Why Tim Kaine is pursuing a war powers resolution — again
Consider This from NPR
NPR
4.2 • 6.2K Ratings
🗓️ 26 February 2026
⏱️ 9 minutes
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Summary
The U.S. Constitution empowers Congress, not the president, to declare war. That hasn’t stopped plenty of presidents from commanding military combat. It didn’t stop President Trump from ordering airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites last year — and building up the U.S. military in the Middle East while he mulls further action this year.
So far in this Trump administration, efforts to reclaim that congressional authority have failed. Sen. Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, explains why he is still pursuing a war powers resolution.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | So could the third time be the charm? |
| 0:02.7 | The United States and Iran are in Geneva for, yes, a third round of nuclear talks which could end in a deal or with violence. |
| 0:10.0 | They want to make a deal, but we haven't heard those secret words. |
| 0:13.9 | We will never have a nuclear weapon. |
| 0:17.8 | That's President Trump during Tuesday's State of the Union address. |
| 0:21.4 | My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain, I will never |
| 0:27.7 | allow the world's number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear |
| 0:33.2 | weapon. Can't let that happen. I mean, I'm totally in favor of regime change, but I think you can't |
| 0:40.0 | just announce it in one speech and then expect that everybody will line up behind you. I think this is |
| 0:45.9 | a political mistake he may be about to make, but it's typical of the way he proceeds. |
| 0:51.4 | This is John Bolton, who is now a vocal critic of President Trump. |
| 0:55.9 | He once served as national security advisor during Trump's first term. |
| 0:59.5 | He's also a former UN ambassador. |
| 1:01.8 | And he told NPR that he didn't think Trump made a case for war to the American people |
| 1:05.5 | because he thinks Trump is not even sure he wants war. |
| 1:09.1 | I don't think Trump has necessarily made up his mind either what his objective is in a possible use of military force or what the quantum of that force would be. |
| 1:20.8 | Meanwhile, not everyone in Congress is okay with the idea that President Trump could proceed with military action against Iran without first seeking |
| 1:28.3 | the sign-off of lawmakers. Consider this. Members of Congress have filed war powers resolutions |
| 1:33.6 | in both the House and Senate to restrict President Trump from attacking Iran without congressional |
| 1:38.6 | approval. We speak with one of the lawmakers pushing the resolutions, Democratic Senator Tim |
| 1:43.7 | Kane of Virginia. |
| 1:54.4 | From NPR, I'm Elsa Chang. |
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