one brief moment of silence from President Donald Trump has become the focus of intense public discussion.
The unexpected pause occurred during a high-profile appearance in Washington on Thursday afternoon. Standing before a crowd of supporters, officials, and members of the media, Trump appeared ready to deliver another energetic address. Instead, he stopped for several seconds, looking out across the room before continuing with his remarks.
While the pause lasted only a short time, it quickly captured national attention.
Within minutes, social media platforms were flooded with videos of the moment. Supporters described it as a powerful and reflective pause, while critics and political commentators debated its significance. Some viewed it as a rare glimpse of contemplation from a political figure known for his fast-paced speaking style.
Observers noted that the atmosphere inside the venue changed noticeably during the silence. Conversations stopped. Cameras remained fixed on the president. Audience members appeared uncertain about what would come next.
"It was one of those moments where everyone seemed to hold their breath," said one attendee. "Nobody knew exactly what he was thinking, but it felt important."
Political analysts have offered differing interpretations. Some suggested that Trump was simply gathering his thoughts before addressing a complex issue. Others argued that the pause reflected the weight of ongoing national debates surrounding the economy, immigration, and foreign policy.
Regardless of the reason, the moment demonstrated how closely the public follows every move made by one of the most recognizable political figures in modern American history.
The president later continued his speech without mentioning the pause, focusing instead on his administration's priorities and future goals. However, the brief silence had already become one of the most talked-about aspects of the event.
Communication experts say moments like these can sometimes have a greater impact than carefully prepared statements.
"In politics, silence can be as meaningful as words," explained one public relations specialist. "People naturally try to interpret what isn't being said. That's why these moments often generate enormous attention."
By the evening, clips of the pause had been viewed millions of times online. News outlets across the country featured the footage, and commentators continued debating whether the moment carried a deeper message or was simply an ordinary break in a lengthy speech.
For many Americans, the answer may never be fully known.
Yet in a political environment dominated by constant headlines, heated debates, and nonstop commentary, one thing is clear: a few seconds of silence were enough to capture the nation's attention.
Sometimes the loudest statement is the one that isn't spoken at all.
