Wednesday on the RealClearPolitics podcast, Tom Bevan, Andrew Walworth, and Carl Cannon discuss whether the SAVE Act could be the issue that finally pushes Senate Republicans to abolish the legislative filibuster, why Democrats oppose voter ID, and how far Republicans might be willing to push to get this passed. They also analyze a grand jury’s decision not to charge Sen. Mark Kelly for warning members of the military not to obey so-called illegal orders, and a new poll from Minnesota that looks “disastrous” for Republicans in 2026. Plus: A progressive upset in New Jersey highlights the Democratic Party’s leftward energy, and the exodus of tech billionaires from California as the state flirts with a first-of-its-kind wealth tax. You can listen to the show live, weekdays at 11:00 a.m. on SiriusXM’s Megyn Kelly Channel 111, and then on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and here on our website. *** The show opens with the SAVE Act and the debate on Capitol Hill over mandating voter ID. Is this something Republicans are willing to “kill the filibuster” to get passed? “Both parties have this straw man. The Republicans say millions of illegals vote, and there’s no evidence for that. The Democrats say these stricter standards will prevent minorities and elderly people from voting. There’s no evidence for that. In fact, there’s evidence of the opposite,” Cannon explained. “Remember when they took the All-Star game away from Georgia over stricter voting requirements? Voting went up. After these procedures, more people voted, and more minorities voted in Georgia than ever before.” “Democrats want no IDs, they want same-day registration. They want nothing, literally. They want it to be as open as possible for anyone and everyone to go and vote,” Bevan argued. “This is an 80/20 issue. Pretty much everybody’s in favor of this, but it could be 100%, and Democrats would still be against it.” *** And then, around minute 10, the panel turns to a victory for Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, whom President Trump had accused of “treason.” But a grand jury declined to charge him over the video posted last November, telling military service members they could refuse to obey illegal orders. “It was not only bad politics; it was bad policy too,” Cannon said about the statement. “I thought it was a horrible thing to do – telling every 19-year-old volunteer they’re supposed to interpret the Constitution every time they get an order. That’s untenable. Just ridiculous.” “This is another example of the Trump administration, I think, taking things too far and ending up with a little bit of egg on their face – and turning these folks into martyrs,” Bevan concluded. *** After that, at minute 20, the group discusses a new Emerson poll of 1,000 likely Minnesota voters showing Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar solidly leading in the governor’s race, and both candidates in the Democratic Senate primary leading Republican Michelle Tafoya. “These numbers are disastrous for the GOP,” Bevan said. “Minnesota is a very Democratic state,” Cannon added. “The generic Democrat wins against the generic Republicans — and Amy Klobuchar is more than the generic candidate.” *** Next, at minute 25, progressive candidate Analilia Mejia won a Democratic primary this week to run in a special election to fill Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s seat in New Jersey’s 11th congressional district. “She may be too far left for the district – but it doesn’t matter. She could be there 40 years and won’t have to talk to a Republican in the district. That’s what gerrymandering does. It’s why Congress is such a mess,” Cannon commented. “She’s sincerely very far left, and she doesn’t owe anyone anything… The squad is replenishing its ranks.” “The progressive energy – especially anti-ICE activism – powered her victory. That’s where the energy is in the Democratic Party,” Bevan said. *** Finally, after minute 46, the panel discusses billionaires seeming to leave California ahead of a referendum which could impose a 5% wealth tax on all of their assets. Are they wrong for leaving, or should we oppose the government confiscating wealth this way? “I understand the impulse to stick it to the man, but the way it is written will hurt these companies,” Cannon said. “From each according to ability, to each according to need. That’s what this is. That’s been tried. It didn’t work.” “California already has one of the highest state income tax rates in the country, like 11.5%,” Bevan said. “These billionaires already pay astronomical sums. There’s nothing immoral about leaving. They’re not stupid.” *** Don’t miss a single episode of the RealClearPolitics daily radio show – subscribe at Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
RealClearPolitics Videos