Good afternoon. Major developments are unfolding right now. The Hillary Clinton deposition has been thrown into chaos, with Clinton going on offense against Trump. Trump is considering a sweeping executive order that could give him significant control over upcoming elections. The SAVE Act is effectively dead in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Fox News is running several attacks on my Kamala Harris interview. I will not back down. Not now. Not ever. If you believe in holding power accountable, subscribe and support this work.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told House lawmakers Thursday that she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal conduct, opening two days of high-stakes, closed-door depositions that will also include former President Bill Clinton.
“I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein,” Clinton said in a written opening statement posted to social media.
The testimony follows months of escalating tension between the Clintons and the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee. After initially offering sworn written statements, the former first couple agreed to appear in person when Chairman Rep. James Comer threatened to pursue criminal contempt of Congress charges if they refused. Here is her going after Trump:
The proceedings mark a rare and politically explosive moment. If Bill Clinton testifies as expected, it would represent the first time a former president has been compelled to provide testimony before Congress in this manner. The development underscores how the bipartisan demand for accountability in the Epstein scandal continues to reverberate across Capitol Hill, years after his death and Maxwell’s conviction.
Closed-Door Chaos
The deposition of Hillary Clinton was temporarily paused after Rep. Lauren Boebert shared a photograph from inside the closed-door proceeding with conservative influencer Benny Johnson, who posted the image online and said it came from Boebert. I am not sharing the image here as it is an unauthorized image.
Committee rules prohibit outside press and photographers from documenting the proceedings. While the deposition is being recorded on video, Chairman Comer has said the footage will not be released until Clinton’s legal team has an opportunity to review it.
According to MS Now, the Hillary Clinton deposition has since resumed, but Clinton is now requesting that members of the press be allowed in for the remainder of the session. Rep. James Comer rejected that request, saying no.
Trump Allies Circulate Draft Emergency Order on 2020 Election
At the same time, pro-Trump activists aligned with the White House are circulating a draft executive order that would declare a national emergency based on allegations of Chinese interference in the 2020 presidential election, according to reporting from The Washington Post.
The 17-page draft argues that foreign interference justifies extraordinary executive powers over federal elections. Supporters of the proposal say it could enable President Donald Trump to impose sweeping changes ahead of November’s midterm elections, including mandating voter ID nationwide and banning mail-in ballots and certain voting machines.
The White House declined to detail the president’s plans. Trump has repeatedly insisted the 2020 election was flawed, despite numerous investigations failing to uncover evidence of widespread fraud sufficient to change the outcome.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is currently leading a review of election security focused on foreign influence. However, a 2021 intelligence assessment concluded that while China considered limited efforts to influence the election, it ultimately did not interfere in a significant way.
The emergency power concept signals a dramatic escalation in the administration’s approach to election oversight and attaches new political weight to renewed scrutiny of 2020.
SAVE Act Collapses in Senate
Meanwhile, the SAVE America Act appears effectively dead in the Senate.
According to Punchbowl News, Senate Minority Leader John Thune moved to quash efforts to force a “talking filibuster” after at least four Republican senators signaled they would not vote to overcome Democratic amendments. Without their support, the bill has no viable path forward.
Sen. Thom Tillis said he would oppose the motion to proceed despite being a co-sponsor of the legislation. His opposition means Vice President J.D. Vance would need to remain on standby to break potential ties.
Thune has privately expressed frustration that House Speaker Mike Johnson has not done more to temper pressure from hardline House Republicans demanding action. Some Senate Republicans believe Thune allowed debate over the filibuster strategy to linger too long. But the South Dakota Republican leaned into the cautious approach that helped secure his leadership position: wait for consensus before acting.
That consensus ultimately revealed at least four Republican senators unwilling to advance the measure: Tillis, John Curtis, Mitch McConnell, and Lisa Murkowski.
Their resistance effectively guarantees the SAVE Act will stall, exposing fractures within the GOP at a time when party leaders are navigating investigations, election disputes, and a contentious midterm strategy.
A Capitol Under Strain
Taken together, the Clinton depositions, the executive order draft circulating among Trump allies, and the Senate impasse on election legislation illustrate a Congress and political system under mounting strain.
Long-running battles over accountability, election legitimacy, and executive authority are colliding in real time, shaping a volatile landscape ahead of the midterms. Whether through depositions behind closed doors or emergency powers debated in public view, Washington’s most combustible issues are no longer simmering. They are boiling over.