Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

House lawmakers have blocked a resolution that would have stripped Trump of his authority to continue the conflict with Iran without congressional approval.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: Back in 1973, Congress passed the War Powers Resolution, which requires a president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying military forces and limits unauthorized military operations to 60 days before Congress must either authorize or end them. The first US strikes hit Iran on February 28, and Trump sent his formal notification to Congress two days later on March 2 (which starts the 60-day clock on when congressional approval is needed). Democrats have been repeatedly forcing war powers votes since the conflict began even though the resolutions are largely symbolic, since Trump would veto any measure.

What’s going on now: In a 213-214 vote, the resolution failed by a single vote, with nearly every Republican voting to let Trump continue the conflict. Only one Republican, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted with Democrats. One Democrat, Jared Golden of Maine, voted against it (arguing the US needs to “maintain a strong negotiation position” during the ongoing ceasefire).

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) acknowledged after the vote that the House could “have a different vote count after 60 days,” pointing to the May 1 deadline when Congress will be legally required to either authorize or block the war. Mast also accused Democrats of hypocrisy, saying, “When Joe Biden was responding to merchant marine vessels being attacked, it was OK. No war power needed. It went on for about a year. President Trump responds….war power, war power, war power… That’s the hypocrisy.”

Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) said, “Servicemembers have been killed, gas prices are soaring, and the US in a worse position than before. Congress cannot abdicate its power as a co-equal branch of government and let this rogue President continue to unilaterally wage war.”

This all comes as public polling shows most people disapprove of the conflict. According to an RNNBS poll conducted last week, only 17% of our followers (307,914 polled) said they were against the conflict in Iran. Recent polling by CBS also found that 60% of Americans polled disapprove of US military action in Iran.