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On Politics

Thu Feb 26 2026

Kathryn Palmer | Politics Reporter

@KathrynPlmr

Hello readers. Welcome back to On Politics. Kathryn Palmer here. With all the State of the Union hubbub mostly behind us, here's what to keep an eye on in the wide world of politics today.

Trump pushes voter ID bill. Dems hate it.

In his State of the Union speech, President Donald Trump demanded passage of what he called "country-saving" legislation, claiming it would protect the 2026 midterm elections from fraud and illegal voting. He was referring to the SAVE America Act, which passed the GOP-led House of Representatives earlier this month but faces a shaky future in the Senate, especially amid staunch Democratic opposition. Supporters, including Trump and many GOP lawmakers, say the bill would ensure that only U.S. citizens register to vote by requiring voters present photo IDs in federal elections. But the bill has raised alarms among Democrats, voting rights groups and election law experts, who said it would make it harder for some people to register to vote and cast ballots. Democrats also said it would give Republicans an unfair advantage by potentially disenfranchising huge swaths of eligible Democratic voters, especially minorities and women.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Seated behind him are Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA). Kenny Holston /Pool via REUTERS

Kenny Holston/The New York Times, via REUTERS

A politics roundup:

•	A man was deported, then he died − Now his family of six is reeling
•	A look at U.S.-Cuba relations after Cuban troops killed four on a speedboat from Florida
•	The U.S. ended curfew for American government workers in Mexico after El Mencho unrest
•	How thousands of truckers targeted by Trump could lose their licenses

Gallery: See photos of Microsoft founder Bill Gates from the Epstein files

Bill and Hillary Clinton testimony on Epstein ties

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton are giving depositions to a House committee today and tomorrow as part of its investigation into late sex offender and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The depositions are taking place near the Clintons' house in Chappaqua, New York. Hillary Clinton is testifying today, followed by Bill Clinton tomorrow. The Clintons agreed to appear in person after the Republican-led House moved toward a vote to hold them in contempt of Congress, a step that could have led to criminal charges. The pair initially agreed to cooperate but attempted to block in-person appearances. They have argued the investigation is a partisan exercise aimed at protecting Trump. Here's what to know about the Clintons and their Epstein ties.

Judge rules Trump's third-country deportations unlawful

A federal judge in Boston has ruled the administration's policy that allows immigrants to be deported to countries that aren't their own is unlawful and could put people in danger. The ruling came in a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of migrants facing deportation to countries not previously named in their removal orders or identified in their immigration court proceedings. "It is not fine, nor is it legal," U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy said in his ruling yesterday, citing a U.S. law that prevents the government from removing someone to a country where their "life or freedom would be threatened" because of their "race, religion, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion." The Department of Homeland Security told USA TODAY in a statement that the agency must be allowed to "remove illegal aliens to a country willing to accept them," and signaled it will likely take the case to the Supreme Court.

Thanks for reading! Scroll down for more stories. You can reach me at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @ KathrynPlmr.