Hidden Words on a Grave

His efforts, which have picked up recently, are not gaining any traction in a caucus that is eager to turn its attention to other priorities ahead of its upcoming monthlong recess.

Even the senator’s recent appeal to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose assassination in Utah had brought Republicans together last year, is not resonating among the frustrated GOP ranks.

“I suspect Charlie Kirk would want us to remain in session and either (1) pass the SAVE America Act through budget reconciliation, or (2) require filibustering senators to speak, and keep debating it until it passes,” Lee wrote in a Monday X post.

Senate Republicans remain unconvinced. Majority Leader John Thune has insisted the bill lacks support in the chamber and rejected Lee’s approaches to overcoming Democratic obstruction.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that advocates of President Trump’s strict voting bill should “turn our fire on the Democrats.”

Thune is facing mounting pressure from Trump to pass the legislation known as the SAVE America Act.

Trump in July demanded the Senate Majority Leader cancel the chamber’s upcoming August break until senators pass a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill, even as Republicans lack the votes to advance it.

On the other hand, Thune said passing the measure was his top priority going into the August recess.

“It seems to me sometimes I’m the only one who can count to 50 in this town. But we don’t have the votes to get rid of the filibuster, and we aren’t flipping 10 Democrats to vote for the SAVE America Act,” Thune said.

🚨 NOW: John Thune says we can possibly pass “pieces of the SAVE America Act” through budget reconciliation, which only needs 50 votes + JD Vance