Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., is ready to put Senate Democrats to the test on voter ID legislation.

The Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act has earned the backing of 50 Senate Republicans, including Thune, which is enough to break through a key procedural hurdle.

Whether it can pass from the Senate to President Donald Trump’s desk is, for now, an unlikely scenario if lawmakers take the traditional path in the upper chamber. Still, Thune wants to put Democrats on the spot as midterm elections creep closer.

«We will have a vote,» Thune told Fox News Digital.

SCHUMER SAYS DEMS WILL FIGHT VOTER ID PUSH ‘TOOTH AND NAIL,’ BALKS AT DHS ROLE IN ELECTIONS

His comments came as he crisscrossed his home state of South Dakota, where he and Republicans in their respective states are out selling their legislative achievements as primary season fast approaches.

Thune viewed the opportunity of a floor vote as a way to have Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his caucus explain to voters why they would block a legislative push to federally enshrine voter ID and proof of citizenship to register to vote.

«We will make sure that everybody’s on the record, and if they want to be against ensuring that only American citizens vote in our elections, they can defend that when they have to go out and campaign against Republicans this fall,» Thune said.

COLLINS BOOSTS REPUBLICAN VOTER ID EFFORT, BUT WON’T SCRAP FILIBUSTER

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and most Senate Democrats aren’t willing to back the SAVE America Act, complicating the bill’s survival in the upper chamber.  (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

But the political makeup of the Senate will prove a tricky path to navigate if Republicans want to pass the bill.

Though the majority of the Senate GOP backs the bill, without at least a handful of Senate Democrats joining them, it is destined to fall victim to the 60-vote filibuster threshold.

And Schumer has time and again made clear that he and the majority of Senate Democrats view the legislation, which passed the House last week, as a tool of voter suppression that would unduly harm poorer Americans and minority groups.

So Senate Republicans are looking at their options.

One, which Thune already threw cold water on, is nuking the Senate filibuster. The other is turning to the talking, or standing, filibuster. It’s the physical precursor to the current filibuster that requires hours upon hours of debate over a bill.

FETTERMAN SLAMS DEMOCRATS’ ‘JIM CROW 2.0’ VOTER ID RHETORIC AS PARTY UNITY FRACTURES

President Donald Trump listens during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington.  (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Some fear that taking that path could paralyze the Senate floor. Thune acknowledged that concern, having previously made it himself, but noted another wrinkle.

«A lot of people focus on unlimited debate, and yes, it is something that could drag on for weeks or literally, for that matter, months,» Thune said. «But it’s also unlimited amendments, meaning that every amendment — there’s no rules — so every amendment will be 51 votes.»

He argued that there are several politically challenging amendments that could hit the floor that would put members in tough reelections in a hard spot and possibly cause them to pass, which «could also be very detrimental to the bill in the end.»

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Thune didn’t shut down the idea of turning to the talking filibuster, especially if it ended in lawmakers being able to actually pass the SAVE America Act. But in the Senate, outcomes are rarely guaranteed on politically divisive legislation.

«I think that, you know, this obviously is a mechanism of trying to pursue an outcome, but I don’t know that, in the end, it’ll get you the outcome you want,» Thune said. «And there could be a lot of ancillary damage along the way.»

Familiares de presos políticos en Venezuela entraron este lunes en su tercer día de huelga de hambre en Caracas para exigir nuevas excarcelaciones, tras el retraso por segunda vez de la aprobación de una ley de amnistía que podría beneficiar a cientos de detenidos.

Las mujeres manifestantes se mantienen acampando a las afueras de los calabozos policiales conocidos como Zona 7, donde persisten las denuncias por el delicado estado de salud tanto de las familiares como de los propios reclusos.

La protesta comenzó el 14 de febrero, cuando una decena de mujeres se instaló en colchonetas bajo toldos improvisados en la entrada del centro de detención.

La escena es de extremo desgaste físico: rostros demacrados, cuerpos debilitados y manifestaciones de fatiga, angustia y desesperación.

“Ya el cuerpo comienza a resentirse. Siento mucha debilidad, cansancio cuando me levanto. Ya ni siquiera se puede descansar. Dormir bien, nada de eso. El cuerpo comienza a sentir los embates de no comer”, relató Evelin Quiaro, una de las huelguistas, quien lleva más de un mes pernoctando frente al recinto.

Las mujeres exigen la liberación de sus familiares y reclaman el cumplimiento de la promesa hecha por el titular del Parlamento, el chavista Jorge Rodríguez, quien aseguró el 6 de febrero que todos los presos serían liberados tras la aprobación de la ley de amnistía.

La discusión de la norma, sin embargo, fue postergada por segunda vez, y la próxima sesión legislativa está programada para el 19 de febrero. Mientras tanto, la incertidumbre domina a las familias que esperan excarcelaciones y denuncian que el proceso avanza a cuentagotas.

