Archiv: booting the Republican Party


12:41 [ Antiwar.com ]

Senate Democrats Block Advancement of $1.1 Trillion NDAA Over Iran War

Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked the advancement of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, citing President Trump’s war with Iran, which continues to rage following the collapse of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding.

The NDAA would provide the Pentagon with over $1.1 trillion in funding as part of the White House’s plan for a $1.5 trillion military budget for 2027, a nearly 50% increase from this year. The bill also includes an amendment, Section 1217, to further merge the US and Israeli militaries under a plan being pushed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A procedural vote of 50-46 fell well short of the 60 votes that it needed to advance the NDAA. Every Democrat, except two who weren’t present for the vote — Senators Jon Fetterman (PA) and Alex Padilla (CA) — voted against advancing the sprawling military spending bill.

12:29 [ Common Dreams ]

How Section 219, the US-Israel Military Merger, Would Thwart American Democracy

(July 13, 2026)

The House provision, which has a Senate version known as Section 1217, would also forbid the president of the United States from limiting intelligence collaboration with Israel over its human rights abuses. If the President ever wants to limit such collaboration, he or she must tell Congress and can only cite American national security as a basis.

In other words, these bills would connect the US and Israeli militaries in unprecedented ways and make it exceedingly difficult for any future president to unwind this partnership with a foreign government.

12:14 [ Human RIghts Watch ]

Congressional Proposal Could Deepen US Complicity

(June 16, 2026)

Buried in the US$1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act is a provision that would deepen US military cooperation with Israel while walling that cooperation off from further congressional oversight.

Section 219 (formerly section 224) creates the role of an “executive agent” focused on folding Israeli technology into US weapons programs, and vice versa, including in missile and air defense technologies as well as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cyberwarfare, and autonomous systems. Once implemented, the provision would speed efforts to embed Israeli technologies into US weapons systems in ways almost never codified into law, even for allies. As the protracted experience with unwinding Turkish participation in the F-35 program shows, practically, integration binds the United States to rely on producers in ways that become next to impossible to walk back later, even if lawmakers want to.

(…)

Section 219 also calls for “data fusion.” In defense doctrine, data fusion means combining feeds from many sensors and intelligence sources into a single targeting picture. The United States would be absorbing Israeli data, which may have been collected under problematic mass surveillance programs. Moreover, section 219 would be reinforced by section 622 of the intelligence appropriations bill, which mandates intelligence sharing and would further promote combining US intelligence streams with Israeli ones that could then be used by the Israeli military for targeting.

10.07.2026 - 00:16 [ theHill.com ]

Renewed war with Iran threatens to derail congressional agenda

Danielle Pletka, a distinguished senior fellow in foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute, said Trump has a military plan on his desk that U.S. commanders believe could force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without making any major concessions to its theocratic regime.

“The president has had on his desk for months now a 10- to 14-day plan that would do what was necessary to finish out the mission of the war on Iran. It would take out the remaining missile sites we saw them work on, the remaining parts of their defense-industrial complex, the remaining nuclear [program] and some of the critical [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps] emplacements, and do that in a way that Centcom feels would mean we could walk away, not have a deal, and stop worrying about Iran for a little while,” she said.

“Will it take 10 to 14 days? Who knows? Is the president going to follow that plan? Who knows?” she said.

23.06.2026 - 16:00 [ Associated Press ]

Mamdani challenges Democratic leaders ahead of primary elections: ‘The Democratic Party must change’

(june 19, 2026)

Not long ago, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was demonized by leaders of both political parties. On Thursday night, the 34-year-old democratic socialist was celebrated as a political force, the face of the region’s sports renaissance, even the leader of “Mamdanistan.”

In a rally with Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that drew thousands to a Brooklyn theater, the emboldened mayor delivered a fiery message to Democratic leaders in Washington — and even those considering 2028 presidential bids — as he worked to elevate a slate of likeminded candidates in Tuesday’s New York primaries.

22.06.2026 - 21:54 [ Antiwar.com ]

Pentagon Tells Lawmakers It Needs Additional $80 Billion for Iran War and Other Costs

The White House is expected to formally request a supplemental spending bill in the coming days

18.06.2026 - 18:59 [ Trita Parsi / Common Dreams ]

Ending the Costly, Unnecessary Iran War Is the Right Thing. Period.

The task now is not to reward Trump politically, nor to excuse the recklessness that produced this war. It is to prevent the war from returning. Democrats can condemn the decision to start it without sabotaging the agreement that ends it. They can hold Trump accountable without helping Netanyahu drag the United States back into conflict. The choice before them is not between opposing Trump and supporting peace. It is between learning from America’s endless wars and repeating them.

