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| House votes to limit Donald Trump's war powers amid Iran crisis – as it happened | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The House speaker said she won’t publicly set a deadline to send the articles of impeachment while a growing chorus of lawmakers say it’s time | The House speaker said she won’t publicly set a deadline to send the articles of impeachment while a growing chorus of lawmakers say it’s time |
| The House voted to limit Donald Trump’s war powers. The measure compels the president to consult Congress before taking further action against Iran. As a “concurrent resolution”, the legislation doesn’t need to be ratified by Trump, but is not legally binding. | |
| Still, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi insisted the War Powers Resolution “has real teeth” because “it is a statement of the Congress of the United States”. | |
| At a rally in Ohio (which is still ondoing), Trump repeated a claim that he ordered a strike on Iranian general Quassem Suleimani because of a threat to the US embassy in Baghdad. The president also derided Congress’ War Powers resolution and implied it would have been impractical to coordinate schedules with lawmakers to discuss the strike before he ordered it. | |
| Pelosi said she won’t publicly set a deadline to send the articles of impeachment against Trump to the Senate, though Senate Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly expects them as early as tomorrow. | |
| Western officials believe the Ukrainian airliner that crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran on Wednesday was caused by an Iranian missile. OF the 176 passengers who died, 63 were Canadian. Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau said his government “will not rest” until it got justice. | |
| LA mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed Joe Biden | LA mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed Joe Biden |
| Joe Biden gained a high-profile supporter in Calfornia, ahead of the state’s March 3 primary. The Los Angeles mayor joined Dianne Feinstein, the state’s senior US senator, in endorsing Biden. | Joe Biden gained a high-profile supporter in Calfornia, ahead of the state’s March 3 primary. The Los Angeles mayor joined Dianne Feinstein, the state’s senior US senator, in endorsing Biden. |
| “We need Joe Biden to bring our nation and world together during these most divided and dangerous times,” Garcetti said in a statement. | “We need Joe Biden to bring our nation and world together during these most divided and dangerous times,” Garcetti said in a statement. |
| Although Biden is a front-runner in national polls, in California, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are neck and neck with the former vice president. | Although Biden is a front-runner in national polls, in California, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are neck and neck with the former vice president. |
| Garcetti weighed entering the 2020 race himself but announced a year ago that he wouldn’t be running. | Garcetti weighed entering the 2020 race himself but announced a year ago that he wouldn’t be running. |
| The president is now addressing his order to kill Iranian general Qassem Suleimani without consulting Congress. Trump said he’s ended Suleimani’s “rampage though not only that part of the world” but also “other parts”, implying that Suleimani was targeting the US embassy in Baghdad and other embassies. | The president is now addressing his order to kill Iranian general Qassem Suleimani without consulting Congress. Trump said he’s ended Suleimani’s “rampage though not only that part of the world” but also “other parts”, implying that Suleimani was targeting the US embassy in Baghdad and other embassies. |
| “He’s no longer a terror — he’s dead,” Trump said. | “He’s no longer a terror — he’s dead,” Trump said. |
| He derided “Crazy Bernie” and Nancy Pelosi for criticizing his moves against Iran, and mocked Democrats who passed a War Powers Resolutions to prevent him from taking further action without consulting Congress, implying it would have been too difficult to coordinate schedules to discuss the “execution” of the Iranian general before ordering it. | He derided “Crazy Bernie” and Nancy Pelosi for criticizing his moves against Iran, and mocked Democrats who passed a War Powers Resolutions to prevent him from taking further action without consulting Congress, implying it would have been too difficult to coordinate schedules to discuss the “execution” of the Iranian general before ordering it. |
| Earlier today, Trump claimed he ordered the killing of Suleimani to stop a plot to destroy the US embassy in Baghdad, though he didn’t provide any further details to reporters. The plot was “obvious,” he said, pointing to protesters who stormed the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. | Earlier today, Trump claimed he ordered the killing of Suleimani to stop a plot to destroy the US embassy in Baghdad, though he didn’t provide any further details to reporters. The plot was “obvious,” he said, pointing to protesters who stormed the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. |
| Democratic and Republican lawmakers have criticized the Trump administration’s refusal to provide more information on why, exactly, the Iranian general was targeted now. | Democratic and Republican lawmakers have criticized the Trump administration’s refusal to provide more information on why, exactly, the Iranian general was targeted now. |
