SAVE Act Archives

Bombs: Fertility Bombs & Iran Bombs. Kings Are Okay: Politico Declares Pritzker a Kingmaker. York Declares Shutdown ‘Insane’. SAVE Update & More

Posted on March 18, 2026March 18, 2026 by Charlotte Hays

We’ll get to the Iran war but let’s be daring and start today with the war on babies. You know, those critters who consume time and planetary resources.

Oscar Best Actress Jessie Buckley’s touching and unexpected tribute to the joy if motherhood served as the bookend to the death of a an influential intellectual whose powerful message was (I’m sort of boiling it down): Don’t have babies! You’ll mess up the planet!

It’s impossible to exaggerate the influence of Paul Ehrlich, author of “The Population Bomb”(1968). I suggest that Ehrlich single-handedly started the trend of women agonizing over whether to bring babies into this world. Unherd’s farewell to Ehrlich, who has died at the age of 93, is headlined “The Professor Who Hated Babies.” Eliot Haspel writes:

Ehrlich was catastrophically wrong, of course: since the book’s publication, the global population has swelled by nearly 5 billion, and no worldwide famine ensued. Ehrlich simply misunderstood the forces at play….

Even so, his ideas inspired millions of forced sterilizations in India, Peru, and other countries. Americans and Europeans, meanwhile, live with a more diffuse fallout: it is exceedingly difficult to have a productive conversation about birth rates despite the US fertility decline reaching historic levels, and nations like Italy and Spain facing rates so low that each successive generational cohort will be around half the size of its predecessor. …

Without an intentional effort to clean up the damage wrought by The Population Bomb, it will be nearly impossible to have a needed national conversation about births, and how we can create the conditions for as many people as possible to form the families they want, which, for many Americans, are larger than they actually have.

Ehrlich, in short, found teeming human life itself repulsive, and the lives of the poor, especially, as unworthy to live.

The New York Times obit (linked above) called Ehrlich “prescient,” but his other sendoffs have been less flattering. A Washington Post editorial is headlined “Paul Ehrlich Has Died. His Shock Waves Remain.” “The dire predictions in ‘Population Bomb’ are thoroughly discredited but still causing damage,” the Editors argue. “Ehrlich Was Wrong” is the succinct headline of a Corner item by National Review Editors. “Paul Ehrlich Was Wrong—but He Still Changed the World” is the Free Press headline over a piece by Matt Ridley. And in the same outlet, Larissa Philips recounts her harrowing narrow escape in “I Almost Didn’t Survive ‘The Population Bomb’” which describes how her hippie parents dashed their hippie dream by having her (but they never regretted it).

Thanks to Jessie Buckley for carrying her countercultural message into the very Valley of the Woke. She is prescient.

The fabulous New York Post cover this morning is a pretend classified ad: “Help Wanted: New Iran Leader.” You’ve probably already heard that actuarial charts for Iranian leaders have taken a turn for the worse with the dispatch to virgin land of two top leaders. But the Supreme leader survives (apparently). If I were the sort of person (sniff, sniff) who says LOL, that’s what I’d say for this Washington Free Beacon headline:

Supremely Progressive: Iran Becomes First Nation in World History Led by Gay Amputee

Unlike the Free Beacon headline, this New York Times headline is not funny: “Joe Kent, a Top U.S. Counterterrorism Official, Resigns Over the Iran War.” Your first reaction might be that—oh my gosh—the administration is turning on itself! I can’t help but believe the headline writer would not be averse to this. But read down to paragraph ten-ish:

“Joe is the bravest man I know, and he can’t be dismissed as a nut,” Mr. Carlson said in a brief interview. “He’s leaving a job that gave him access to highest-level relevant intelligence. The neocons will now try to destroy him for that. He understands that and did it anyway.”

In other words, it is hardly surprising that Kent takes a dim view of the conflict. He is also described as a conspiracy theorist. National Review, which has been supportive of the Iran conflict, responded to Kent’s resignation this way: “Good Riddance.” In his resignation letter (also printed in the New York Times), Kent recalled that he is both a veteran and a Gold Star husband, who “lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war manufactured by Israel.”

While taking pains to describe Kent as a “beloved figure” and honoring his and his wife Shannon’s military service, Laura Ingraham and Joe Bongino pushed back on his criticisms of the Iran war.

In other Iran headlines, the New York Post suggests Iran currently is being run by hardliners who will beget other hardliners. Israel is escalating attacks in Lebanon as Iran strikes near Tel Aviv. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu hopes strikes on Iran will inspire Iranians to overthrow their bloody regime. President Trump remains unhappy about the weak response from allies. Jamie McIntye writes at the DC Examiner that “jilted Trump will “lay the groundwork” to divorce NATO.

Giddy Politico headline: “King of Illinois: Pritzker swings Senate race as he targets Trump.” Governor JB Pritzker’s kingmaker status is awarded because he weighed in (no jokes) on Lt. Gov. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who won the Democratic Senate primary. Enquiring Minds Want to Know: Will Stratton curb the distinctive use of the all too frequent F-word in her ad campaign now that she’s hit the big time?

