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Toronto Sun
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
McCAUGHEY: Hypocrites suddenly claim 'constitutional scruples' about war-making
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders speaks during a stop in the Fighting the Oligarchy tour at the McAllen Performing Arts Center on Friday, June, 20, 2025, in McAllen, Texas. Photo by Joel Martinez / The Monitor via AP Even Americans who loathe President Donald Trump should be capable of seeing that the U.S. and the world are safer without a nuclear-capable Iran. But Trump derangement is blinding them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Trump and the U.S. military recently executed a 'spectacularly successful' precision bombing of Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities with no American casualties and minimal impact on Iran's people. Now, Trump is being bombarded with attacks here at home. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called Trump's strike 'grossly unconstitutional,' a claim repeated by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has sparred with Trump on other issues, and Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.). New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a chorus of Democrats are calling for Trump's impeachment. Even New York City's Democratic mayoral candidates — for whom Trump hatred is a litmus test — are piling on. Zohran Mamdani blasted Trump's 'unconstitutional military action' and Brad Lander slammed the president's 'reckless & unconstitutional strikes.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. These claims are crazy. Prior presidents, including Democrats Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, struck foreign targets without consulting Congress first and even waged hostilities for months at a time without authorization from Congress. No one called for their impeachment. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who defended Obama's military operations in Libya without congressional authorization when she was House minority leader, slammed Trump, saying he 'ignored the Constitution.' Call her the queen of hypocrisy. As for 'ignoring the Constitution,' that's simply false. Article II states 'The President shall be Commander in Chief.' Trump clearly acted within his Article II powers. True, Article I gives Congress power to declare war, but war hasn't been declared since the Second World War. Yet, the U.S. has waged at least 125 military operations since then. Declarations of war are an anachronism. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Constitution contains a built-in tension between the branches over when to deploy the military. Congress can exert its authority by refusing to fund ongoing military operations it opposes. Congress limited and finally cut off funding for combat in Vietnam, effectively ending the war in response to rising public discontent. Similarly, Congress used its power of the purse to curtail military operations in Angola, Nicaragua and Somalia in the 1970s, '80s and '90s. War weariness during the prolonged but undeclared Vietnam War led Congress to try to devise another method — the War Powers Resolution of 1973, designed to put guardrails around the president's conduct of military operations and guarantee Congress' involvement short of an actual declaration of war. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But the War Powers Resolution was controversial and ineffective from the minute it was enacted. Invoking it now, after 50 years of failure, is mere political theatre. Richard Nixon opposed what he called its 'dangerous and unconstitutional restrictions' on presidential authority and vetoed it, though Congress overrode his veto. Ronald Reagan also insisted that no mere act of Congress could legitimately narrow the military powers the Constitution grants presidents. Clinton waived off War Powers Resolution concerns, launching cruise missile attacks on Sudan and Afghanistan in 1998. The following year, he defied the resolution to continue bombing in Kosovo. No one talked of impeachment — at least not for that. He was impeached for lovemaking, not making war. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Fast-forward to Midnight Hammer, the code name for the strike obliterating Iran's nuclear facilities early on Sunday. House Speaker Mike Johnson, whom Trump briefed about the strike before it occurred, responded to the barrage of criticism, saying 'tonight's necessary, limited and targeted strike follows the history and tradition of similar military actions under presidents of both parties.' All true. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Massie, a frequent Trump critic, and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are pushing a new resolution that would bar any further action against Iran without Congressional approval. Now that the mission has succeeded, let the debate begin. But let's be clear about what the debate is about. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is slamming Trump's attack, insisting that 'no president should be allowed to unilaterally march this nation into something as consequential as war.' Schumer's comment distorts reality. Iran has been waging war against the U.S. for decades. Iran's leaders chant 'death to America.' Iranian proxies have attacked American oil tankers on the high seas, assassinated American troops at a U.S. military post in Jordan and plotted the assassination of Trump. All with impunity. Trump's strike against Iran's nuclear capabilities took the cudgel out of the ayatollah's hands. No matter how Iran responds, the threat will be less now that the bully has been de-nuked. Betsy McCaughey is a former Lt. Governor of New York State and founder of SAVENYC NHL Columnists Columnists Toronto Raptors Toronto Maple Leafs
