VINCE Podcast – Episode 248

"The Most Explosive Political Clash of the Year"
Host: Vince Coglianese
Guest: Rachel Bovard (Conservative Partnership Institute)
Date: March 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of VINCE delivers an in-depth, high-energy analysis of the current “Save America Act” showdown in the U.S. Senate, as GOP leadership navigates internal fractures, media pressure, and Democratic resistance. Vince breaks down primary election results, discusses the Republican base’s growing demands on Senate action, and hosts a detailed procedural segment with leading Senate rules expert, Rachel Bovard.

The prevailing themes:

• The state and stakes of the Save America Act (voter ID, citizenship, curbs on mail-in voting, trans youth provisions)
• GOP strategy (or lack thereof) in the Senate
• Democratic counterarguments and media narratives
• The base’s role in driving political pressure
• How Senate rules are shaping the legislative fight

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Aftermath of Primary Results (Illinois & Virginia)

[03:19–15:50]

• Illinois "Squad Bench" Defeats: Vince covers the rout of left-wing Democratic primary challengers (“the bench for the squad”) in Illinois, framing it as both a rejection of radicalism even among Democratic voters and a win for party establishment power.

  • Memorable moment: Vince’s mockery of defeated candidate Katabuga Bugabuga, playing a clip from her explicit concession speech.
  • Quote:
    • "Even on the left there are voters who are done with that sht... It's not just the declared radicals, it's the undeclared radicals that are the problem in their party."* ([05:01])

• Virginia Special Election:

  • Republican overperformance in Virginia's District 98, seen as a positive sign for GOP energy ahead of a key referendum to prevent Democratic gerrymandering.
  • Urges listeners—especially Virginians—to mobilize and vote “no” on the ballot measure.
  • Quote:
    • "Vote like your country depends on it, because it does, Virginia." ([14:10])

2. Save America Act Enters Senate Debate

[15:53–31:56]

• Donald Trump Statement ([15:53]):

  • Trump touts the Save America Act: voter ID, proof of citizenship, elimination of mail-in ballots, bans on men in women’s sports, and gender surgeries for minors.
  • Quote:
    • "The only people who would want not to have [voter ID] are people that want to cheat. Cheaters. Very simple. We can't let that happen." (Trump, [16:53])

• Debate Begins, But Fractures Emerge:

  • Senate vote to begin debate succeeds (51–48), but some notable absences/defections:
    • Lisa Murkowski votes no.
    • Thom Tillis misses the vote despite being a bill co-sponsor.
  • Vince’s frustration: leadership is posturing rather than seizing the moment for bold procedural moves.

3. Republican and Democrat Floor Arguments

[21:00–25:55]

• GOP Perspective:

  • Marsha Blackburn: Democrats are prioritizing illegal aliens over American citizens.
    • Quote:
      • "Give them a choice between protecting the rule of law and protecting U.S. citizens, they're going to choose somebody illegally in the country every single time." (Blackburn, [21:10])

• Democratic Pushback:

  • Chuck Schumer: Labels Save America Act as “voter suppression,” claims “millions will be purged,” invoking Elon Musk’s “Doge squad” (mocked by Vince).

    • Quote:
      • "It could purge millions of American citizens from the voter rolls through a screening algorithm designed by Elon Musk's Doge squad." (Schumer, [22:46])
    • Vince counters these are fear tactics and clarifies SAVE is an established government system to ensure only citizens are on the rolls.

  • Patty Murray: Asserts that student and tribal IDs would be invalidated, making it “harder for you to vote.” Vince deconstructs and dismisses this argument as dishonest and out-of-step with general public sentiment.

  • Vince connects Democratic resistance to their strategic calculation that new registrants favor Republicans and that the opaque system works to their advantage.

4. Senate Rules Deep Dive – Interview with Rachel Bovard

[31:57–48:06]

Senate Maneuvering and John Thune's Role ([31:57–41:16]):

• Explanation of the "amendment tree" blocking Democrat amendments by filling amendment slots with GOP priorities (Trump’s add-ons: ban trans surgeries, sports protections).

