politics
March 16, 2026
Can’t Stop It, So Lead It
To limit the harms of the Iran war, congressional Democrats will have to join the fight.
TL;DR
- The war in Iran is unpopular and more extensive than initially promised by President Trump.
- Trump has initiated the war without congressional support and alienated potential allies.
- Funding for the war is inevitable, and congressional Democrats may be needed to pass supplemental bills.
- Democrats face a political risk: if the war succeeds, Trump gets credit; if it fails, they share blame.
- The article argues that Democrats should not simply oppose the war but engage strategically.
- Democrats must use their power of the purse to impose congressional oversight and limit the dangers of the war.
- Key concerns include preventing the Trump administration from exploiting terrorism fears, overseeing military conduct to prevent atrocities, ensuring Iranian self-determination, and preventing foreign emoluments to the president.
- Putting the war on a constitutional footing through congressional Democrats is necessary to limit harms and potentially gain benefits.
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