The move won’t end US military attacks and still faces a Senate vote.
For the first time since the war with Iran started, the Republican-led House passed legislation that would force President Trump to stop all military action against Iran. However, it still has to go to the Senate. Charlie D'Agata reports.
A House debate over Rep. Rashida Tlaib's (D-MI) resolution to withdraw U.S. troops from Lebanon devolved into personal attacks Wednesday night when embattled Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) accused the Detroit Democrat of "advocating for terrorists on a daily basis."Miller, who has faced his own controversies, including domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife, said Tlaib and her allies would "cheer on" the elimination of Hezbollah if they truly cared about Lebanon rather than advancing "meaningless resolutions to denigrate American foreign policy.""Its members are butchers that you like to hang out with to a certain extent," Miller told Tlaib on the floor. "Yes, you advocate for terrorists on a daily basis."Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of Congress, immediately demanded that Miller's words be stricken from the House record. "That is a direct attack on my character," she said.The presiding officer ruled Miller's remarks violated House rules of decorum by impugning Tlaib's "patriotism and loyalty" — and barred him from speaking for the rest of the day, The Detroit News reported. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) then read Miller's defiant response from the floor: "Yes, I said it. I own it. I stand by it."Tlaib's underlying resolution seeks to withdraw U.S. forces from Lebanon, arguing that Congress has not authorized U.S. military involvement. She told colleagues that 3,400 people have died, 1.2 million have been displaced, and called it "an ethnic cleansing campaign."A House vote on the resolution is expected as early as Thursday.
Stunning rebuke to president as lawmakers vote 215-208 for measure forcing him to seek congressional approvalThe US House of Representatives delivered a stunning rebuke to Donald Trump over his war on Iran on Wednesday, as representatives backed a move to force him to seek approval from Congress or withdraw US forces.The House voted 215 to 208 in favor of the war powers resolution, as four Republicans voted with Democrats. The dissident Republicans were Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Tom Barrett of Michigan. Continue reading...
The U.S. House of Representatives successfully passed a rebuke against the president's U.S.-Israeli joint strikes on Iran on Wednesday.Democrats in the House narrowly passed the resolution by a vote of 215 to 208, with four Republicans joining their political opponents.'I told Iran, "It's time, one way or another, for you to make a Deal. You've been doing this for 47 years, and it cannot be allowed to go on any longer!'''A White House official expressed to ABC News the view that the resolution is unconstitutional."President Trump will continue to protect our national security using his constitutional authority as commander in chief while being transparent with Congress," the official said.The official added that the resolution is unlikely to pass in the Senate, but even if it were to pass, it would have "no force or effect."The four Republicans who voted with Democrats were Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Tom Barrett of Michigan, and Warren Davidson of Ohio.The Senate is working on a separate version that would force the president to end the war, but even if the Senate passed it and got approval from the House, Trump could easily veto it. The president has been trying to negotiate a ceasefire agreement with Iran, but the regime's nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz have been sticking points between the two nations.Also on Wednesday, Iran's foreign ministry defended the regime's attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait by accusing the Middle Eastern countries of allowing the U.S. to launch attacks from bases within their borders."Any hostile act will be met with an immediate, decisive response. What sanctions and war failed to achieve won't be won with more war," Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi said.Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana told reporters the wartime resolution was "dangerous" and "untimely." Trump berated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Axios, for threatening the peace negotiations by attacking Lebanon. "You're f**king crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this," the president said, according to a summary by one of the officials. RELATED: The Iran war is causing another shortage — and it will directly affect every American On Tuesday, the president posted an update on negotiations on Truth Social that denied some media reports claiming talks between the nations had ended."The conversations between us have been going on continuously, including four days ago, three days ago, two days ago, one day ago, and today," Trump posted."Where they lead, one never knows, but as I told Iran, 'It's time, one way or another, for you to make a Deal. You've been doing this for 47 years, and it cannot be allowed to go on any longer!'" he added.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
President Donald Trump's White House is growing increasingly concerned about the president's standing after the House of Representatives took a key vote on Wednesday, according to a new report. CNN's Kristen Holmes reported that there is a "huge amount of concern" among the several Trump officials she spoke with about their level of concern following the House's vote to throttle Trump's war powers. It was a staggering vote, marking the first time many Republicans publicly stood against Trump on a key issue for his administration. The resolution still needs to be passed by the Senate before it is effective, CNN reported. Holmes told CNN's Erin Burnett on "OutFront" that the vote also carried some significant warning signs for the Trump administration. "When you look at that vote, four Republicans crossed party lines. Can you imagine a time six months ago when you would see four Republicans siding with the Democrats?" she said. The vote to curb Trump's war powers happened at a time when Republicans appear to be growing tired of Trump focusing on international issues rather than domestic ones. Trump's war in Iran cost taxpayers about $1 billion per day, according to reports, while voters at home continuously expressed their concerns about the rising cost of living.
