What A Day A Shutdown On Pause
Jan 30, 2026
Tim Kaine, U.S. senator and former Virginia governor, discusses pushing legislation to reform DHS, ICE, and CBP. He outlines proposals for body cameras, warrants for home entries, and stronger accountability. Conversations cover bipartisan negotiations, public pressure driving change, and civic actions like peaceful protest and voting.
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Strategic Split In Spending Bills
- Senate Democrats forced a split: five spending bills pass while DHS gets a two-week continuing resolution for negotiations.
- This tactic leverages appropriations to extract bargaining power for ICE and CBP reforms.
Three Pillars For DHS Reform
- Tim Kaine frames demands in three pillars including accountability, no masks, and curbing roving patrols.
- He argues requiring coordination with local police and warrants would reduce abuse significantly.
Public Outrage Changed The White House Stance
- Kaine says the White House shifted from stonewalling to engaging because public outrage changed political incentives.
- He cautions that agreement to negotiate is not the same as delivering meaningful statutory reforms.