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Paul J Chapman and CENTER VOTER

Mar 21, 2026

Saturday, March 21, 2026 · 7:00 a.m. ET

Federal Level

Trump Says U.S. Is Considering ‘Winding Down’ Iran War as Pentagon Prepares for Ground Troops

President Trump told reporters on Friday that the United States is considering “winding down” military operations against Iran, though he rejected the idea of a ceasefire. “We could have a dialogue, but I am not interested in a ceasefire,” Trump said from the South Lawn before departing for Florida. At the same time, officials told CBS News that the Pentagon is making detailed preparations for a possible ground force deployment in Iran, and the military is sending approximately 2,500 Marines from the USS Boxer amphibious ready group along with the USS Tripoli group to the Middle East. CBS News also reported that the administration is developing plans to secure or extract Iran’s nuclear materials, with JSOC planning underway, although no final decision has been made on timing. The conflicting signals from the White House and the Defense Department have raised questions about what the administration’s actual endgame in the conflict looks like as the war enters its fourth week.^1,2,3,4

U.S.-Israel Strikes Hit Iran’s Natanz Nuclear Facility; IRGC Threatens Tourist Sites Worldwide

An airstrike conducted by the United States and Israel struck Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment site on Friday, one of the country’s most significant nuclear installations, located roughly 135 miles southeast of Tehran. Iranian state media said there was no release of radioactive material and no threat to nearby residents. Separately, a senior spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Abolfazl Shekarchi, warned that “parks, recreational areas, and tourist destinations” around the world would not be safe for Iran’s enemies, a threat that broadened the scope of the conflict beyond the Middle East. In another development, drone attacks reportedly sparked a large fire near a U.S. military installation on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, though details remained limited.^5,6,7

Treasury Issues 30-Day Sanctions Waiver on Iranian Oil at Sea to Ease Gas Prices

The Trump administration on Friday issued a 30-day sanctions waiver allowing the purchase of Iranian oil currently stranded aboard tankers at sea, a move designed to relieve pressure on global energy markets as oil prices hover around $112 per barrel and gasoline approaches $4 per gallon nationally. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the authorization as “narrowly tailored” and short-term, covering an estimated 140 million barrels of Iranian crude. The decision drew immediate criticism from both sides of the aisle, with some Democrats calling it an acknowledgment that the war is damaging the American economy and some Republicans arguing it undercuts the administration’s stated goal of maximum pressure on Iran.^8,9

Justice Department Sues Harvard Over Antisemitism, Seeks Recovery of Federal Grants

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on Friday against Harvard University, alleging that the university’s leadership failed to address antisemitism on campus in violation of federal civil rights law. The suit seeks to freeze existing federal grants to Harvard and recover funds already disbursed, potentially amounting to billions of dollars. Prosecutors alleged that protest slogans used during pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus amounted to “racial slurs” directed at Jewish and Israeli students, and that the university did not take adequate steps to protect them. Harvard has denied the allegations and called the lawsuit an unconstitutional attack on academic freedom. The case represents a major escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and elite universities over campus speech and federal funding.^10,11,12

White House Releases AI Policy Framework Calling on Congress to Preempt State Laws

The White House released a national policy framework for artificial intelligence on Friday, laying out legislative recommendations for Congress that call for federal preemption of state laws regulating how AI models are developed or how companies are penalized for the use of their technology by others. The framework explicitly instructs lawmakers not to create any new federal agencies to regulate the AI industry and recommends that Congress establish commercially reasonable, privacy-protective age-assurance requirements for AI platforms and services. The document also addresses national security applications, calling for investment in AI-related defense capabilities. Technology companies generally praised the approach, while consumer advocacy groups criticized it as overly favorable to the industry.^13,14

Senate Continues Marathon Debate on SAVE America Act; Passage Remains Unlikely

The Senate continued working through the weekend on the SAVE America Act, a sweeping election overhaul bill that President Trump has called his top legislative priority. The legislation would require states to verify citizenship status for voter registration, in some cases sharing voter rolls with the Department of Homeland Security for cross-referencing. Senate Republicans hold 51 votes in favor, but 60 votes are needed to end debate, and Democrats remain unanimously opposed. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina told reporters that “the chance of success is zero percent,” while supporters have floated using the so-called “nuclear option” to change Senate rules with a simple majority. The Brennan Center for Justice has warned that the bill could block more than 21 million Americans from voting, and a study by the Bipartisan Policy Center found that roughly 12 percent of registered voters lack the documentation the bill would require.^15,16,17

Supreme Court to Hear Arguments Monday on Mail-In Ballot Grace Periods Ahead of Midterms

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Monday in a case challenging Mississippi’s law that allows mail-in ballots to be counted if they arrive after Election Day. The case has implications far beyond Mississippi, as 14 states currently permit similar grace periods for mail-in ballots and 29 states allow late acceptance of military and overseas ballots. A coalition of state and local election officials warned the court that eliminating grace periods could disenfranchise thousands of voters and create logistical chaos just months before the November midterm elections. Washington state, which allows a 21-day grace period, said that roughly 127,000 ballots in 2024 were received after Election Day and could be at risk.^18,19

State Level

GOP-Led States Begin Advancing Their Own Versions of the SAVE Act

As the federal SAVE America Act faces long odds in the Senate, Republican-led state legislatures have begun advancing their own versions of the citizenship verification requirements at the state level. NPR reported that Florida is among the states leading the effort, with legislation that mirrors the federal bill’s provisions requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. Supporters argue the measures are necessary to protect election integrity, while opponents warn they will create barriers for eligible voters who lack immediate access to the required documentation. The state-level push effectively hedges against the federal bill’s uncertain future and could result in a patchwork of voting requirements across the country.²⁰

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