| Donald Trump is speaking at a rally in Toledo, Ohio. | Donald Trump is speaking at a rally in Toledo, Ohio. |
| An Ohio politics reporter fact-checks his claim that “Ohio just had the best year economically”. | An Ohio politics reporter fact-checks his claim that “Ohio just had the best year economically”. |
| Billionaire Tom Steyer is the sixth candidate to qualify for the Democratic debate | Billionaire Tom Steyer is the sixth candidate to qualify for the Democratic debate |
| Steyer qualified for the debate after two Fox News polls released today showed Steyer polling double-digits in South Carolina and Nevada. He tied alongside Sen. Elizabeth Warren for third place in Nevada and landed in second place in South Carolina, with at 15%. Joe Biden took the lead spot in both polls. | Steyer qualified for the debate after two Fox News polls released today showed Steyer polling double-digits in South Carolina and Nevada. He tied alongside Sen. Elizabeth Warren for third place in Nevada and landed in second place in South Carolina, with at 15%. Joe Biden took the lead spot in both polls. |
| The debate is scheduled for Jan 14 in Des Moines, Iowa. Along with Steyer, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, and Amy Klobuchar have also qualified. Cory Booker and Andrew Yang, the two remaining candidates of color have not yet qualified; they have through tomorrow to do so. | The debate is scheduled for Jan 14 in Des Moines, Iowa. Along with Steyer, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, and Amy Klobuchar have also qualified. Cory Booker and Andrew Yang, the two remaining candidates of color have not yet qualified; they have through tomorrow to do so. |
| Having approved the war powers resolution, the House has now moved on to environmental policy. Members are debating legislation that would require the Environmental Protection Agency to designate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as hazardous. | Having approved the war powers resolution, the House has now moved on to environmental policy. Members are debating legislation that would require the Environmental Protection Agency to designate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as hazardous. |
| But Donald Trump – who today unveiled a plan to bypass environmental review of major infrastructure projects and has aggressively pursued cuts to environmental projection – insists he cares about the environment, too. | But Donald Trump – who today unveiled a plan to bypass environmental review of major infrastructure projects and has aggressively pursued cuts to environmental projection – insists he cares about the environment, too. |
| Asked whether climate change was a hoax this morning, Trump told reporters “it’s a very serious subject” and he’s going to read a book about it. The New York Times’ Lisa Friedman followed up – and discovered the title of the book he intends to read: Donald J Trump: An Environmental Hero, by Ed Russo. | Asked whether climate change was a hoax this morning, Trump told reporters “it’s a very serious subject” and he’s going to read a book about it. The New York Times’ Lisa Friedman followed up – and discovered the title of the book he intends to read: Donald J Trump: An Environmental Hero, by Ed Russo. |
| The book was self-published by Russo, who was an environmental advisor for the Trump Organization. | The book was self-published by Russo, who was an environmental advisor for the Trump Organization. |
| A Super Pac set up to help defeat the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is releasing its first attack ad against the top Kentucky Republican. | A Super Pac set up to help defeat the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is releasing its first attack ad against the top Kentucky Republican. |
| The 46-second web ad by the “Fire Mitch. Save America” Super Pac is a compilation of clips of late night hosts lambasting McConnell. It starts with Daily Show comedian Trevor Noah saying McConnell is “truly the perfect movie villain” while images of McConnell on the Senate floor and smiling directly into the camera. | The 46-second web ad by the “Fire Mitch. Save America” Super Pac is a compilation of clips of late night hosts lambasting McConnell. It starts with Daily Show comedian Trevor Noah saying McConnell is “truly the perfect movie villain” while images of McConnell on the Senate floor and smiling directly into the camera. |
| The ad shows a clip of comedian Samantha Bee saying “McConnell is so good at blocking things he’s like the kidney stone of the Senate.” Thr MSNBC host Joe Scarborough’s voice then says “keeps killing any bill that would protect American democracy” before going back to Bee saying McConnell has been “openly bragging about he how he stole a supreme court seat” – a reference to McConnell’s refusal to hold hearings on Barack Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland for the supreme court. The ad then switches to a clip of McConnell saying “think of me as the grim reaper”. | The ad shows a clip of comedian Samantha Bee saying “McConnell is so good at blocking things he’s like the kidney stone of the Senate.” Thr MSNBC host Joe Scarborough’s voice then says “keeps killing any bill that would protect American democracy” before going back to Bee saying McConnell has been “openly bragging about he how he stole a supreme court seat” – a reference to McConnell’s refusal to hold hearings on Barack Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland for the supreme court. The ad then switches to a clip of McConnell saying “think of me as the grim reaper”. |