18.06.2026 - 18:40 [ Politico.com ]

White House delivers Iran agreement to Congress

A swath of GOP senators and some House Republicans were livid Wednesday when a Trump administration official read the memorandum to reporters before sharing the document with lawmakers.

Senior White House officials have held small-group and individual calls with select GOP lawmakers, but an all-member briefing from Trump administration officials on the agreement is not expected until next week.

01.06.2026 - 20:14 [ Dayton Daily News ]

Area members of Congress face another Iran ‘war powers’ vote

When Congress returns to work in June, both the House and Senate are expected to vote on resolutions that would force Trump to stop military strikes against Iran, what’s known as a “war powers” resolution.

House GOP leaders postponed a vote on that before Memorial Day — worried that Republicans would lose that vote for a first time.

30.05.2026 - 18:12 [ Mobilize.us ]

Make Calls for Texas Democrats!

Join Texas Together as we make calls to support Texas Democratic nominees up and down the ballot. It’s time to unite and organize to win in November. Volunteers will be calling voters across Texas to:

Identify Democratic supporters

Share information about our Democratic ticket

Listen to voters about the issues impacting their families and communities

Every call helps us build the momentum we need to compete statewide.

No experience needed! Whether you’re a first-time volunteer or a seasoned phone banker, you can make a real impact. We’ll provide training at the start of each shift and support you every step of the way.

RSVP today and be part of the team building Democratic wins in Texas — one call at a time

30.05.2026 - 18:04 [ James Talarico ]

James Talarico for Texas: It’s time to Start Flipping Tables.

James is an eighth-generation Texan, former middle school teacher, and Presbyterian seminarian. As a state representative, he’s led the fight against the billionaire mega-donors and puppet politicians who have taken over Texas.

Now, he’s running for U.S. Senate to take his fight against corruption to Washington and win power back for working people.

30.05.2026 - 17:33 [ The Save America Movement / Substack ]

“Fascism Ain’t Pretty” Goes National

(November 11, 2025)

Washington, D.C. was the proving ground for our campaign, antagonizing Stephen Miller.

When we covered the Capital with Stephen Miller’s face and “Fascism Ain’t Pretty”—on walls, sidewalks, and projected it onto buildings—we heard from thousands of you. The message was overwhelming: WE WANT THIS IN OUR CITY.

We heard you. And we’re acting on it.

This week, Portland, Oregon, and Philadelphia are first up on our list for expanding this campaign. If you’re in either city, take a stroll and see if you can spot Miller’s face. Then snap a pic, put it on your socials, and tag us!

30.05.2026 - 17:25 [ Common Dreams ]

Asked About Stephen Miller, DNC Staffer Happy to Confirm: ‘I Stand by Calling Him an Ugly Fuck’

“I said what I said.”

That was Democratic National Committee (DNC) staffer Paulina Mangubat’s statement Thursday evening after her response to White House adviser Stephen Miller’s smear against Democratic US Senate candidate James Talarico of Texas went viral earlier this week.

After Miller posted a picture on Wednesday of Talarico with the comment that Democrats in Texas had nominated “their first transgender Senate candidate,” Mangubat, who serves as the DNC’s content and creative director and is behind many of the committee’s social media posts, had a concise response.

27.05.2026 - 11:01 [ Democrats / US House Committee on Foreign Affairs ]

Meeks Statement on Republicans Pulling Iran War Powers Vote

(May 21, 2026)

„Let’s be clear: Republicans pulled this vote because they knew they were going to lose it. They know this war is a political and strategic disaster. They know that as Americans head into Memorial Day weekend paying over 4.50 a gallon at the pump, they cannot go home and explain they voted to keep this war going. So instead of casting that vote, they ran from it.

„This is not over. When the House returns, Republicans will have no choice but to take this vote. Democrats will not stop fighting until Congress reasserts its constitutional authority and this war is brought to an end.“

27.05.2026 - 10:46 [ DailyKos.com ]

The Real Reason Mike Johnson Sent Congress Home Early

(May 21, 2026)

House Republican leaders yanked a planned vote to restrict President Trump’s ability to conduct military strikes against Iran, after it became clear that the resolution, forced to the floor by Democrats, would likely pass.

“You don’t have the votes!” Democrats shouted in a heated moment on the House floor, when Republicans moved to delay the vote until after lawmakers return from a weeklong Memorial Day recess.

