Congress gave up its most important power without a fight

Published June 18, 2026 5:59pm ET | Updated June 18, 2026 5:59pm ET



Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) already knows what disloyalty costs. President Donald Trump backed his primary opponent in May and ended his Senate career over it. On Tuesday, with nothing left to lose, Cassidy cast a vote that proves exactly why he was targeted in the first place. He tried to rein in Trump’s war powers in Iran.

It did not matter. The resolution failed 47 to 48. It was the eighth time Congress had voted on whether to check the president’s authority to wage war in Iran. It has failed eight times.

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