De acuerdo con la ONG Foro Penal, desde el 8 de enero se han concretado 444 liberaciones, pero más de 600 presos políticos siguen tras las rejas.

La situación sanitaria de las huelguistas y de los presos dentro de Zona 7 es alarmante. Una de las manifestantes tuvo que abandonar el ayuno por problemas de tensión arterial, y un médico que las asiste explicó que ha solicitado sin éxito autorización para atender a los internos.

Yessy Orozco, hija y hermana de dos detenidos, denunció que los funcionarios niegan el ingreso de personal de salud, argumentando la falta de autorización judicial.

El Comité por la Libertad de los Presos Políticos (CLIPP) advirtió que impedir la atención médica o el acceso a sueros hidratantes pone en grave riesgo la vida e integridad de las personas en huelga, recordando antecedentes fatales por falta de asistencia.

Familiares de los detenidos aseguran que un grupo de presos en el interior del centro también realiza una huelga de hambre desde el viernes, lo que agrava la preocupación por su estado físico. La organización Clipp denunció además que la policía impide el ingreso de sueros hidratantes y no ofrece explicaciones, sumando esta prohibición a la negativa de atención médica para los huelguistas.

La protesta de los familiares se produce en un contexto de tensión política y promesas incumplidas. El proceso de excarcelaciones y la discusión de la amnistía fueron anunciados tras la caída de Nicolás Maduro y la asunción de Delcy Rodríguez como jefa del régimen chavista, en medio de presiones internacionales, especialmente de Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, los familiares sostienen que el ritmo de liberaciones es lento y que la situación de los presos políticos continúa siendo crítica.

La Plataforma Unitaria Democrática, principal fuerza opositora, expresó su respaldo a las manifestantes y exigió la liberación “plena, inmediata y sin condiciones” de todos los presos políticos.

“No puede haber reconciliación ni justicia mientras persista la persecución y el encarcelamiento por razones políticas. ¡Ya basta de tanto sufrimiento! Venezuela merece libertad y dignidad”, afirmó en un comunicado.

En las últimas horas, la tensión creció frente al comando policial tras la difusión de un video donde un funcionario tilda la huelga de “show” y acusa a las mujeres de estar “cometiendo un delito”, pese a que la Constitución garantiza el derecho a la protesta pacífica.

Las familias y organizaciones de derechos humanos insisten en la urgencia de medidas humanitarias y el cese de la represión para quienes solo buscan la libertad de sus seres queridos.

(Con información de EFE y AFP)

Iran launched live-fire naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday in preparation for potential security and military threats in the strategic waterway, according to the country’s state-run IRNA news agency.

The drill, called «Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz,» was led by the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under the supervision of IRGC Commander in Chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, according to Iran International.

State media said the exercise was organized to assess the readiness of operational units, review security plans and rehearse scenarios for responding to any security and military threats in the area.

SCOTT BESSENT SAYS IRAN UNDERSTANDS ‘BRUTE FORCE’ AS TRUMP WEIGHS OPTIONS AMID NUCLEAR STANDOFF

The exercises came within hours of renewed diplomatic efforts starting in Geneva between the U.S. and Iran that are aimed at reviving negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

«I am in Geneva with real ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal,» Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X on Monday «What is not on the table: submission before threats,» he said.

President Donald Trump has ordered a buildup of U.S. military forces in the Middle East and has threatened to strike Iran if its leadership does not agree to a deal on its nuclear program.

VANCE WARNS IRAN THAT ‘ANOTHER OPTION ON THE TABLE’ IF NUCLEAR DEAL NOT REACHED

On Friday, Trump also offered an endorsement of regime change in Tehran and said it would be the «best thing that could happen» for Iran.

U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, went on to show U.S. military presence in the region Monday.

In a post on X, it shared images of EA-18G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 133 and F-35C Lightning IIs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 preparing for launch from the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln.

«Operating in international waters in the Middle East, the aircraft carrier conducts around-the-clock flight operations in support of regional security,» the post said.

TOP IRAN SECURITY OFFICIAL SEEN IN OMAN DAYS AFTER INDIRECT NUCLEAR TALKS WITH US

Iran carried out live drills Monday after Trump ordered military buildup in Middle East and threatened strikes if Iran doesn’t agree to nuclear deal. (Press office of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The Pentagon has been building up what Trump has described as an «armada» in the region.

The USS Abraham Lincoln is present flanked by three warships equipped with Tomahawk missiles and is at the center of a broader U.S. naval buildup in the region.

Meanwhile, Tehran said the second round of talks would be held on Tuesday «with the mediation and good offices of Oman.»

Negotiations restarted in Muscat on Feb. 6, after previous talks collapsed when Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran in June that sparked a 12-day war and escalated tensions across the region.

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On Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said there was «significant and legitimate doubt that the Iranians will ever agree to something that would cause them to lay down any ambitions of nuclear weaponry.»