27.05.2026 - 10:42 [ theHill.com ]

Democrats on the brink of war powers breakthrough

(May 18, 2026)

Democratic lawmakers are on the verge of passing a resolution to end President Trump’s war with Iran — with some help from a steadily growing group of Republicans.

In the House and Senate, resolutions under the 1973 War Powers Act this past week saw more members of Trump’s party crossing the aisle to vote in favor of the so-far failed measures, with others voicing their support for a future resolution.

20.05.2026 - 05:41 [ Associated Press ]

US Rep. Thomas Massie loses Kentucky GOP primary to Ed Gallrein in another victory for Trump

Trump handpicked and endorsed Ed Gallrein, whose victory demonstrated the president’s influence over GOP voters and growing frustration with Massie’s opposition to Trump. In recent weeks several other Republicans have been defeated by Trump-endorsed challengers, including Sen. Bill Cassidy in Louisiana and several Indiana state senators who defied him on redistricting.

19.05.2026 - 00:29 [ New York Times ]

Trump’s Approval Sinks Amid Unpopular War, Darkening G.O.P. Prospects

Just 26 percent of voters said they were satisfied with the Democratic Party.

The discontent includes a significant number of Democrats who expressed reservations about their own party. Forty-four percent of Democrats described themselves as unsatisfied, while just 23 percent of Republicans said the same about their party.

“They’re just not fighting back hard enough in my eyes,” said Matthew Berryhill, 35, a recruiter from Marietta, Ga., a pivotal battleground area in the state’s key Senate race this year, who described himself as a progressive Democrat. “They come out with strong statements and strong words, and no action to back it up.”

16.05.2026 - 20:37 [ Common Dreams ]

‘He’s Just a Bad Person’: Lone Democrat Jared Golden Joins GOP to Block Iran War Powers Resolution

Though Golden, who is not seeking reelection this year, was an original cosponsor of the resolution (H.Con.Res.75) offered by fellow Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) back in March, he became the deciding vote in the 212-212 tie when it finally hit the floor—even as two Republicans broke with their party for the first time to support such a measure.

As The Washington Post notes, the resolution was “proposed early in the war by a faction of pro-Israel Democrats—Golden among them—as a compromise intended to win some Republican backing.” While it did win three Republican votes in the end, it was Golden who helped sink it.

16.05.2026 - 06:31 [ New York Times ]

Trump Says Gas Prices Might Not Drop by Midterms, Underscoring G.O.P. Peril

(April 12, 2026)

Mr. Trump had long downplayed a sharp spike in gas prices driven by the war in Iran by casting it as a “short-term increase” that would subside within weeks. But on Sunday, Mr. Trump told Fox News that while he hoped gas and oil costs would drop before the midterms, prices “should be around the same” in November — and might be “a little bit higher.”

15.05.2026 - 20:13 [ Antiwar.com ]

House Narrowly Defeats Iran War Powers Resolution in 212-212 Vote

The House on Thursday narrowly defeated a War Powers Resolution that would have directed President Trump to end the US war against Iran, as the US continues to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports and is considering restarting the full-scale bombing campaign.

The bill failed in a tie vote of 212-212, with three Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie (KY), Tom Barret (MI), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA) — voting in favor of ending the war. Just one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden (ME), voted no.

25.04.2026 - 17:57 [ New York Times ]

The Race for Congress: Latest 2026 Polls

Recent polling on the congressional generic ballot shows Democrats with a modest advantage. The party out of power typically gains ground in midterm elections, and these early surveys suggest this may be taking shape ahead of 2026. Democrats lead in the vast majority of recent polls, though by single-digit margins. However, with redistricting efforts underway in several states, the national vote share that Democrats need to retake the House will depend on the extent of these changes.

25.04.2026 - 17:39 [ CNN ]

The law sets a 60-day limit on unauthorized wars. Will Trump respect it?

Lawmakers can revoke a president’s war powers at any time, but Democratic efforts to do so this time around have so far failed. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who has criticized how Trump has gone about the war, has talked about pushing an authorization to put guardrails on how the war is prosecuted, but has not yet followed through.

24.04.2026 - 21:49 [ Antiwar.com ]

Katz: Israel Waiting for US ‘Green Light’ To Attack Iran, Plunge Country Into the ‘Stone Age’

The threat from Katz comes on the same day that President Trump amplified calls to kill Iranian leaders who won’t accept US demands for a deal. Katz’s rhetoric also echoes President Trump, who has previously threatened to send Iran back to the “stone age” by destroying all of its power plants.

Trump has also threatened to unleash “hell” on Iran, “blow up” the entire country, and at one point said an “entire civilization would die” if he escalated his bombing campaign.