"If It’s War, Where’s Congress?"

Trump’s strike did the job and erased Iran’s nuclear program. But now, Congress must reclaim its constitutional role before we drift into another endless war without direction or debate.

President Trump just addressed the nation and told us something extraordinary; that Iran’s nuclear program has been “completely, totally obliterated.” Three key nuclear sites; Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, were hit in a swift, coordinated joint strike with Israel. B-2 bombers dropped bunker busters. Cruise missiles launched from subs. The mountain hideaways that once kept Iran’s nuclear ambitions secure? Gone. At least, according to the president’s statement and initial reports.

Let’s be clear: preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons has been a cornerstone of American foreign policy for decades. Reagan, Clinton, Bush, Obama, and yes, even Trump; all of them agreed on one thing: a nuclear-armed Iran is unacceptable. So when the U.S. takes action to eliminate that threat, it falls well within the historic consensus.

I agree with what Congressman Adam Kinzinger said; this was the right thing for Trump to do. The United States and Israel have worked in tandem, and the mission, at least from a tactical military standpoint, appears to have been successful. Trump called it “the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades.” And you know what? He might not be wrong.

But here's the thing: if this mission truly obliterated Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, then we are not in an active war; we are in a moment of strategic pause. That makes this the exact moment to step back, take a breath, and let the other half of our democratic system weigh in: I’m talking about Congress.

This cannot be the first step in a wider war without the full, transparent participation of the legislative branch. Trump has said there’s nothing left of Iran’s nuclear program. Then let’s act like it. The existential threat, as described, has been neutralized; meaning there’s no ticking clock demanding endless military escalation.

So what now?

Now, Congress must step up; and not in a performative, soundbite-driven way. It must engage in real, bipartisan deliberation. Republicans and Democrats alike need to sit in the same room and hash out what happens next. This is not a time for grandstanding or weaponizing war powers for political clout. It’s a time for honest, intelligent debate about our next steps in a volatile region.

Trump didn’t consult Congress before the strike. That much is clear. And while some argue he was within his War Powers authority for a targeted strike to eliminate an immediate threat, that window closes now. There’s no longer a “clear and present danger” if what the president says is true. So future actions; military or otherwise, require congressional involvement. Period.

Speaker Mike Johnson tried to argue that Congress didn’t need to vote on this because the threat was imminent. But if that’s the case, and the threat has now been erased, then what excuse could there possibly be not to involve Congress going forward?

Even lawmakers who support the mission; and there are many, are now demanding a seat at the table. Senator Tim Kaine, a longtime advocate for war powers reform, has called for a vote this week. Not to undermine Trump’s strike, but to clarify what happens next. That’s exactly what we need.

Look, I’m not here to play partisan games. I’ve been around Trump. I’ve seen how decisions are made; impulsively, instinctively, and often with a gut feeling that somehow turns out to be right and wrong at the same time. But in this case, the operation seems to have achieved its objective. Trump achieved the goal. But, let’s not confuse tactical success with strategic clarity. That’s what Congress is for.

It’s time to have the hard conversations:

• What are the risks of retaliation from Iran or its proxies?

• How do we ensure the safety of the 40,000 U.S. troops now under heightened threat in the region?

• What’s the diplomatic off-ramp, and who’s taking the lead on it?

• And yes, what is our long-term policy toward both Iran and the Middle East?

These are decisions no one person; not even a president, should make alone. Especially not when lives, stability, and global security hang in the balance.

This is where the system is supposed to work. Trump’s administration, for better or worse, made a call and executed a military action to eliminate what it called a grave threat. But now? Now is the time to return to the balance of powers that defines our democracy. Congress must assert its authority. Not as a check on the president, but as a partner in protecting the nation.

We cannot afford for this to spiral into another endless, costly Middle Eastern war. And we don’t need it to. If what Trump says is true; that Iran’s nuclear program is gone, then we are not staring down the barrel of war. We’re standing at a crossroads. And the road we take next must be paved by consensus, not by command.

So let’s have the debate. Let’s open the floor. Let’s get the classified briefings, the military assessments, the intelligence reports; and let’s make decisions that honor our Constitution, protect our service members, and keep American interests at the forefront.

This moment doesn’t have to be a prelude to war. It doesn’t have to be used by Democrats as a war cry against Trump.

It can be the start of the hard, necessary work of peace.

But only if we all show up; and that includes all members of Congress doing their job.

PLEASE… THIS IS A CRITICAL PERSONAL APPEAL!
JOIN ME. STAND WITH THIS COMMUNITY. WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE.

If you’re reading this, you’re already part of the resistance. You believe in truth. In justice. In dragging the roaches of corruption into the light. But let me be brutally honest: I can’t do this without you.

This isn't just another newsletter; it's a war cry. A movement. A battering ram aimed at the liars, the grifters, and the authoritarian wannabes hijacking our democracy. And we need to grow this platform into a voice so loud, so relentless, that they can’t spin it, silence it, or shut it down.

I’m calling on you; not passively asking, but urgently demanding, to fuel this fight. We are the last line of defense between democracy and dictatorship.

And yes; as a small token of my appreciation, the first 240 Founding Members will receive a signed, numbered, limited Substack edition of my New York Times bestseller, Revenge: How Donald Trump Weaponized the U.S. Department of Justice Against His Critics. It’s not just a collector’s item. It’s a declaration of where you stood when history came calling.

But this isn’t about a book.
This is about defiance.
About refusing to be gaslit.
About locking arms and shouting back at the madness.

Here’s how you can raise your voice:

1. Become a supporter today.

2. Forward this post to people who won’t sit on the sidelines.

3. Bring your crew. Grow this community. Be the megaphone.

You want to make a difference? This is your moment.
Rise up. Speak out. Show up.
Because if we don’t fight for truth; no one will.
And if we do it together? They’ll never drown us out.

Let’s be impossible to ignore.
Let’s be un-fucking-breakable.
Join now. Share widely. Let’s go.