By Damian Paletta
Good morning. Is the Do-Nothing Congress about to Do-Something big?
The Senate today is expected to begin debate on the SAVE America Act, a priority for President Trump. The bill, which already passed the House, would require voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote and then present a photo ID when voting. Trump also wants a ban on most mail-in voting added to the bill. If the it passes, it would become one of the most consequential election-related laws in decades. It's a big, big deal.
Here's the political back story of it all:
Passing such a bill typically requires 60 votes in the Senate. Republicans control only 53 seats, so Senate Majority Leader John Thune is under pressure (from Trump, Elon Musk and numerous others) to advance the bill with just a 51-vote majority. But there's no easy way to do that -- some Republicans don't want to end the 60-vote rule, and forcing a "standing filibuster" is likely a dead end. Republicans plan days of debate this week to try to find a way forward.
This will be a fascinating moment for Republicans in the Senate. They stand at the crossroads of Senate tradition (filibuster rules) and the future of the Senate, even if that future includes a day when Democrats control either the chamber or the White House.
This week will also be a big week for Trump and his Iran strategy. Send me your questions at politics@wsj.com, and I will answer them this week in the newsletter.
This is an edition of the Politics newsletter, bringing you an expert guide to what's driving D.C. every day. If you're not subscribed, sign up here.
People and Policies I'm Watching
Iran War: Follow live updates as Israel says it killed Iranian security chief Ali Larijani and the commander of Iran's Basij paramilitary force after Iran unleashed a new crackdown on dissent, and Trump postponed his planned late-March China trip to focus on the war.
Illinois Senate primary: The winner of Tuesday's Democratic primary is likely to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Wealthy Gov. JB Pritzker has helped bankroll a multimillion-dollar ad buy for Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, angering the Congressional Black Caucus, which is backing Rep. Robin Kelly, who, like Stratton, is Black.
Congressional hearings: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, FBI Director Kash Patel, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other national-security officials are to testify on threats to the U.S. before the House Select Intelligence Committee, starting at 2 p.m., while the House Armed Services Committee is to hold a hearing on U.S. military posture and national-security challenges in the Western Hemisphere, starting at 10 a.m.
Trump's Tuesday: It's St. Patrick's Day, and Irish leaders by custom are visiting the White House. Trump is scheduled to greet Micheál Martin, Ireland's taoiseach, or prime minister, at 10:45 a.m. Eastern time; engage in a bilateral meeting at 11 a.m., participate in a Friends of Ireland lunch at 12:10 p.m. and a policy meeting at 2:30 p.m.; do "signing time" at 4 p.m.; greet the deputy first minister of Northern Ireland at 5 p.m.; again greet Martin at 5:05 p.m.; and participate in the Shamrock Bowl at 5:20 p.m.
What I'm Following
A judge blocked RFK Jr.'s vaccine recommendations. The new guidelines were part of the HHS secretary's MAHA overhaul of the country's immunization policies. Judge Brian E. Murphy, a Biden appointee, said that the government appeared to have improperly bypassed the vaccine advisory panel to change the recommendations and that it also had improperly replaced all panel members with new appointees, handpicked by Kennedy .
Trump's efforts to strip away legal protections for some immigrants will get an airing at the Supreme Court. The justices said Monday that they would take up a pair of cases challenging the administration's attempts to remove Haiti and Syria from a federal program known as Temporary Protected Status. The TPS program gives provisional work authorization and protections from deportation to immigrants when their home countries are facing humanitarian crises, including armed conflicts, natural disasters and epidemics.
The SEC is preparing a proposal to eliminate the quarterly reporting requirement. The proposal, which the SEC could publish as soon as next month, would give companies the option to share results twice a year. The push gained steam late last year when the Long-Term Stock Exchange petitioned the SEC to eliminate the quarterly requirement, in force for more than 50 years, leading Trump and SEC Chairman Paul Atkins to express support.
What Else Is Happening
-- Powerful White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with
early-stage breast cancer and will undergo treatment.
-- Most allies so far aren't biting as Trump squeezes them to help reopen
the Strait of Hormuz, even as some ships sneak through, perhaps with
Iran's nod.
-- As Iran has been deploying its Shahed attack drones, the U.S. has been
waging its own drone war, striking at Iranian targets and providing vital
battlefield reconnaissance.
-- Wyoming is stockpiling millions of dollars of gold bars under a state law
requiring that its investment portfolio add precious metals as a hedge
against economic turmoil.
What I'm Reading
-- Border Patrol Official Greg Bovino to Retire by the End of March
(Washington Examiner)
-- What Do Utahns Think About the War in Iran? (Deseret News)
-- Arthur Brooks: Face It, You Are Addicted to Politics (The Free Press)
About Me
I'm Damian Paletta, The Wall Street Journal's Washington coverage chief. I've covered Washington for 22 years as a reporter and editor. I've covered the White House, Congress, national security, the federal budget, economics and multiple market meltdowns.
WSJ Politics brings you an expert guide to what's driving D.C., every weekday morning. Send your feedback to politics@wsj.com (if you're reading this in your inbox, you can just hit reply). This edition was curated and edited in collaboration with Joe Haberstroh and Michael Connolly. Got a tip for us? Here's how to submit.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 17, 2026 07:02 ET (11:02 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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