Newsweek
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Texas Defunds Border Wall
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Texas lawmakers have decided to halt funding for new construction of the state's border wall. Why It Matters Only 65 miles of the planned 805 miles have been completed, with the project costing taxpayers more than $3 billion. The decision to stop funding new segments was made during the final hours of this year's legislative session. Texas Republicans appeared to end the funding without any public debate. A section of the border wall is pictured near La Grulla, Texas, on July 14, 2021. A section of the border wall is pictured near La Grulla, Texas, on July 14, 2021. Delcia Lopez/The Monitor via AP What To Know In President Donald Trump's first term, when wall construction was a key focus, his administration completed 21 miles of wall in Texas. In early June, lawmakers finalized the state budget, approving $3.4 billion for border security. Newsweek understands that no new wall projects will use state dollars. The majority of the funds will be allocated to the Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard, the agencies responsible for apprehending migrants as part of Governor Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star. State Senator Joan Huffman, the state's lead budget writer, told Newsweek: "The Trump administration's policies have drastically reduced the number of illegal border crossings. However, the State of Texas is still allocating billions of dollars in the upcoming biennium to ensure that the state's southern border remains secure." In May 2025, Border Patrol recorded 8,725 encounters with individuals crossing the southwest border between ports of entry. This represents a 93 percent decrease compared to May 2024, when there were 117,905 such encounters. The numbers remain at historically low levels, indicating increased border security and control, along with notable operational effectiveness. Andrew Mahaleris, a senior Abbott aide, told Newsweek the Trump administration's effort to secure the border has enabled the state to make adjustments to how it allocates its resources. "Because of these renewed federal assets in Texas, our state can now adjust aspects of state-funded border security efforts," Mahaleris told Newsweek. "Specialized units within the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Military Department will carry on their missions both at the border and throughout Texas." According to the Texas Tribune, approximately 65 miles of border wall have been constructed in segments, primarily in the areas around Brownsville and El Paso. The Texas Facilities Commission, the state agency overseeing wall construction, said in January that its goal is to complete at least 100 miles of wall by the end of 2026. With $3 billion previously allocated by the Legislature, only enough funding remains to complete 83 miles—just 18 miles more than the 65 miles already built. In March 2021, Governor Abbott launched Operation Lone Star, a joint effort between the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department aimed at curbing illegal immigration and strengthening border security with Mexico. The initiative has deployed thousands of Texas National Guard troops and law enforcement officers to the border and introduced physical deterrents, including razor wire fencing. In the Rio Grande, floating barriers equipped with saw-like metal plates have been installed to discourage crossings. The $11 billion program was the brainchild of Abbott, who has said he was left with no choice because of the Biden administration's border security policies. What People Are Saying Mahaleris told Newsweek: "Thanks to the Trump administration's border security efforts, total border security posture will remain at similar levels. Texas will continue to maintain a robust presence with our federal partners to arrest, jail, and deport illegal immigrants." Huffman told Newsweek: "Most of the state funds will support Operation Lone Star, including funding to support the personnel and technology needed along the border where interdictions often occur. Furthermore, appropriations available to the Facilities Commission in the current biennium will allow for continued work on the border wall through 2026 and will set the federal government up for success as they assume the project in future years. Texas will continue to work alongside the federal government to develop border security strategies that are focused on making our communities safer." What Happens Next The move could potentially lead to a spike in border crossings into Texas. Officials say maintaining a strong state presence will be key to preventing that outcome. As federal involvement increases, Texas plans to recalibrate its role while continuing to support enforcement and construction efforts along the border.