In a column headlined “There’s Only One Thing Voters Dislike More than Democrats,” USA TODAY columnist Ingrid Jaques argues that if the Dems hope to revamp their image before the midterms, they need to hit the brakes on its hard left turn. Jaques leads off with the Stratton F-Bomb ads. (I seem to have bombs on the brain this morning ….)

The Federalist does not seem overly optimistic about the immediate future of the SAVE America Act (which would impose on Americans the draconian burden of having IDs to vote). The Federalist predicts that as the act is debated in the Senate, we will witness “wall-to-wall Democrat lying and RINOs squirming in their seats at the thought of working more than two days a week.”

The Federalist, however, sees a glimmer of light in the fact that the act is finally being debated on the floor of the Senate—that’s a March Madness miracle in and of itself. Election law lawyer Joe Burns writes at The Hill that in the SAVE debate Democrats are being total hypocrites.

“The insane government shutdown” that has some DHS workers on the job without pay in a time of heightened danger is the subject of Examiner Chief Political correspondent Byron York today. He writes:

So far, nearly all TSA workers are staying on the job, but an estimated 300 have left TSA, and more will likely follow. Those staying on will be highly stressed. And on top of that, they will be required to deal with a threat situation that, because of world events, could be much more hazardous than usual.

This is crazy. In order to fund TSA and other agencies, Democrats demand that the Trump administration make “dramatic changes” in the way ICE operates. Among the Democrats’ demands are that ICE agents stop wearing masks, start wearing bodycams, and obtain judicial warrants for many of the cases they handle.

Cuba is experiencing all sorts of problems that open the doors for cooperation with the U.S.—and perhaps even the fall of a regime that has brought so much suffering to the Cuban people. But guess who else sees opportunity? The Democratic Socialists of America. “Why Is the DSA Making Friends with Communist Cuba?” is the headline on a story at City Journal by Stu Smith. The DSA is making something of a pet out of the designated sponsor of terror, according to Smith:

As the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Cuba, members of the Democratic Socialists of America are not standing on the sidelines. Through delegations to the island, aid campaigns, and high-profile partnerships with commentators like Hasan Piker, the DSA is working to provide both political and material support for the regime in Havana.

DSA’s sustained, national-level focus on Cuba is a relatively recent development. In 2019, after passing a resolution at its national convention, the organization formally joined the National Network on Cuba. The network is an umbrella coalition of left-wing groups committed to opposing U.S. military action, turning American public opinion against the longstanding American embargo, and pressing for a fundamental shift in U.S.-Cuban relations.

Looks like a hawk and dove. Curt Mills of the American Conservative (TAC) tells Christopher Rufo that the current Iran conflict is a mistake, while former CIA officer Martin Gurri writes at the New York Post that Trump’s global endeavors upend the world of impotent elites — and there’s no going back.

Don’t miss “The Amazing Adventures of Hannah the Plumber.” Julie Burchill profiles the Green Party’s newest MP who lives in her own pastel-colored bubble.

Supreme Leader Cheated Death by Seconds. Hot Air: Al Jazeera More Positive to Iran War Than MSM! Trashy Elites. Jessie Buckley’s Paean to Motherhood. More

Posted on March 17, 2026March 17, 2026 by Charlotte Hays

Lucky bathroom break?

It now appears that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive, having cheated death by seconds:

Iran’s new supreme leader survived US and Israeli air strikes because he stepped outside for a walk in his garden minutes before his home was hit by missiles.

Leaked audio obtained by The Telegraph reveals that Mojtaba Khamenei was targeted in the same attack that killed his father and other members of the Islamic Republic’s leadership. But he had gone outside “to do something” moments before Israeli Blue Sparrow ballistic missiles hit his residence at 9.32am local time on Feb 28.

Two other of the rump regime’s senior leaders were not so fortunate. One was the Commander of the dreaded Basji militia responsible for crushing dissent.

We still don’t know the Supreme Leader’s condition or who’s calling the shots, so to speak, in Iran. The Wall Street Journal maintains in an editorial (“The Battle for the Strait of Hormuz”) that the terror state continues to give the U.S. and Israel ample reason to continue weakening it:

It’s no mystery what Iran intends to achieve by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. It seeks to pressure President Trump to end the war prematurely, establishing an Iranian veto on energy flows and winning impunity in the future. But what if Mr. Trump won’t play along? The result is the emerging Battle of Hormuz.

An Iranian tanker blockade has always been the main contingency anticipated by war planners, and the U.S. has followed a phased plan of degrading air defenses, missiles and navy. These are prerequisites to reopening Hormuz to commercial traffic.

Niall Ferguson at The Free Press marvels that the debilitated Iranian regime can still muster the wherewithal to attack shippers in the strait, but his headline is a chiller: “This Is How the Iran War Goes Global.”

European allies, if term is not a misnomer, are not tripping over themselves to help secure the Strait. “On Iran, Is Only Bad News Fit to Print?” argue Mark Penn and Andew Stein, in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that explains why the MSM headlines give you a pit in your stomach. Indeed, Hot Air’s David Strom put up a post last night headlined “Al Jazeera Is Now More Positive on US-Israeli Strategy Than US Media.”