US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reacts to the House of Representatives voting 215-208 to halt the US war with Iran, breaking with President Donald Trump on an unpopular foreign conflict. (Source: Bloomberg)
"Balance of Power: Late Edition" focuses on the intersection of politics and global business. On today's show, Republican Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, spoke about Congress' War Powers vote and warns that it could 'undermine' and 'take away leverage' from President Donald Trump during ongoing negotiations with Iran, Ned Lamont, Democratic Governor of Connecticut, talks about his state's proposed legislation to enforce a 100% tax on payments received from Donald Trump's $1.8B 'weaponization fund,' and Jeanne Shaheen, Democratic Senator of New Hampshire, speaks about Congress' War Powers vote. (Source: Bloomberg)
Friends,Trump is trying to rig the midterms because he’s scared. And because Trump’s scared, he’s trying to scare Americans with an imaginary boogeyman: so-called “voter fraud.”Here’s the truth: Every study shows voter fraud, including noncitizen voting, is so rare that a person is more likely to get struck by lightning than to cast a fraudulent ballot.But Trump’s using this boogeyman to sabotage our elections. Here are three things I’m worried about — then I’ll tell you how we fight back.#1 New voting restrictionsTrump is pushing for strict voter registration laws (the so-called “Save America Act”) that would require eligible voters to prove their citizenship. But a state ID or driver’s license won’t do. Voters would need to show either a current passport or a certified birth certificate from the state they were born in to register.Yet, more than 21 million Americans cannot easily provide those documents, either because they simply don’t have them or they can’t afford to get them. (Do you know where your birth certificate is?)And even if you do have it, about 80% of married women and 30% of trans people have legal names that don’t match the name on their birth certificates — which makes it even harder to register.Trump isn’t stopping there; he also wants to restrict mail-in voting, despite frequently voting by mail himself.Trump’s hypocrisy would be laughable if it weren’t so dangerous. Some 45 million votes were cast by mail in the 2024 general election (which he won, and doesn’t say was rigged, by the way). Restricting mail-in voting, along with instituting harsh voter ID laws, is blatant voter suppression.#2 Voter intimidationTrump insiders say he might deploy armed ICE or Border Patrol agents to polling sites.Trump’s violent ICE agents have run rampant in our streets, abusing both noncitizens and citizens alike. The presence of armed agents of the state at polling places would almost certainly have a chilling effect on voter turnout — which is exactly what Trump wants.#3 Denying election resultsTrump’s latest big lie is that any Democratic victory is illegitimate.What if Republicans lose the midterms but follow Trump’s 2020 example and try to hold onto power? A few years ago, this would have been unthinkable. But after what Trump tried doing in 2020, it’s frighteningly plausible.The bottom line is Trump is deeply unpopular, which is why he is trying to suppress the vote.But here is how we can fight back.1. Press your state and local leaders to protect our elections right now. Your state attorney general and local election officials still have authority over our voting system. Urge them to develop a plan to protect our elections. Call on them to sue the Trump administration if it tries to seize ballots. Tell your state legislature to ban armed federal agents from polling places, like New Mexico just did.2. Second, VOTE — and help turn out the vote! We need to show up in such large numbers that no amount of voter suppression can change the result. Go to vote.org right now and check your registration. Then reach out to three friends and make sure they are registered to show up.3. Lastly, SOUND THE ALARM. Share the video I’ve posted above, which I made with the talented team at Inequality Media Civic Action. Help spread the word that the boogeyman of voter fraud is just a cover for Trump’s election sabotage.Trump’s strategy to sabotage the election depends on fear, confusion, and division.We must respond by being brave, focused, and united.