Thursday's A.M. Update exposes what looks like classic Senate "failure theater" from Majority Leader John Thune, who promises a vote on the SAVE Act to block non-citizen voting but sidesteps any real push like a talking filibuster amid government funding fights and other priorities. Vice President JD Vance, alongside CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, takes firm action by withholding $259.5 million in Medicaid funds from Minnesota over massive fraud concerns, giving Governor Tim Walz 60 days to outline fixes or face more cuts. A classified Gang of Eight briefing on Iran draws only a measured, non-committal response from Chuck Schumer, while 12 advanced F-22 Raptors deploy to Israel as Middle East tensions simmer. Other highlights include Democratic counterprogramming flops featuring dancing frog skits, John Fetterman's critique of his party's antics, college students hilariously reviewing a State of the Union that hadn't happened yet, a dramatic Omaha sinkhole caught on camera, and listener reactions to whether Trump's address moved the needle.
A.M. Update, Aaron McIntire, SAVE Act Senate, John Thune failure theater, JD Vance Minnesota fraud, Medicaid withholding Tim Walz, Chuck Schumer Iran briefing, F-22 Israel deployment, Democratic State of the Union counterprogramming, John Fetterman, college students SOTU, Omaha sinkhole, poll of the week