Luna: Senate Set to Employ “Standing Filibuster” to Advance SAVE Act Amid Shutdown Standoff

America First Report ^ | February 2, 2026 | Isaac Graham

[dadfly]

As the partial government shutdown drags into its third day, a critical deal has been struck that could finally deliver a long-overdue victory for election integrity. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, after direct talks with President Trump at the White House, announced that Senate Majority Leader John Thune is prepared to invoke a standing filibuster to bring the SAVE Act to the floor, sidestepping the 60-vote barrier that has stalled the bill for months.

[A_perfect_lady]

Mr. Smith fell exhausted because no one else who help him continue the filibuster. There are plenty of willing democrats ready to keep the filibuster going.

I think only a handful are that devoted. Most of them are just there to line their pockets and feather their nests.

[OKSooner]

You go girl.

[maddog55]

Asinine rules by what’s supposed to be adults.

My grandkids could come up with more imaginative rules.

[grobdriver]

About damn time they stop with the threats and have to do the deed.

[sphinx]

Restoring the standing filibuster has long been near the top of my list for reforms that might begin to unravel gridlock.

Lest we forget, Howard Baker became Senate Majority Leader when the Contract With America wave election produced the first Republican Congress in 40 years. He made a big mistake.

Baker wanted a kinder, gentler Senate. He relaxed the filibuster rules and thought that a gentlemen’s agreement to honor cloakroom holds was sufficient. It took Bob Byrd about 15 seconds to spot the weakness, and within a few years, the Senate collapsed into gridlock in which nothing of substance can move without a supermajority.

Aside from being physically onerous, the standing filibuster makes it brutally clear to the public who the obstructionists are. The filibuster plays a useful role, but it is irreducibly a minority exercizing a veto over the will of the majority. When those doing the blocking have to stand in the well of the Senate and drone on for days, the press cannot lie about who is responsible.

[Rockingham]

The standing filibuster requires Senators to remain in or near the Senate chamber awaiting a cloture vote, which can come at any time. In the old days when a standing filibuster was the norm, the Senate cloak room was fitted with cots for naps between cloture votes.

Given the average age and often poor health of Senators, a standing filibuster and frequent cloture votes through the day and night would be a severe ordeal for many if not most of them. And, as a group, the Senators are simply not up to the physical challenge except for a few hours or a day or two.

[goo goo g'joob]

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is prepared to invoke a standing filibuster to bring the SAVE Act to the floor

I remain skeptical of Thune... I hope he comes through

[FrankRizzo890]

I hope Luna pulls this off, but at the same time I’m angry.

How many IMPORTANT bills have failed because “We don’t have 60 votes” when this was an option?

[Theophilus]

Amen

[Svartalfiar]

Modern Senate rules allow a “silent” filibuster:
No one has to stand or talk
Just signaling intent triggers the need for 60 votes (cloture) to end debate
Result: most filibusters happen without speeches

It's not some silent wink-nod that triggers a 60-vote cloture requirement, it's just that they don't even put stuff down fora vote unless they know they have the 60 votes already, or they plan for it to fail anyway, and have a 'cloture' vote as an excuse to not pass something useful.

[no-to-illegals]

Amen.