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The Intercept
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Intercept
Congress Has One Way to Stop Trump From Going to War With Iran
As President Donald Trump draws the United States perilously close to war with Iran, some members of Congress are working across the aisle in an attempt to reign him in. On Tuesday, Representatives Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introduced a War Powers Resolution, which would prohibit the 'United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran.' Senator Tim Caine, D-Va., introduced similar legislation in the Senate on Monday. 'U.S. involvement in Israel's war with Iran is a red line. We need Congress to speak out about that and pass a resolution prohibiting that,' Rep. Khanna told The Intercept. 'And we need the United States to try to bring this war between Israel and Iran to an end.' The War Powers Resolution, enacted in 1973, requires an act of Congress to declare a war. Over the decades, however, presidents have repeatedly ignored the federal law to deploy U.S. troops overseas without Congressional approval, ensnaring the U.S. in numerous foreign wars. Massie noted in his press release that War Powers Resolutions are privileged in the House and 'can be called up for debate and a floor vote after 15 calendar days without action in committee.' The resolution comes against a backdrop of escalating missile strikes between Israel and Iran over the last five days, beginning with Israel's attack on Iranian nuclear and military facilities ahead of scheduled negotiations between the U.S. and Iranian leadership. As attacks have continued, so too have concerns about direct U.S. involvement in the conflict. On Tuesday, Trump ratcheted up those fears with a string of Truth Social posts taunting the Iranian regime and calling for its surrender. 'We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran,' he wrote. 'Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn't compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured 'stuff.' Nobody does it better than the good ol' USA.' In another post, he claimed to have the location of Iran's Supreme leader. 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,' Trump wrote. And in a third post, he called for Iran's 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' News reports emerged Tuesday afternoon that in a meeting in the White House situation room, Trump told officials he was considering joining Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Even before Tuesday, lawmakers expressed concerns about the lack of clarity from the president and senior military leadership. Last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth refused to offer assurances to Rep. Khanna that the U.S. would stand up to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and not get dragged into the oncoming conflict. And on Monday, while leaving the Group of Seven summit in Alberta, Canada, Trump refused to answer a reporter's questions about whether the U.S. military would get involved in the war. 'I don't want to talk about that,' he told reporters. 'Even a cursory reading of the past 30 years of history in this country tells us that everything that is happening right now in this drive towards war is making all of us less safe.' Congresswoman Summer Lee D-Pa., told The Intercept that it is Congress's duty to intervene and prevent Trump from usurping their authority. 'Since taking office, Trump has continuously tried to supersede Congress and is now using the escalating crisis between Israel and Iran to justify executive overreach. Congressional authorization is not optional, and many are already opposed to being dragged into another endless war,' wrote Rep. Lee in a statement. Read our complete coverage The Pennsylvania representative also alluded to the United States' disastrous invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan as a reason for caution. 'The American people have been lied to before, and millions — at home and abroad — have paid the price. We cannot allow Trump or anybody else to use somebody else's war for political gain or financial profit,' said Lee. Members of Congress have previously tried to rein in the President's military efforts in the Middle East. Earlier this year, progressives sent a letter to the White House demanding that Trump explain his legal basis for strikes against Yemen. However, on Tuesday, Democratic Senator John Fetterman, also of Pennsylvania, struck a very different chord from Lee — encouraging military action against Iran and saying he would vote against Kaine's resolution. 'I'm going to vote it down… I really hope the president finally does bomb and destroy the Iranians,' Fetterman told Chad Pergram with Fox News. It marks a reversal for the Senator, who in 2022 criticized President Trump for walking away from the negotiating table with Iran. Samer Araabi, a member of the Center for Political Education's advisory committee and the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC), said the comments from Fetterman aren't surprising. 'It's the least surprising thing from a Senator who has been so abhorrently blood chillingly deaf and blind to the situation in Palestine and totally unwilling on any level to recognize the countless war crimes that Israel continues to commit,' he said, adding, 'it would be laughable if it wasn't so horrifying.' Araabi warned that direct U.S. involvement in the war would be even worse than the invasion of Iraq, due in part to Iran's larger population and size. 'We're on the precipice of not even just another Iraq, but something that would potentially be significantly more destabilizing,' he said. U.S. military intervention on the side of Israel, Araabi said, would heighten the risk for all parties involved. 'Even a cursory reading of the past 30 years of history in this country tells us that everything that is happening right now in this drive towards war is making all of us less safe,' he said. 'It makes literally every single human being on Earth less safe. It certainly makes the Iranians less safe. It makes Israelis less safe, and it definitely makes us in the United States less safe.' Clare Bayard, a member of the Center for Political Education's Anti-War Working Group, echoed Araabi's fears about another Iraq War if the U.S. intervenes in Iran. 'We have to challenge this country's tendency towards amnesia and remember the lessons of Bush's war on Iraq,' Bayard wrote in a statement. 'The U.S.'s invasion and installation of a puppet regime, based on excuses that sound a lot like Israel's rationale for bombing Iran, resulted not only in mass death and displacement but in enduring new levels of violence for millions of people.' Nick Turse contributed reporting.
