The halls of the Senate are bustling, though not necessarily with discussion or debate, but rather with clerk after clerk reading a hefty tome – a whopping 940-page bill – out loud. This isn’t some new audiobook service for politicians; it’s the continuation of a convoluted procedural tactic, one that seems more like a battle of endurance at this point. As the clerks rotate like marathon relay runners through the night, the spectacle of it all serves more as a test of who can stay awake the longest, rather than who can govern effectively.
Republicans pushed this particular piece of legislation into its final debate stages, but the progress has hit a sluggish pace. The Senate floor has transformed into a theater of elongated monologues, the likes of which would bore even the most diehard C-SPAN viewers. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, it is a game of numbers, with each vote painstakingly calculated. The Republicans are down a few critical votes, notably from Thom Tillis and a veering Rand Paul, whose party allegiance occasionally resembles a revolving door more than a steadfast partnership.
President Trump, never one to shy away from expressing his discontent, has taken to Truth Social, singling out these senators for some trademark verbal flagellation. This is seen as a friendly reminder in Washington that disagreeing with Trump often comes with a political price tag. Every senator weighing their vote must consider the risk of becoming the next Twitter, or rather Truth Social target if they stray from the flight path.
Now, while the reading of this bill drones on, most senators are not exactly glued to their seats. Attendance appears as optional as ever, as many lawmakers presumably find better uses for their time than listening to a live reading equivalent of watching paint dry. Traditionally, bills are meant to be read three times in total, harking back to the days of quills and parchment. Now, like an old-school radio broadcast, the hope is to wrap up before the final credits of a long, arduous session are forced to roll.
As if this slow burn weren’t enough, the looming question of the House’s approval hangs in the air, like a suspenseful (or perhaps not-so-suspenseful) plot twist. House Republicans have huddled, many dubious about any Senate modifications, skeptical they’ve only worsened the bill from its original form. However, President Trump’s influence remains a wildcard, his disapproval acting as the ultimate incentive—his favorable nod offering them a political pass to fall in line. Washington drama or high-stakes poker might just find they have more in common than they think. The clock is ticking as the Fourth of July approaches, with every player simply hoping to end on the right side of a presidential tweet.
