On the eve of a close Senate vote over the war in Iran, one senator's silence has become the story. The chamber sits at an even 49-49, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a Republican pushed out of his primary by the president he now must weigh, may decide whether Congress again tries to bind a commander who insists he already holds every power he needs. Behind the arithmetic lies an older American question, first written into law in 1973: how long a nation can fight before its representatives must speak, and whether the clock that governs war is one the executive can quietly restart.
Cassidy May Decide Senate's Latest Iran War Powers Rebuke of Trump
U.S. war death toll has climbed to 18 after recent troop casualties from Iranian attacks in the Middle East.
It could come down to Cassidy to break a 49-49 split
Mark
Why does one senator matter so much here?
Mimi
Because the chamber is split 49-49 and a simple majority decides it. Cassidy is the open question.
Luke
Worth noting that tie depends on assumptions. McConnell's absence is confirmed, but the three Republican defections are described as likely, not locked in.
Mark
And Cassidy has voted both ways already?
Mimi
Yes. He helped pass a rebuke last month, then flipped in a later vote after a shouting match with Trump at a closed-door lunch.
Luke
We know the flip and the lunch happened. We don't know that one caused the other, and Cassidy isn't commenting on this vote.
Mark
What is he weighing?
Mimi
Timing, and casualties. The death toll is 18, and he asked how best to get through it.
Luke
That's a hint at his concern, not a signal of which way he'll go.
Mark
What's the legal dispute underneath?
Mimi
Murkowski says the 1973 law requires ending hostilities within 60 days without authorization. The administration says the clock resets with each ceasefire, and Hegseth says the department shares the White House view.
El Pulso
- The Senate stands deadlocked at 49-49, and a single undecided Republican holds the outcome in his hands.
- Cassidy refuses to say how he will vote, after flipping once already and enduring a shouting match with Trump at a closed-door lunch.
- The war death toll has climbed to 18, and senators are weighing grief against the urgency of getting the country through the conflict.
- The administration argues the War Powers clock resets with every ceasefire, while Murkowski presses Hegseth on whether Congress's authority still means anything.
- A separate $95 billion war funding package looms, and Senate leaders doubt it can pass before the November midterms, leaving the next test of congressional limits still ahead.
On the eve of a close Senate vote over the war in Iran, one senator's silence has become the story. The chamber sits at an even 49-49, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a Republican pushed out of his primary by the president he now must weigh, may decide whether Congress again tries to bind a commander who insists he already holds every power he needs. Behind the arithmetic lies an older American question, first written into law in 1973: how long a nation can fight before its representatives must speak, and whether the clock that governs war is one the executive can quietly restart.
On the eve of a Senate vote on the war in Iran, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana would not say how he planned to vote. "I am not commenting on that right now," he told the Washington Examiner. The count stands at 49-49, and only a simple majority is needed. Cassidy, whom President Trump effectively ousted in the primary, may be the one who decides it.
The arithmetic is tight. Sen. Mitch McConnell is absent for health reasons. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul are likely to break with the president, while John Fetterman is expected to oppose the resolution from the Democratic side. That leaves Cassidy as the pivotal vote, a man who has already stood on both sides of this question. Last month he backed a rare rebuke of the president, then reversed himself after a shouting match with Trump at a closed-door Senate Republican lunch. Of the eleven war powers resolutions voted on so far, only one has passed both chambers.
The death toll has risen to 18 after more troops were killed in Iranian attacks. "You got to be concerned about casualties," Cassidy said. "The question is, how best to get through, because we got to get through this, right?"
Murkowski, pressing Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at a hearing, pointed to the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires a president to end hostilities within 60 days without congressional authorization. The administration argues that the clock resets each time a ceasefire occurs, and Hegseth conceded a longstanding legal debate while insisting the department has the authority it needs now. The war began Feb. 28, and next week marks five months of fighting.
Meanwhile, Republicans are working through a $95 billion reconciliation package to fund the war, including up to roughly $73 billion the administration could draw on. Senate leaders doubt it can be finished before the midterms. The vote will show whether a Senate of Trump's own party will again constrain him, and whether the funding fight offers Congress a second chance to set limits.
On the eve of a Senate vote on the war in Iran, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana would not say how he planned to vote. "I am not commenting on that right now," he told the Washington Examiner. The answer matters because the count stands at 49-49, and only a simple majority is needed. Cassidy, whom President Trump effectively ousted in the primary, may be the senator who decides it.
The arithmetic is tight. Sen. Mitch McConnell remains absent because of health issues. Three Republicans are likely to break with the president: Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is expected to remain the lone Democrat opposing the resolution. That leaves Cassidy as the pivotal vote.
He has been on both sides of this question. Last month he helped deliver a rare war powers rebuke of the president by supporting a resolution. He later flipped and voted against it in a follow-up vote. That vote came after a shouting match between Cassidy and Trump at a closed-door Senate Republican lunch. Paul also changed his vote. Of the 11 war powers resolutions voted on so far, 10 have failed and one passed both chambers.
Cassidy indicated that the timing of the vote is weighing heavily on him. The U.S. death toll in the war has risen to 18 in recent days, after more troops were killed in Iranian attacks in the Middle East. "You got to be concerned about casualties," he said. "The question is, how best to get through, because we got to get through this, right?"
Democrats are forcing the vote to draw attention to what Murkowski has criticized as a "forever war." Asked about the phrase, she said, "Many people are now using that term, aren't they?" The war began Feb. 28, and next week will mark five months since then.
Murkowski, a centrist Republican and frequent swing vote, pressed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at a congressional hearing this week. She said the 1973 War Powers Resolution is not ambiguous: it requires a president to terminate hostilities within 60 days absent congressional authorization. She asked whether the administration still held that it needed no authorization from Congress. The administration's argument is that the 60-day clock resets each time a ceasefire occurs. Hegseth acknowledged a longstanding legal debate, then said the department shares the White House position that it has all the authorities necessary at this moment.
Meanwhile, congressional Republicans are trying to answer the administration's requests for more war funding through a third party-line reconciliation process. Senate leaders are skeptical it can be finished before the November midterms. The House Republican package totals $95 billion and includes up to roughly $73 billion the administration could draw on for war-related efforts.
The vote will show whether a Senate controlled by Trump's own party will again constrain him on the war, and whether the funding fight gives Congress a second chance to set limits.
Citas Notables
You got to be concerned about casualties. The question is, how best to get through, because we got to get through this, right?— Sen. Bill Cassidy
The War Powers Resolution is not ambiguous; it requires the president to terminate hostilities within 60 days absent congressional authorization.— Sen. Lisa Murkowski, to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
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