The House Has Passed the Trump-Backed SAVE Act
The Morning Buzz: April 11, 2025
1. The House Has Passed the Trump-Backed SAVE Act
NPR’s Jude Joffe-Block writes that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on Thursday, which proposes sweeping changes to voter registration, including requiring new voters and those updating their registration to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Opponents argue the measure could impose significant barriers to voting, considering an estimated 21.3 million legal voting-age Americans lack easy access to proof-of-citizenship documents, according to a 2023 survey by voting rights groups. PRRI finds that Americans are divided on what they believe is the most significant issue facing our elections: people casting votes who are not eligible to vote or eligible voters being denied the right to vote (49% vs. 47%).
2. Trump Directs Justice Department To Probe Officials Who Opposed Him in First Term
For the Washington Post, Kelly Kasulis Cho reports that President Donald Trump signed executive orders Wednesday targeting Christopher Krebs, a former top cybersecurity official, and Miles Taylor, a former homeland security official. Trump directed the Justice Department to investigate Krebs and Taylor (both government officials who opposed Trump’s actions during his first term) and revoked security clearances for them and any entities associated with them. According to PRRI’s post-election survey, only around one-third of American voters (35%) said they were “not at all confident” that Trump would use the power of the government to punish his enemies.
3. Will U.S. Tariffs Make World Leaders Value the Stability of Renewables?
At Inside Climate News, Dan Gearino explains how the Trump administration’s actions on tariffs are shaking up global trade and energy markets — raising costs for U.S. clean energy developers, while pushing other countries to invest in domestic renewables to reduce their dependence on imported fossil fuels. As a result, the global clean energy transition may gain momentum, motivated by concerns about financial risks rather than in response to climate change, potentially leaving the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage. PRRI research finds that 62% of Americans support increasing federal funding for research on renewable energy such as wind, solar, and hydrogen, even if it raises taxes.
4. Passover Begins Soon. For Many Jews, the Celebrations Will Occur Amid Anxieties and Divisions
David Crary with the Associated Press writes that this year’s observance of Passover, from April 12 through April 20, will take place under the shadow of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, a historic surge in antisemitic incidents, and continued mourning following the October 7 attacks. Jewish communities across the United States are responding with a renewed focus on resilience, organizing interfaith Seders, expanding kosher food assistance, and enhancing security as extremist threats loom. PRRI’s 2024 American Values Survey finds that when asked about the continuing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, most Americans say either that their sympathies do not primarily lie with either group (31%) or that their sympathies lie with both groups (23%).
What’s Buzzing
Learn more in the 2024 PRRI American Values Survey: Challenges to Democracy: The 2024 Election in Focus.