Can Congress Stop Trump’s War?
The Oath and The Office
Corey Brettschneider
4.9 • 591 Ratings
🗓️ 5 March 2026
⏱️ 53 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
They explain the War Powers Resolution of 1973, why Congress passed it after Vietnam, how the 60-day clock is supposed to work, and why the law was weakened in the 1980s—leaving presidents with wide room to maneuver. What can Congress realistically do today if Trump escalates conflict?
They also discuss Bill Clinton testifying before Congress—and what it reveals about accountability, separation of powers, and the political checks that still matter.
Plus: listener questions on billionaire political influence and citizen resistance.
The Oath and The Office is hosted by Corey Brettschneider (Brown University professor and author of The Presidents and The People, ABA Silver Gavel Award) and John Fugelsang (SiriusXM host).
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to a very special edition of the Oath and the Office. I'm John Fuglesang. |
| 0:16.0 | We're at war in the Middle East again, friends. Not because Congress debated it. Not because there was a clear |
| 0:20.9 | and present danger. Not because the American people demanded it. And not because the Joint Chiefs |
| 0:25.9 | say there is any threat to us. To make some sense of this illegal Michigas, let's go to the star |
| 0:32.3 | of our show, the author of The Oath and the Office. Brown University Political Science Professor and the Supreme Court |
| 0:38.5 | calls him the Mac. Corey Brett Schneider. Professor, good to see you this very strange week. |
| 0:43.7 | Thanks so much, John. The fake praise gets more intense towards by the Supreme Court. This man |
| 0:49.2 | was kicked out of Wu-Tang Clan for being too hardcore. They don't know, Corey. Let me say it. |
| 0:53.6 | They don't know. Come on now me say it. They don't know. |
| 1:13.8 | Come on now. Each week, I don't know if you could top the previous week, but I think you succeed. And it is a special edition. Unfortunately, this is a presidentially declared war. You might think to yourself, well, war is declared by Congress. We're going to talk about that. It's also time, I think, that we talk, of course, about what's happening in the moment, |
| 1:18.7 | but also do a deep dive into the War Powers Act, which governs much of what's happening and what's going to happen over the next few weeks. |
| 1:21.1 | And so I'm looking forward to really talking to you, John, and doing my best to explain |
| 1:25.2 | to listeners how this complicated law functions, |
| 1:28.4 | what its purpose is, how it was amended, unfortunately, to weaken Congress. And looking forward |
| 1:34.7 | to some listener questions. But before we get into that, John, I've got to just congratulate you |
| 1:39.0 | because your amazing book, Separation of Church and Hate, which we hear from listeners all the |
| 1:44.1 | time. And I hear from listeners all the time, |
| 1:44.5 | and I hear from listeners in person, too, how much they love it, a book that really |
| 1:48.7 | distinguishes between true Christianity and Christian nationalism and uses the Bible in such |
| 1:55.4 | an important way to criticize white nationalism and theocratic views has won a major award and that's from |
| 2:03.8 | Audible for best I understand best nonfiction audio book period that's amazing so much john |
| 2:09.6 | 2026 audio awards last night of new york city i i kind of felt like wringo you know i'm just glad to be |
... |
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