The Daily Trump Wants to Change How We Vote. Will He Succeed?
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Mar 20, 2026 
Michael Gold, a New York Times congressional reporter, and Nick Corasaniti, a Times politics reporter focused on elections, dig into a fierce Senate battle over the SAVE America Act. They explore Trump’s pressure campaign, why Republicans may block his push anyway, and the wider federal effort to reshape voting rules, voter rolls, and trust in elections.
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Why Trump Is Pushing The SAVE America Act
- Michael Gold says the SAVE America Act pairs proof-of-citizenship registration, photo ID, DHS voter-roll access, and broad mail-voting limits with unrelated transgender provisions.
- He argues Trump wants midterm leverage as much as policy, using the bill to validate fraud claims and force Democrats onto politically awkward votes.
Why Senate Republicans Are Resisting Trump Here
- Senate Republicans can satisfy Trump or preserve the filibuster, because Democrats can block the bill unless 60 senators agree to advance it.
- Michael Gold says many Republicans defend the filibuster to keep Senate bargaining power and avoid handing Democrats simple-majority control later.
The Senate Debate Is Mostly A Political Show
- John Thune chose a floor fight he expects to lose, using debate and a recorded vote to show support for Trump without ending the filibuster.
- Michael Gold says Senate Republicans are thinking past 2028 and trying to preserve the chamber as an independent institution.