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Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
What is the Iran war powers resolution? What to know about new bipartisan bill
As the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is seeking to limit President Donald Trump's ability to get U.S. troops involved. On June 17, Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced the 'Iran War Powers Resolution,' which would prohibit the president from going to war in the Middle Eastern country without congressional authorization. 'This is not our war,' Massie wrote on X. 'Even if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution.' Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, joined Massie in introducing the measure, which is co-sponsored by over a dozen other representatives. 'The American people do not want to be dragged into another disastrous conflict in the Middle East,' Khanna wrote on X. 'I'm proud to lead this bipartisan War Powers Resolution with Rep. Massie to reassert that any military action against Iran must be authorized by Congress.' The resolution states that 'Congress hereby directs the President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.' It cites the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress the sole power to declare war. Lawmakers also asserted their power under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which states that the president must notify Congress within two days of deploying troops into a foreign conflict and that they can only remain there for 60 days without congressional approval. The newly put forward resolution, though, does not prevent the U.S. from 'defending itself from imminent attack,' and it stipulates that intelligence-gathering operations should not be disrupted. The resolution is considered privileged — giving it special priority — meaning it should be brought for a vote in a matter of days, according to CBS News. However, the House is in recess, meaning the vote will occur upon its return. 'It's time for every member to go on record,' Khanna wrote on X. 'Are you with the neocons who led us into Iraq or do you stand with the American people?' Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, introduced a similar privileged resolution in the Senate on June 16, which will require a prompt vote. 'The American people have no interest in sending servicemembers to fight another forever war in the Middle East,' Kaine, who ran as Hillary Clinton's vice presidential nominee in 2016, said in a statement. 'This resolution will ensure that if we decide to place our nation's men and women in uniform into harm's way, we will have a debate and vote on it in Congress.' These legislative actions come days after Israel launched a series of military strikes on Iran, leading Iran to retaliate with its own missile strikes. Trump has signaled strong support for Israel's actions, calling for Iran's unconditional surrender, threatening Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and expressing an openness to further U.S. involvement.
See - Sada Elbalad
6 days ago
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Trump Hails 'Fighting Spirit' of US Armed Forces at Grand Military Parade in Washington
Taarek Refaat Former U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a fiery tribute to the American military during a massive parade held in Washington, celebrating what he called the 'unmatched fighting spirit' of the United States Armed Forces. The parade, which featured thousands of troops, fighter jet flyovers, military bands, and a display of heavy weaponry, drew large crowds along the National Mall. In his address, Trump praised the 'strength, courage, and honor' of American service members, calling them 'the shield of liberty and the sword of justice.' 'Our armed forces are the most powerful and determined the world has ever known,' Trump declared from a stage adorned with American flags and flanked by senior military veterans. 'Today, we salute their fighting spirit and eternal dedication to this great nation.' 🇺🇸 A Show of Strength and Patriotism The parade showcased a wide range of military units, from the Army's Old Guard to Marines in dress blues, along with tanks, artillery units, and combat aircraft roaring overhead, including F-35s and historic World War II planes. Crowds cheered as Trump stood for much of the parade, waving to the troops and posing for photos with veterans. Patriotic music played throughout, with performances by military choirs and brass bands. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What exactly is the US National Guard?
After protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles, President Donald Trump took the contentious step of mobilizing thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of US Marines in response. While the use of the National Guard against the California governor's wishes is significant, in general these military personnel are trained for rapid response to emergencies within the United States. - Military reserve force - The National Guard is a military reserve force within the United States Armed Forces, meaning that most of its members serve part-time while holding civilian jobs or conducting other activities. As a response force, the National Guard can be mobilized rapidly to address emergency situations on US soil, typically natural disasters. When needed, National Guard units can also be activated for deployments into combat zones, especially if the United States is at war. Unlike branches of the US military, the National Guard performs both state- and federal-level functions, and is organized into groupings based in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands. As a state-based force, generally it is the governor of a state or territory who activates and commands the National Guard when needed. However, in some situations the National Guard can be "federalized" by the president, bringing it under the president's control until the specific federal mission has ended -- as is the case in Los Angeles currently. The latest budget from the Department of Defense authorizes 433,000 National Guard personnel in total, split across the Air National Guard and Army National Guard. This means that compared to other components of the US military, the National Guard is second only to the US Army in terms of size. - Emergency response - National Guard members are typically deployed during emergencies such as natural disasters at the request of governors and based on specific provisions in each state's laws. In the aftermath of events like hurricanes, wildfires, and floods, state National Guards are often called on to help evacuate dangerous areas, deliver supplies to places that would otherwise be cut off, or provide specialist equipment needed to clear hazardous debris. The largest National Guard deployment in recent years was during the