I've spent enough time watching Washington chew itself apart that I sometimes forget what I'm actually rooting for. Then Ryder Williams, a 16-year-old kid in Santa Cruz runs into monster waves to pull a drowning 10-year-old out of the surf, and I remember.

Watch the video. He doesn't hesitate. He ducks under the whitewash, gets knocked back, ducks again. Bystanders are rushing in to help and he's already ahead of them.

Eric Trump called for the highest civilian honor Monday. The President answered Tuesday, announcing he'll bring the teen, his family, and possibly the boy he saved to the White House. That's the right call.

America is full of people like Ryder Williams. We just don't always stop to notice.

Thune met with 20 Republican senators about killing the filibuster. Fifteen said no.

Trump pushed hard Monday, posting on Truth Social that Thune "should not allow the United States Senate to 'leave town'" until the SAVE America Act passes, and calling for Republicans to terminate the filibuster outright. Senators Mike Lee, Rick Scott, and Ashley Moody backed him publicly, with Lee formally objecting to any recess vote until the bill clears. Thune's response, per Just the News, was blunt: "We could stay here until Christmas and the Democrats aren't voting for this and Republicans are not getting rid of the legislative filibuster."

The House has passed this bill multiple times. It keeps dying in the Senate because 60 votes are required to break a filibuster, Democrats are unified against it, and enough Republicans won't touch the filibuster rule to change that math. John Cornyn voted no on filibuster reform. Bill Cassidy voted no. There is a reason why President Trump endorsed their primary opponents.

Perhaps someone should send Thune a copy of the McLaughlin poll released Monday which shows 82% of Americans believe only U.S. Citizens should vote in federal elections — not 82% of Republicans, but general election voters, including 72% of Democrats and 84% of independents. Seventy-eight percent say voters should show photo ID at the polls. Ninety-five percent of respondents already have a valid photo ID. The political cover for opposing this bill is thinner than Democrats want to admit, and thinner than some Republicans are acting like.

Thune is also pursuing a backup: a $10 billion grant program in the third reconciliation package that would reward states for implementing SAVE-style reforms, per The New Republic. That's a consolation prize, not the bill, and it doesn't require states to do anything.

The senators blocking this aren't blocking it because their constituents want them to. They're blocking it because nobody's made them feel the cost of doing nothing. If you want to change Thune's math, the Senate switchboard is 202-224-3121. Ask for your senator by name. Ask for Thune's office directly. Tell them the poll says 82%. Tell them the House already did its job.

🎯 Iran wants to kill Melania Trump, but its assassination video is absurd propaganda

Iran released a video titled "Where to Kill Melania?" ending with a threat against Barron Trump. The regime's goal isn't operational planning. It's psychological pressure, aimed at American fear and domestic morale inside Tehran. Iran has sought revenge since Trump ordered the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani in January 2020, and the elimination of Ayatollah Khamenei this year has only sharpened that appetite.

🛡️ New rule could speed deportation of asylum seekers

Starting Tuesday, USCIS will bypass the standard asylum interview and route migrants directly into immigration court for deportation proceedings. The rule took effect without a notice and comment period.

🏛️ Joint Base Charleston to Become Joint Base Lindsey Graham in Honor of the Late Senator

The Pentagon will rename Joint Base Charleston in honor of Sen. Lindsey Graham, who helped create the base in 2010 and secured hundreds of millions in federal funding for it, including $212 million as recently as May. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink ordered staff on July 27 to begin the name change.

🗳️ Harris backs Troy Jackson in Maine Senate race

Kamala Harris has endorsed Troy Jackson, a former Maine state senator, in the Democratic primary to fill the state's open U.S. Senate seat. Jackson replaced Graham Platner on the ballot Saturday.