The Senate voted 48-47 this week to kill a resolution that would have stripped President Trump of his military authority over Iran — one vote short of the 49 needed to advance. Democrats, led by Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia, tried to tie the Commander-in-Chief's hands right in the middle of a historic deal with the Islamic Republic, but, thankfully, the grown-ups in the chamber said no thanks.
Because nothing says "responsible governance" like trying to defang the president while he's negotiating with a nuclear-ambitious theocracy.
Senator Warnock, who introduced the resolution, urged that "Congress shouldn't just sit back and let the president make all decisions." Which sounds lovely on a bumper sticker, but in the real world, the president runs foreign policy. That's not a partisan opinion — it's the Constitution. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer lined up his caucus behind the effort, hoping to score political points while Trump was busy actually getting things done.
The vote came just one day after Trump declared, "The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete." The agreement includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane, and builds on an April ceasefire. The administration has argued that the War Powers Resolution — which Democrats were leaning on — is partially unconstitutional in its attempt to limit executive authority over military matters.
Four Republican senators crossed the aisle to vote with Democrats: Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul. No surprises there — the usual suspects who get nervous whenever a Republican president actually exercises power. Paul, to be fair, has been consistent on this for years. The others just seem to enjoy the attention.
But here's the part that should make every Democrat strategist wince: Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania crossed the other way, voting with Republicans to kill the resolution. When you've lost Fetterman — a guy who showed up to the Senate in gym shorts — your resolution might not be the serious policy vehicle you think it is.
Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, never one to miss a chance to restrict military authority, had sponsored a separate proposal along similar lines. Senate Majority Leader John Thune held the line and kept his conference together where it counted, delivering Trump a clean win.
Members of Congress have complained they remain largely uninformed about the specifics of the Iran agreement, per Breitbart. And look, there's a fair debate to be had about congressional oversight. But trying to kneecap the president's negotiating leverage in the middle of an active deal isn't oversight — it's sabotage dressed up in parliamentary procedure.
The resolution is dead. Trump's authority is intact. And Democrats got a 48-47 reminder that elections have consequences — even when you really, really wish they didn't.