| The ad frames McConnell as a nefarious figure in the Senate, a common sentiment among Democrats. | The ad frames McConnell as a nefarious figure in the Senate, a common sentiment among Democrats. |
| “Mitch McConnell is the most unpopular senator in the entire country and yet he has enormous power to block progress on so many issues important to all of our families,” Democratic strategist Eric Hyers, the founder of the Super Pac, said in a statement. “He is fueling the cynicism and distrust of Washington and it’s time for him to go. Kentucky and all Americans deserve better.” | “Mitch McConnell is the most unpopular senator in the entire country and yet he has enormous power to block progress on so many issues important to all of our families,” Democratic strategist Eric Hyers, the founder of the Super Pac, said in a statement. “He is fueling the cynicism and distrust of Washington and it’s time for him to go. Kentucky and all Americans deserve better.” |
| The ad is the first one by the Super Pac and is set to air on multiple digital platforms. It’s the latest example of Democrats’ efforts to oust the longtime senator by painting him as a consummate Washington insider motivated by partisanship above all else. | The ad is the first one by the Super Pac and is set to air on multiple digital platforms. It’s the latest example of Democrats’ efforts to oust the longtime senator by painting him as a consummate Washington insider motivated by partisanship above all else. |
| McConnell is up for re-election in 2020 and multiple Democrats are running in the primary for the party nomination to face him. But Democrat Amy McGrath, the former Democratic congressional candidate, is the heavy favorite. | McConnell is up for re-election in 2020 and multiple Democrats are running in the primary for the party nomination to face him. But Democrat Amy McGrath, the former Democratic congressional candidate, is the heavy favorite. |
| The Super Pac plans to produce more content against McConnell. | The Super Pac plans to produce more content against McConnell. |
| The House resolution came about after Donald Trump chose to take unilateral action last week to assassinate the senior Iranian general Qassem Suleimani without consulting or even notifying before Congress. | The House resolution came about after Donald Trump chose to take unilateral action last week to assassinate the senior Iranian general Qassem Suleimani without consulting or even notifying before Congress. |
| To stop the president from taking further action against Iran without consulting them, House Democrats have invoked the War Powers Act of 1973, which draws out the parameters of presidential and congressional war powers. With the passage of an Authorization for Use of Military Force in 2001 to fight terrorism, and another AUMF in 2002 for the war in Iraq, Congress’ war powers have diminished since 9/11. Now many lawmakers – especially Democrats – are discussing how to rebalance war powers. | To stop the president from taking further action against Iran without consulting them, House Democrats have invoked the War Powers Act of 1973, which draws out the parameters of presidential and congressional war powers. With the passage of an Authorization for Use of Military Force in 2001 to fight terrorism, and another AUMF in 2002 for the war in Iraq, Congress’ war powers have diminished since 9/11. Now many lawmakers – especially Democrats – are discussing how to rebalance war powers. |
| In the Senate, a similar war powers proposal by Democrat Tim Kaine faces much slimmer odds of passing, though Republican Senator Todd Young, an ex-marine who represents Indiana, and two other Republicans indicated yesterday the would back the plan. | In the Senate, a similar war powers proposal by Democrat Tim Kaine faces much slimmer odds of passing, though Republican Senator Todd Young, an ex-marine who represents Indiana, and two other Republicans indicated yesterday the would back the plan. |
| Three Republicans voted for the resolution: Thomas Massie, Francis Rooney and Matt Gaetz. Eight Democrats voted against. | Three Republicans voted for the resolution: Thomas Massie, Francis Rooney and Matt Gaetz. Eight Democrats voted against. |
| This is a “concurrent resolution” – which doesn’t go to the president for a signature, and also isn’t usually legally binding. However, House Democrats are arguing that a concurrent resolution under the War Powers Act is a special case, and is binding. | This is a “concurrent resolution” – which doesn’t go to the president for a signature, and also isn’t usually legally binding. However, House Democrats are arguing that a concurrent resolution under the War Powers Act is a special case, and is binding. |
| The debate over the implications of this resolution has gotten a bit... catty. | The debate over the implications of this resolution has gotten a bit... catty. |
| Voting mostly but not entirely along party lines, the House approved a resolution to limit the president’s war powers, 224-194 The measure compels the president to go to Congress for authorization before taking further military action against Iran. | Voting mostly but not entirely along party lines, the House approved a resolution to limit the president’s war powers, 224-194 The measure compels the president to go to Congress for authorization before taking further military action against Iran. |