Pelosi backs growing Dem effort to limit Trump on Iran
House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday threw her weight behind a rapidly accelerating effort by Democratic lawmakers to limit Trump's power to unilaterally strike Iran.
Why it matters: Democrats are infuriated that the Trump administration postponed briefings on the Middle East that were planned for Tuesday, and that rage is helping to fuel what was initially a fringe effort.
"Yesterday, the Administration decided to withhold intelligence ... in a slap in the face to the Congress," Pelosi said in a statement.
"That is why I am supporting War Powers Resolutions which reassert the Article One powers of the Congress and ensure the Administration does not keep the American people and their Representatives in the dark."
State of play: Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) reacted to Trump's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities Saturday with a resolution to restrict further attacks without congressional authorization.
Massie has inched away from the effort after a ceasefire was brokered between Israel and Iran, but dozens of Democrats have signed on.
Three Democratic committee chairs introduced their own war powers measure on Monday — a signal that leadership supports reining in Trump as well.
And on Tuesday, Democratic leaders attempted a procedural maneuver on the House floor aimed at objecting to the postponed briefing.
Reality check: With Republicans in control of both chambers and standing firmly behind Trump in his actions against Iran, any congressional move to rein in the president is highly unlikely.
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