On this week’s episode of Highway to Hill: Congressional Republicans are turning to reconciliation — a Senate procedural loophole that only requires 51 votes instead of 60 — to try to fund ICE and parts of the SAVE Act without Democratic support. But can they actually do that? Charlie and SoRelle explain what reconciliation is, why it can only be used three times a year, what the Byrd Rule means, and who the hell the Senate parliamentarian is and why she matters.

Then, in the Gavel Drop: Democrats flip Donald Trump’s home district in Florida, casting doubt on any administrative election-rigging. Plus, Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick allegedly stole $5 million in FEMA money to fund her campaign (and buy a diamond ring), so why won’t Democrats expel her like they did George Santos?

This week’s syllabus 📚

* “In the Senate, Thune resurrects idea of reconciliation” (Savannah Behrmann, Roll Call)

* “Sen Kennedy urges ‘smart lawyers’ to rework SAVE America Act for simple-majority path” (Eric Mack, Fox News)

* “DHS funding proposal falls flat as Democrats, conservatives and Trump raise doubts” (Katherine Tully-McManus and Jennifer Scholtes, POLITICO)

* “The rules and referees guiding COVID-19 relief” (SoRelle Gaynor, Attentive Public)

* “GOP’s reconciliation hopes are easier dreamt than done” (Jordain Carney and Meredith Lee Hill, POLITICO)

* “Republicans turn to AI to help challenge Senate parliamentarian” (Cami Mondeaux, Deseret News)

* “The Senate Parliamentarian Doesn’t Make the Rules” (James Wallner, Legislative Procedure)

* “‘Byrd rule’ poses challenge for voter ID bill in reconciliation” (Paul M. Krawzak, Roll Call)

* “Senate parliamentarian’s no-go list: 15 pieces struck from Trump’s megabill” (Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill)

* “Senate Republican bashes GOP proposal to partially fund DHS as a ‘pipe dream’” (Alexander Bolton, The Hill)

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