How Iran and the SAVE Act Are Influencing Midterms
How are the war in Iran and the SAVE Act influencing the 2026 midterms? Analysts break down the key issues shaping voters and candidates.
NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump's push for the Senate to pass the SAVE Act, what's at stake with primaries for the midterm elections underway and the impact of the war in Iran.
View the transcript of the story.
Key Terms
Primary elections — Elections held by political parties to select their candidates. Primary elections are used to select candidates for local, state and national elections.
SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) — a law proposed by Republican legislators that would require voters to provide documented proof of citizenship, such as passports or birth certificates.
Discussion Questions
- What is the SAVE Act?
- Why is the SAVE Act important to President Trump, according to Tamara Keith?
- How might failing to pass the SAVE Act demotivate Republican voters, according to Amy Walter?
- What is the divide in philosophy among Democratic candidates, according to Amy Walter?
- How has President Trump's actions against Iran impacted his approval rating?
Essential Questions
- What do you think is the most critical step that the federal government can take to make sure elections are fair and accessible to all who qualify to vote?
- In what ways do you think the 2026 elections might be different than past midterm elections (midterm elections are the federal elections held two years before/after presidential elections)?
- Media literacy: The producers of this segment included the following graphic as Walter and Keith discussed the SAVE Act. What does this poll tell you about voter priorities? What other questions would you want to see polling on to understand public opinion about our elections?
What Students Can Do
- You can learn more about the SAVE Act using this resource from the National Conference of State Legislatures. After reading the 9 points mentioned in the post, discuss as a class —
- What change do you think would have the biggest impact on national elections? How?
- What change do you think would be most difficult for states to implement?
- Follow the latest in midterm news here.
- You might also want to watch Trump's response to a reporter question on seizing control of elections. Read this article to find out more about presidential power over national elections.
Lesson Plans on Global Politics
Find more resources on global politics and how they relate to your students with our free collection of preK-12 lesson plans and teaching resources.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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