Do you believe you just need President Trump to talk more about why the U.S. struck Iran? Well, the Examiner Chief Political Correspondent Byron York’s “Why Is There Still Uncertainty about Iran War Aims?” might be enriching.

The Silence of the Houthis. In “Why We Haven’t Heard from the Houthis” (not that we were eager to) Asher Orkaby suggests, The Yemeni rebels now likely see Iran as a weak horse.” Meanwhile, Walter Russell Mead writes that “Iran Will Define Trump’s Legacy.” “He has a strong case to make, but if he backs down, the costs will be profound,” argues Mead.

Trashy Elites? This is what it looked like after the glitzy/woke Oscars. “Rich people leaving their dirt, as always, for poor people,” somebody commented. But there was one moment during the Oscars that is getting rave reviews in conservative circles: Best Actress and new mother Jessie Buckley’s paean to motherhood. “‘Beautiful Chaos Of a Mother’s Heart’: Jessie Buckley Uses Oscar Speech to Honor Husband, Daughter,” is The Federalist headline:

It’s a known fact to viewers that the Oscars and other indulgent cinema award ceremonies have long prioritized political, feminist messaging over the art and family values normal people hold dear.

But that is exactly why actresses like Jessie Buckley make headlines when they use their platforms to break this trend by honoring their husbands and children ahead of themselves.

Making headlines by saying good things about motherhood. Think about that. National Review has a piece about the man who did a lot to make motherhood unpopular—the recently deceased Paul Ehrlich, author of the disastrous book The Population Bomb. Noah Rothman’s NR piece on Ehrlich’s legacy is well worth reading. Meanwhile, Jack Butler writes in the Wall Street Journal that Ehrlich’s alarmism had tragic consequences. Like convincing us that having children was bad for the world’s resources!

“Will Republicans Fight for the SAVE Act—or Fold Again?” is the headline on a RCP commentary by Heather Higgins. Higgins writes:

Republicans didn’t win the Senate so their leaders could manage expectations. They won it to deliver results. Will Republicans leaders actually deliver? We are about to find out with the SAVE America Act.

The legislation requires proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. That’s not some fringe idea. It’s the law of the land in nearly every nation in the world – and is one of the most widely supported election reforms in the United States.

A February Harvard CAPS/Harris poll found 85% of voters say only U.S. citizens should vote in American elections. The same survey found 71% support the SAVE America Act itself, 81% support voter ID, and 75% support proof of citizenship requirements. Perhaps most striking: Roughly 70% of Democratic voters support voter ID.

That’s not partisan territory, that’s consensus. When an issue commands that level of support, failure usually isn’t about policy. It’s about will.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has shown no shortage of will in keeping the Department of Homeland Security shut down, but Daniel McCarthy writes that the gambit is becoming riskier and riskier. The New York Post calls on the Dems to “stop the charade before it is too late.” Meanwhile, Susan Rice, whom you remember from the Biden administration, appears to have no qualms about trying to keep companies in line:

A former top official in the Biden and Obama administrations recently caused a stir after she appeared to vow political retribution against companies once Democrats regain control in Congress and the White House.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., last week condemned plans for political retribution he believes Democrats, such as Susan Rice, hope to enact when they regain power and argued that both parties should refrain from using government power to pressure their political opposition.

“What Ms. Rice is talking about is payback,” Kennedy said, referring to comments Rice, who served as Biden’s domestic policy council director, had made on a podcast last month.

Did the Governor fear payback … from the powerful teacher unions? Here’s the latest on Andy Beshear:

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is supposed to be the great moderate hope for Democrats in 2028, but on Friday he revealed himself as a captive of the left’s most destructive interest group. He vetoed a bill to opt his state into the federal tax-credit scholarship program, taking dictation from the teachers union….

The good news is that Republicans who run the Legislature are promising to override the Governor’s veto, which they can do with a simple majority. Mr. Beshear knows this, but he’s figuring his veto will win points with the union even as parents can still benefit from the scholarships. No doubt he’s right, but the rest of the country has learned something important about Mr. Beshear’s values and priorities—and none of it’s good.

And here’s something potentially important about the American Psychological Association. According to City Journal, the association plays both sides of the gender debate:

Unlike some peer organizations, the American Psychological Association (APA) appears to be attempting a “split the difference” communications strategy. It presented one face in response to Singal, and another to the trans activist community—all while denying the contradictions between the two. It thus embodies many of the institutional failures Singal laments.

The APA attempted this ploy when Singal asked the association for a comment for his Times op-ed. The APA referred him to a letter by Katherine McGuire, the APA’s chief advocacy officer, written to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The letter walks back the APA’s unambiguous support for pediatric medical interventions, strongly suggesting that the organization supports only psychological interventions for minors experiencing gender dysphoria.

Personnel Problem. A longtime security employee for outgoing Rep. Jasmine Crockett was killed in a standoff with a SWAT team after being accused of impersonating a police officer. He also apparently used an alias. Truly weird.