Brian Finucane

Exclusive: Trump says he must be involved in picking Iran's next leader "Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran."

Curious what role the Iranian Constitution specifies for the US President in this process...

POTUS still pursuing the Venezuela model in Iran and looking for his new Delcy Rodriguez.

www.axios.com/2026/03/05/i...

it slices, it dices...

If Congress wants to stop the reported half-baked plan to use Kurdish fighters to further destabilize Iran, it might want to dust off the Boland Amendment.

"You're dealing with a lot of lawyers in your own country, I'm sure. You have my permission not to listen to them."

hahaha

No need to indulge in the presumption that this administration's uses of military force—against supposed narcos or otherwise—are lawful.

And Senator, you voted to authorize this war when exactly?

war mongering mad libs

Apt characterization of the Article I Crisis

Don't know, but there may be folks familiar with the NH National Guard on here.

When bloodthirsty bigotry becomes self parody.

(Peter is of course correct. That is why aggression is an international crime.)

There was little to no argument from the administration before the war for why one should begin. To Finucane, the last week “illustrates very clearly why the U.S. Constitution requires congressional authorization to wage war.” “We could have had a public debate about whether this expenditure of blood and treasure is worth it. We have a collective decision-making body of the people’s elected reps to weigh in as the administration makes its case,” he added. “None of that happened here.”

The One Real Lever Congress Has to Stop Trump’s Iran War The Trump administration is waging war on Iran without congressional authorization, violating...

Pleased to speak with @joshkovensky.bsky.social for @talkingpointsmemo.com about Iran and war powers.

"The ultimate war power is the power of the purse."

talkingpointsmemo.com/news/iran-wa...

On congressional Iran hawks who oppose war powers legislation:

1) Haven't seen any introduce a recent Iran AUMF to authorize this war.

2) Likely b/c they know it would be deeply unpopular & fail. And they don't want to own a vote for war.

3) So they surrender their constitutional power to POTUS.

Pleased to speak with @qjurecic.bsky.social for @theatlanticpr.bsky.social.

“The president has unilaterally kicked off a regional war. That is a real departure from prior unilateral uses of military force in recent decades.”

Seems the US military may have taken away a different lesson than some of us from Israel's use of AI in targeting in the opening days of the Gaza war in 2023.

"None of the funds provided in this Act may be used by the [CIA or DoD] to furnish military equipment, military training or
advice, or other support for military activities . . . for the purpose of overthrowing the Government
of Nicaragua..."

Somehow Iran-Contra funding restrictions seem relevant

Did prison ministry back in the day

Could be some downsides to refusing to discharge your constitutional duties as a member of Congress.

James Fishback Banned From Waffle House After Tucker Carlson Interview Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback announced on Wednesday that he was banned from the restaurant chain Waffle House.

Having spent a lot of quality time at various Waffle House locations, I'm contemplating the sort of behavior that might merit banishment.

www.mediaite.com/media/news/f...

Encourage folks to watch Congressman Warren Davidson's remarks over at the other place.

Upholding the Constitution and ending the administration's illegal war requires a broad coalition.

x.com/WarrenDavids...

BTW, where is that drone blasting laser that was down at the southern border?

Was it too busy blasting party balloons and DHS UAVs to protect US troops in the Middle East?

"How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

👀

Americans have agency on that front

In 1973, Congress almost shut down the government in a funding fight to stop Operation Freedom Deal, an unauthorized bombing campaign in Cambodia.

‘We’re in it’: Democrats won’t rule out giving Trump more money for Middle East war Democrats will have to balance a desire to criticize Trump’s offensive in Iran with pressure to support funding to defend the nation now at war.

Tapping the sign:

The power of the purse is the ultimate war power.

(How Congress forced an end to US involvement in the Vietnam War.)

www.politico.com/news/2026/03...

US air defenses may not be able to intercept many of Iran’s one-way drones | CNN Politics Trump administration officials told lawmakers during a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill Tuesday that Iran’s Shahed attack drones represent a major challenge and US air defenses will not be able to...

Wonder if the US has any European security partners with relevant expertise with Shaheds?
edition.cnn.com/2026/03/04/p...

Time to drive up the road to DC/NoVA.