COVID-19 pandemic, where troops helped construct and staff emergency care facilities, transport health supplies around the country, and coordinate other logistics. Outside of a natural disaster, deployment of the guard can be ordered in emergencies created by the breakdown of public order -- the provision that Trump controversially invoked when sending troops to California. - History with protest - The use of the National Guard to manage public unrest is not unique to Trump, even if the current deployment is unusual. During the widespread Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, more than half of US states activated National Guard troops to maintain order and help enforce curfews. Before that, they were also deployed to LA in 1992 to respond to riots that occurred after police officers who had beaten motorist Rodney King were acquitted at trial. At that time, riots, looting and arson attacks had spread across the city, with dozens of people killed and thousands injured. The National Guard was deployed during the 1950s and 60s Civil Rights era to help enforce school desegregation, following the Supreme Court's landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling. In one of the force's darkest moments, in May 1970, members of the Ohio National Guard clashed with anti-war protesters at Kent State University. As unrest swelled, the troops opened fire, killing four unarmed students. The shootings sparked outrage, but also led to reform of the guard's use-of-force guidelines. cf/ksb/mlm
Newsweek
30-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Trump Tariff Revenue Soars in May
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policy has triggered widespread economic disruption, from rising prices for American consumers to retaliatory measures from key trading partners. Yet despite the global fallout, the administration's tariff push is delivering a surprising result at home. As of May 30, the U.S. is on pace to set a new monthly record in tariff revenue—nearly $23 billion, about three times the amount collected in May 2024. That record-breaking pace contributes to a total of $68.23 billion collected so far in 2025, a 78 percent jump from the same point last year, according to Treasury Department data analyzed by the Penn Wharton Budget Model. Why It Matters Trump has defended his tariff policy as a means to restore American manufacturing as well as a way to fund the government without relying on income taxes. His administration argues that tariffs will make it possible to eventually abolish the federal income tax altogether. The White House continues to radiate optimism that negotiated deals with other countries will occur despite Trump's claims that he will set his own deals and a lack of clarity about how the process goes forward. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery on May 26, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in... U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery on May 26, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May each year to honor and mourn U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. More Photo byWhat To Know The revenue increase is driven by steep duties imposed on imports, particularly from China, where tariff rates have climbed as high as 145 percent. The Penn Wharton analysis shows a significant monthly spike in revenue of $6.8 billion at the end of April, highlighting the impact of new levies or preemptive stockpiling by businesses ahead of expected rate hikes. While such figures bolster the administration's argument that tariffs can serve as a major funding source, the underlying mechanism of who pays is less direct. Tariffs are a tax on imports, meaning they are initially paid by U.S. companies at the border, but economic research shows these costs are ultimately passed on to American consumers through higher prices. The Budget Lab at Yale University projects that the full suite of tariffs enacted in 2025—if kept in place—would raise $2.7 trillion over the next decade. However, the same analysis estimates a corresponding $394 billion reduction in other tax revenue due to negative effects on economic output. It calls the current average effective tariff rate of 17.8 percent the highest since 1934. The Budget Lab warns that tariffs work like a regressive tax, hurting low-income families the most. It estimates that households in the second income decile would lose about $1,300 a year from higher prices, while those in the top decile would lose around $6,100. Overall, consumer costs would rise by 1.7 percent in the short term—roughly a $2,800 hit per household. Clothing and textiles are especially impacted: prices for shoes have climbed 15 percent, and apparel is up 14 percent in the short term. The long-run impact keeps prices 19 percent and 16 percent higher, respectively. The Tax Foundation, an international research think tank based in Washington D.C., echoes those concerns, warning that the projected $2.1 trillion in tariff revenue through 2034 will come at a significant cost: a 0.8 percent long-run reduction in U.S. economic output and 685,000 fewer full-time jobs. Their analysis underscores the fragility of relying on tariffs to offset other costs—particularly Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," which extends and expands tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act at an estimated $4.5 trillion cost over the same period, or more than double the Tax Foundation's optimistic estimate for tariff revenues. What People Are Saying Joseph Foudy, professor at NYU's Stern School of Business, told Newsweek: "We're essentially picking fights with every major country in the world. Even if we end up cutting deals, the level of acrimony and the signal that the U.S. is no longer a reliable long-term partner weakens our position." Todd Belt of George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management told Newsweek: "The industrial landscape in the U.S. has completely changed. Most heavy industry has left the country, along with many well-paying, middle-class, union jobs. That's created a lot of resentment. Trump is promising to bring those jobs back—though I don't think that's realistic—and tariffs are his way of doing it". Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary, in an interview with Fox News: "We were on track for a financial crash. Government spending was out of control. It felt like 1998 or 2007. We've pulled off that path and set up long-term growth instead." What Happens Next The revenue numbers come as the legal foundation of Trump's tariff strategy isremains wobbly. A federal court ruled that the president's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose some tariffs was unlawful. However, an appeals court has allowed the reciprocal tariffs to remain in place while the case winds through the appeal process. It could end up at the Supreme Court.
