#congress
13 entries with this tag
For the First Time in History, Both Chambers of Congress Passed a War Powers Resolution to Stop a President's War — Trump's Own Party Helped Do It
On June 23, 2026, the Senate voted 50-48 to direct President Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran — the first time in the 53-year history of the War Powers Act that a resolution to halt a president's war has passed both chambers of Congress. The House had passed the same concurrent resolution on June 3 by 215-208. Because it is a concurrent resolution, it does not require Trump's signature. Four Republican senators — Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Bill Cassidy, and Rand Paul — broke ranks to join the Democrats; the measure cleared the chamber partly because Mitch McConnell and Dave McCormick, who had blocked earlier attempts, did not vote. It was the tenth time the Senate had tried to stop the war. Sen. Tim Kaine, who led the effort, said: "The most solemn power for Congress is Congress has the power to declare war, not the president." Kaine pressed the vote even with talks underway in Switzerland and pointed to the administration's request for $80 billion in emergency spending to rebuild munitions depleted since the war began on Feb. 28. Trump called the House version "a meaningless vote" and branded the Republicans who crossed him "GRANDSTANDERS." The rebuke is historic precisely because it required Congress to formally tell a president to stop a war that his own intelligence community said was never necessary.
Judge Orders Trump's Name Stripped From Kennedy Center Within Two Weeks — "Only Congress Can Rename It"
A federal judge ruled that Trump illegally put his name on the Kennedy Center and ordered all signage removed within two weeks. The 94-page ruling found that Congress named the center after JFK and only Congress can change it — the board cannot unilaterally rename a national memorial. The judge also blocked the planned two-year closure, finding trustees learned about it "by social media post" with "no meaningful opportunity" to consider it. Trump: the judge "should be ashamed of himself."
House GOP Cancels Iran War Vote Because They Were Going to Lose It — Then Sends Congress Home for Memorial Day
House Republicans pulled the Iran war powers vote after it became clear they didn't have the votes to defeat it — Democrats had unified with enough GOP defectors to pass it. Instead of allowing a vote on a three-month-old undeclared war, Speaker Johnson sent Congress home for Memorial Day. Combat veteran Rep. Pat Ryan erupted on the Capitol steps: "These chicken hawk motherfuckers" won't give "an up or down vote on continuing this war while Americans are paying $5 a gallon."
"Unacceptable" and "Obscene": Vindman Condemns Trump and Hegseth's Cavalier Attitude Toward U.S. Deaths in Iran
Rep. Eugene Vindman called Trump and Hegseth's attitude toward American casualties in Iran "unacceptable" and "obscene." At least 15 U.S. troops dead, 520+ wounded. Hegseth boasted of "death and destruction from the sky all day long" and said "We are punching them while they're down." Trump joked it was "more fun" to sink warships than capture them. The Pentagon has been accused of hiding casualty numbers.
Pentagon Preparing Weeks of Ground Operations in Iran — Week 5 of a War Trump Is "Bored" With
The Washington Post reported the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran using Special Operations and conventional infantry. Marines and 82nd Airborne already deploying. Trump hasn't approved the plans — and is reportedly "bored" with the war.
"Meltdown": House GOP Rejects Senate DHS Deal, Prolonging 42-Day Shutdown
Day 42 of the DHS shutdown: House Republicans rejected the bipartisan Senate deal and passed an 8-week punt that can't pass the Senate. 61,000 TSA workers have missed $1B+ in pay. 510 have quit. Johnson called the Senate deal "a joke."
Iran Military Mocks Trump with "You're Fired" as 15-Point Peace Plan Rejected
Iran's military spokesperson told Trump "You are fired" and mocked him for "negotiating with yourself." Iran rejected the 15-point peace plan as "maximalist" and issued its own 5 conditions. The 82nd Airborne was ordered to deploy as Trump declared the war "won."
Iran War Costs Exceed All DOGE Savings in Two Weeks
At $11 billion per week, the Iran war cost $11.6B in its first days — exceeding the entire $9.4B in DOGE spending cuts passed by Congress. The Pentagon requested $200B in supplemental war funding. GOP lacked votes to fund it.
Bondi's DOJ Withheld Epstein Files Containing Allegations About Trump and a 13-Year-Old
NPR found the DOJ removed and withheld Epstein files specifically containing allegations that Trump sexually abused a 13-year-old. Only the files mentioning Trump were excluded. The DOJ claimed they were "duplicates."
Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs 6-3
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump lacked authority to impose tariffs under IEEPA, with Chief Justice Roberts writing he lacked "peacetime authority" to tax. Over $130 billion had already been collected.
Only President Impeached Twice
The House impeached Trump a second time for "incitement of insurrection" — the most bipartisan impeachment vote in history. Seven Republican senators voted to convict, with even McConnell calling Trump "practically and morally responsible."
First Impeachment: Ukraine Extortion
Trump withheld $400 million in congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine to pressure President Zelensky into announcing investigations into political rival Joe Biden. The GAO concluded Trump broke federal law.
Longest Government Shutdown in U.S. History
Trump shut down the federal government for 35 days — the longest in U.S. history — over border wall funding. 800,000 workers went unpaid. He reopened it without getting a single dollar for the wall.