'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' Q&A on the SAVE America Act

On March 17, the Senate began debate on the SAVE America Act, a Republican-backed voter identification and registration bill that passed the House last month. Here, we answer several questions about the legislation, many of which were asked by our readers.

Previous versions of the bill, called only the SAVE Act, died in the Senate, where the measure hasn’t garnered 60 votes to overcome a filibuster and force a final vote. The new legislation could well face a similar fate — eventually — but the Republican leadership is holding a weeklong (or so) debate to attract support.

David Becker, founder and executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research, which works with election officials throughout the country, said in a March 18 media briefing that it was “extremely unlikely, if not impossible, that this passes.” He predicted that “next week, we’re not going to be talking about this.”

But this week, the Senate will be talking about it a lot. On the opening day of debate, Senate Majority Leader John Thune called the bill “a package of commonsense measures” that was about “ensuring that those who are registered to vote are eligible to vote – and that those who show up to vote at polling places are … who they say they are.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it “in every sense a voter suppression bill” that could “disenfranchise” millions of American citizens.

Chuck Norris, Martial Arts Legend and ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ Star, Dies at 86

From global action icon to television mainstay, Norris’ decades-long career bridged Hollywood, martial arts culture, and American pop mythology.

The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Chuck Norris, the martial arts champion-turned-Hollywood action star best known for his commanding screen presence and the long-running television hit Walker, Texas Ranger. Norris died at the age of 86, his family confirmed, marking the end of an era defined by discipline, grit, and an unmistakable brand of American heroism.

According to a family statement, Norris passed away peacefully in Hawaii, surrounded by loved ones. “He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved,” the family shared, underscoring both his public legacy and private devotion.

From Martial Arts Champion to Global Action Star

Born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Oklahoma, Norris’ journey to stardom began not in Hollywood, but in the disciplined world of martial arts. A decorated practitioner across multiple disciplines—including black belts in Taekwondo, Karate, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—Norris built a reputation that lent authenticity to his on-screen persona.

His breakthrough came alongside martial arts legend Bruce Lee in the 1972 cult classic The Way of the Dragon, where their climactic Colosseum fight remains one of cinema’s most iconic showdowns.

Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Norris became a staple of action cinema, starring in films such as Good Guys Wear Black, The Octagon, and Lone Wolf McQuade. His roles often centered on lone American heroes, reflecting Cold War-era themes and a growing appetite for patriotic action narratives.

Trump Issues Stark Warning to Iran After Qatar Retaliation, Signals Escalation Risk in Global Energy Flashpoint

U.S. distances itself from Israeli strike on South Pars gas field as tensions ripple through Gulf, driving oil price volatility and geopolitical uncertainty

WASHINGTON, D.C. | President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a forceful warning to Iran following its reported retaliation against Qatar in the wake of an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars natural gas field, a critical hub in the global energy market.

In a statement that underscored both geopolitical tension and strategic ambiguity, Trump emphasized that the United States had “no advance knowledge” of Israel’s targeted strike on the South Pars field—widely regarded as the world’s largest natural gas reserve—and stressed that Qatar was not involved in the operation.

“The United States knew nothing about this particular attack,” Trump said, adding that Qatar was “in no way, shape, or form involved.”

The remarks come amid growing concerns of a widening regional conflict following joint U.S.-Israeli military actions launched on February 28, which have already heightened tensions across the Middle East. Trump’s acknowledgment of a lack of coordination with Israel marks a notable shift in tone, raising questions among analysts about the operational alignment between the two allies.

DOJ, Sen. Wyden Clash Over Access to DEA Epstein Files as Transparency Fight Intensifies

Senator alleges Justice Department obstruction in release of unredacted documents; DOJ counters that records are already available to Congress.

WASHINGTON, D.C. | A growing dispute between the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is reigniting scrutiny over the federal government’s handling of records tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, underscoring broader tensions around transparency, accountability, and political trust in high-profile investigations.

At the center of the clash is a 2015 DOJ memorandum prepared for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), detailing an interagency probe into alleged illicit financial activity linked to Epstein and his network. The document—released earlier this year as part of a broader trove of Epstein-related files—was heavily redacted, prompting calls from lawmakers for full disclosure.

Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, has accused the DOJ of intervening to block the DEA from providing an unredacted version of the memorandum. In a sharply worded letter to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Wyden argued that such actions represent a continuation of what he described as a “long-running obstruction” of congressional oversight.

“Your alleged interference in this matter is highly disturbing,” Wyden wrote, suggesting the redactions obscure evidence of broader criminal conduct, including potential ties to drug trafficking and organized exploitation networks.

Wyden further asserted that the underlying investigation indicated Epstein may have been involved in cross-border criminal conspiracies, including the use of illicit substances to facilitate abuse of victims—allegations that, if substantiated, could significantly expand the scope of known misconduct.

DOJ Pushes Back

Blanche responded forcefully, rejecting Wyden’s claims as unfounded and politically motivated. In a public statement, he said the senator had “completely fabricated a story for clicks,” emphasizing that unredacted versions of the DEA report are available for congressional review in a secure DOJ reading room.

EPA’s Misleading Claim of $1.3 Trillion in Deregulatory ‘Savings’

Trump administration officials have claimed that they are saving Americans over $1.3 trillion by ending regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. But the figure does not incorporate any benefits of the emissions standards. By one of the Environmental Protection Agency’s own calculations, getting rid of the standards could cost billions.

On Feb. 12, the EPA announced that it was revoking the 2009 endangerment finding, which allowed the agency to regulate greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide that trap heat and cause climate change. Without that policy in place, the agency said it was terminating its rules that limit such pollution from vehicles. The regulation has primarily acted to increase fuel efficiency, since more efficient cars and trucks burn less gas and release less carbon pollution. 

Since unveiling the finalized rulemaking last month that eliminates the emissions standards, officials have frequently touted an alleged savings of $1.3 trillion.

“This action will save American taxpayers over $1.3 trillion,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in the press conference announcing the policy change. “What that means is lower prices, more choices, and an end of heavy-handed climate policies. With today’s announcement, American families will save over … $2,400 for a new vehicle.”

In the same briefing, President Donald Trump and Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, also mentioned the $1.3 trillion figure. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has similarly referred to it, and in official communications, the EPA has also emphasized it.

But the $1.3 trillion is not a net total. It only includes the added cost of making cars and trucks more fuel efficient over a period of nearly three decades, without considering any of the benefits, such as reduced fuel or maintenance costs. One of the agency’s own estimates, which also ignores any health or environmental benefits, shows that repealing the policy could ultimately cost Americans $180 billion.