Can Congress Stop Trump’s War?
From The Oath and The Office by Two Squared Media Productions
March 5, 2026 · 52 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the constitutional implications of Congress's power to control military actions, particularly in the context of potential conflict with Iran and the historical background of the War Powers Resolution.
As the prospect of a U.S. military clash with Iran returns to the headlines, Corey Brettschneider and John Fugelsang break down the constitutional stakes: who actually controls the power to start—and stop—a war? 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).
People in this episode
Hosts: Corey Brettschneider, John Fugelsang
Topics covered
- War Powers Resolution
- U.S. military conflict
- Congressional authority
- Separation of powers
- Political accountability
- Billionaire influence
- Citizen resistance
Keywords
- War Powers Resolution
- Congress
- Trump
- Iran
- military conflict
- Bill Clinton
- political accountability
- separation of powers
- billionaire influence
- citizen resistance
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Congress, Iran, Vietnam, SiriusXM
Books & works: The Presidents and The People
More episodes of The Oath and The Office
- Trump Melts Down as Congress Pushes Back · June 11, 2026 · 59 min
- Trump’s Bad Week Is Democracy’s Opening · June 4, 2026 · 57 min
- Trump’s Imperial Presidency: Bogus Charges and Foreign Wars · May 28, 2026 · 1h 1m
- The Secret Memos Behind the Supreme Court’s Shadow Docket (with Jodi Kantor) · May 21, 2026 · 1h 4m
- Can Trump Undo Our Citizenship Rights? (with ACLU’s Cecilia Wang) · May 14, 2026 · 1h 6m
- The Supreme Court’s Assault on Our Rights (with Kate Shaw) · May 7, 2026 · 1h 13m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Oath and The Office podcast page.