The Brian Lehrer Show Friday Morning Politics: SAVE Act, DHS Shutdown and More
Mar 13, 2026
Burgess Everett, congressional bureau chief for Semafor who covers Capitol Hill, joins to unpack Capitol Hill drama. He breaks down the bipartisan Senate housing bill and why the House could stall it. He explains the push for the SAVE Act and voting rules fights. He also covers the DHS funding stalemate and the operational fallout at TSA and ICE.
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Bipartisan Housing Bill's Key Provisions And Senate Success
- A bipartisan housing bill passed the Senate 89 to 10 aiming to boost supply and curb institutional investor dominance in single-family homes.
- Provisions include limits on investors owning large portfolios and requiring rental-built homes be sold after seven years, creating House uncertainty.
Voting Bill Is Both Policy And Test Of Trump's Influence
- Trump's voting bill would federalize voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements and he frames it as existential for the midterms.
- Many Republicans once opposed federalizing elections, making this both a policy and a test of Trump's sway in the party.
Senate Procedure Shapes Fate Of Voter ID Bill
- Senate procedure is central: using a House-passed bill lets Republicans bring the voter ID measure to the floor with 50 votes, but ending debate still needs 60 votes.
- That procedural choice avoids an initial 60-vote threshold but can't bypass the filibuster to enact the law.