Senate to vote on Trump's war powers today as lawmakers get delayed briefings on Iran strikes

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: June 27, 2025 / 1:29 PM EDT


Washington — The Senate is expected to vote Friday on whether to block President Trump from using further military force against Iran, as Democratic anger festers over the lack of details from the administration about the recent strikes on the country's nuclear facilities.

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia introduced the war powers resolution days before the U.S. bombed three locations central to Iran's nuclear program, seeking to force the president to get congressional authorization before entering the conflict between Israel and Iran.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, told reporters Thursday a vote is planned for Friday. The measure needs 51 votes to pass, a heavy lift given Republicans' 53-47 Senate majority. Since the measure was introduced, Mr. Trump announced a ceasefire between the adversaries and declared that Iran's nuclear sites were "obliterated" during the 12-day war.

On Friday, Mr. Trump said he would "without question" consider bombing Iran again if Tehran was enriching uranium to a level that concerned the U.S. But anger from Democrats, including those who have said that Iran should never be able to obtain a nuclear weapon, has simmered as they say they have been left in the dark about U.S. military actions.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-trump-war-powers-iran-strikes/

[Bayard]

1. He'll just continue to thumb his nose at Congressional oversight

Even if this passes.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. Senators missed an opportunity to apply some checks and balances on a White House that needs to be checked and balanced.

Senators missed an opportunity to apply some checks and balances on a White House that needs to be checked and balanced.

On Kaine’s War Powers Act resolution, Senate Republicans (plus Fetterman, minus Paul) rejected an opportunity to apply some checks and balances on a White House that needs to be checked and balanced. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-06-27T23:46:18.427Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/senate-rejects-war-powers-act-measure-trump-iran-strike-rcna215634

Ahead of the offensive, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia introduced a war powers resolution designed to limit the use of the U.S. armed forces against Iran without congressional approval.

Six days after the airstrikes, the Senate took up the measure — privileged resolutions reach the floor, whether the majority’s leadership likes it or not — and it was not subject to the 60-vote filibuster rule. In other words, all Kaine’s proposal needed was a simple majority.

He didn’t get one.

The 53-47 vote opposing the resolution fell mostly on party lines — with Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., as the only senators to break with their own sides.

At this point, the effort might appear moot. After all, the strikes already happened, and the White House has already effectively declared “mission accomplished.”....

What’s more, despite the recent chatter about Saturday’s mission being a “one-and-done” operation, the president himself continues to make clear that he’s prepared to launch additional strikes as he — and he alone — sees fit.

Ahead of the vote, The New Republic’s Greg Sargent argued that if the Senate rejected the resolution, it would “only embolden Trump at a time when he is clearly growing more unhinged, power-crazed, and deaf to outside voices.” Hours later, senators missed an opportunity to apply some checks and balances on a White House that needs to be checked and balanced.