  • Bovard: "By filling the amendment tree, there's only a certain number of slots available. John Thune basically blocked Democrats from being able to offer any amendment. So he filled that...with the changes that Donald Trump has proposed." ([33:51])

• Thune’s caution: reluctant to force a “talking filibuster”—Rachel and Vince criticize this lack of boldness, arguing the rules already allow for it.

Endurance and Leverage Tactics ([41:16–44:39]):

• Democrats can be made to "suffer" by unpredictable floor schedules (“depriving them of dinner reservations” and “sleep”).

  • Bovard: "You have to make it physically painful for them...start calling live quorums, keep the Senate in overnight, make the floor so unpredictable..." ([39:47])

• John Fetterman signals willingness to negotiate if the bill is narrowed to photo ID requirements. Bovard: that's the opening for a cross-party deal if pressure continues.

Political and Procedural Strategy Advice ([44:39–47:59]):

• Bovard and Vince stress that not getting cloture isn’t defeat—multiple cloture attempts can keep the bill on the floor and force negotiations.

  • Bovard: "When the Senate wants to do something, it makes time for it...We don't expect at the end of this process a failed cloture vote to be the end." ([37:16])

• Pressure, activism, and base engagement are essential.

  • Bovard: "We want them to be trying to work this out with Democrats...We expect the message to be, we are not done here." ([46:04])

5. Republican Leadership Under the Microscope: John Thune's Reluctance

[50:50–55:08]

• Vince plays and dissects John Thune’s Fox interview with Brett Baier:

  • Thune repeats that there “aren’t the votes” for a talking filibuster, referring to historical precedent as a rationale for not trying.
    • Quote (Thune):
      • "You go back to the 19th century and the way things were done in the Senate. And we can't find an example in modern Senate history where a piece of legislation passed via the talking filibuster." ([51:14])
    • Vince’s rebuttal: Calls this a cop-out and challenges Thune to lead and organize, not just lament the math.

• Press conference moment: Reporter confronts Thune directly, “Why is the filibuster more important than stopping illegals from voting?” Thune offers a Senate civics lesson but, per Vince, dodges the heart of the question. ([54:22])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Vince on the GOP base:
  "The whole base is calling the Senate. Much of this audience is calling, knocking on doors, sending emails… Everybody's very active on this issue right now." ([45:10])
• Rachel Bovard's Core Strategic Point:
  "Every major piece of legislation in the senate for literally 250 years has passed this way. It's only the last 20 years that we've just seen, 'oh, we don't have 60, we just give up and go home.' That is never how the Senate operates." ([42:05])
• Vince on media and journalism:
  "That kind of journalism shouldn't be rare. It should be common. That kind of journalism is why we have the First Amendment." ([56:20])

Timestamps – Important Segments

• [03:19] – Illinois “squad bench” primary defeats
• [14:10] – Virginia special election results
• [15:53] – Trump on the Save America Act
• [17:41] – Senate debate begins (vote 51-48)
• [21:02] – Marsha Blackburn: Democrats “loyalty to illegal aliens”
• [22:43] – Chuck Schumer: Claims voter suppression, invokes Musk
• [25:55] – Vince debunks Dem talking points on voter eligibility
• [31:57] – Rachel Bovard interview begins
• [33:39] – “Amendment tree” Senate procedure explained
• [39:07] – Tactics for pressuring Democrats physically via Senate schedule
• [42:05] – Fetterman open to voter ID-only bill; historical negotiation context
• [46:04] – Base activism and keeping up pressure on senators
• [50:50] – Thune challenged on talking filibuster on Fox
• [54:22] – Reporter asks Thune if filibuster is more important than stopping illegal voting
• [56:20] – Vince’s commentary on the state of American journalism

Conclusion & Action Items

• Vince reiterates that the fight for the Save America Act is not over—calls on the audience to stay engaged, sustain pressure on senators, and reject performative half-measures from GOP leadership.
• The episode closes with a rallying cry for grassroots action and a preview of high-profile guests (Donald Trump Jr., Dr. Oz) coming on later in the week.

Overall Tone:
Confrontational, urgent, detail-driven, with a blend of humor and frustration directed at both Democratic opposition and lackluster Republican leadership. Vince's style remains informal but relentless in holding political figures to account and translating Senate process into accessible language for his deeply engaged conservative audience.