Senators Defect on Iran War, Aid Dem Resolution
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- Four Republican senators—Rand Paul, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Bill Cassidy—voted to discharge the Iran war‑powers resolution from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
- Sen. Tim Kaine said Democrats are close to securing a narrow win on the resolution, hoping to add a fifth Republican vote such as Thom Tillis or John Curtis.
- The Iran conflict has stretched into its 15th week, surpassing the 60‑day threshold that triggers congressional review under the 1973 War Powers Act.
- Polls from the University of Maryland and Economist/YouGov show a majority of independents and a sizable minority of Republicans view the war negatively and disapprove of Trump’s handling.
- Stock markets fell sharply and oil prices rose after renewed U.S.–Iran strikes and Trump’s warning that Tehran would “pay the price.”
- Sen. Todd Young and Sen. Josh Hawley announced they will not back the Iran war‑powers resolution, citing concerns about the consequences of an immediate withdrawal.
Why it matters: Democrats gain a viable path to compel a congressional vote that could force a U.S. pullout, while Trump and hard‑line Republicans lose leverage over the conflict; the shift also mirrors growing public disapproval and market volatility, underscoring political and economic stakes.
