Democrats won Congress. But can they deliver on their promises? — SkimNews
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- Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections, campaigning on lowering living costs, ending the war on Iran, and holding President Trump accountable.
- Dean Baker argued that ending the war on Iran could help reduce energy prices, as the conflict has driven up costs by restricting commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since February.
- Democrats can use committee control to investigate Trump administration actions, including the source of the Trump family’s $2.2bn wealth increase and potential favoritism toward donors.
- Trita Parsi warned that Trump may escalate the war on Iran in his final weeks before Democrats take power, citing his tendency to act recklessly after political defeats.
- Democrats could block additional funding for the Iran war, using their power over appropriations to limit Trump’s military operations despite existing allocated funds.
- Lawmakers have introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for waging war on Iran without congressional approval, with Republican Representative Thomas Massie planning to force a vote.
Why it matters: Democrats now control Congress but face a hard limit on legislative power due to Trump’s veto and the 60-vote Senate threshold. Their best leverage lies in investigations and funding control, which can raise political costs for Trump’s actions—even if they can’t force policy changes outright. This shifts accountability from legislation to oversight.
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