In CD340: No More Iran War, Congress finally pushes back against President Trump’s unauthorized war with Iran as Republicans join Democrats to pass War Powers resolutions rejecting the conflict. Jen breaks down those historic votes, the few laws Congress passed in May, and the Trump administration officials confirmed to powerful positions overseeing public lands, environmental policy, prosecutions, and the courts.
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Background Sources
Iran War Votes
H. Con. Res. 86 – House Roll Call Vote. June 3, 2026.
S.J.Res. 185 – Senate Roll Call Vote. May 19, 2026.
H. Con. Res. 75 – House Roll Call Vote. May 14, 2026.
S.J.Res. 163 – Senate Roll Call Vote. May 13, 2026.
“Jared Golden: Summary.” OpenSecrets.
New Laws
H.R.3497 – Medal of Sacrifice Act
H.R.972 – Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act
H.R.2066 – Investing in All of America Act of 2025
H.R.2815 – Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025
S.723 – Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025
S.98 – Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025
- “FCC rejects applications of LTD broadband and Starlink for rural digital opportunity fund subsidies.” August 10, 2022. Federal Communications Commission.
Confirmations
En Bloc Confirmation – Senate Roll Call Vote. May 18, 2026.
Kevin Warsh
“Trump is demanding rate cuts. Kevin Warsh’s first challenge may be saying no.” Victoria Guida. June 17, 2026. Politico.
“Fed Holds Rates and Leans Toward Fighting Inflation With Future Increases.” Colby Smith. June 17, 2026. The New York Times.
Senate Roll Call Vote. May 12, 2026.
“Inside the Trump Administration’s Unprecedented Pressure Campaign on the Fed.” Patrice Taddonio. May 12, 2026. Frontline.
“US justice department drops probe into Fed chairman Jerome Powell.” Jemma Crew. April 24, 2026. BBC.
“From Epstein to sock puppets: Key takeaways from Kevin Warsh’s Fed confirmation hearing.” Archie Mitchell. April 21, 2026. BBC.
“Fed Chair nominee Kevin Warsh is worth well over $100 million, new financial disclosure forms show.” April 14, 2026. CBS News.
Steve Pearce
“Trump’s BLM nominee waffles on public land sell-off stance.” Roque Planas and Chris D’Angelo. February 25, 2026. High Country News.
“He Once Pushed to Divest Federal Lands. Now He’s Trump’s BLM Nominee.” Jimmy Tobias. November 13, 2025. Public Domain on Substack.
Wesley Brooks
Letter from Center for Biological Diversity et al. to James E. Risch and Jeanne Shaheen. March 10, 2026. Center for Biological Diversity.
Darin Smith
“Senate Confirms Darin Smith As US Attorney Days After ‘Flagrant’ Misconduct Finding.” Clair McFarland. May 18, 2026. Cowboy State Daily.
“Judges toss charges against 9 over US Attorney Darin Smith’s ‘deeply concerning’ misconduct.” May 15, 2026. Angus M. Thuermer Jr. WyoFile.
“‘An unqualified insurrectionist’: outcry over Trump nominee in Wyoming.” February 7, 2026. The Guardian.
Sheria Akins Clarke
Sheria Akins Clarke – Senate Roll Call Vote. May 19, 2026.
Evan Rikhye
Evan Rikhye – Senate Roll Call Vote. May 20, 2026.
Audio Sources
House Floor
May 21, 2026
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA):
Mr. Speaker, can you explain to the Members of the Chamber what is happening with the Iran War Powers Resolution that was scheduled to be voted on this evening?
Speaker pro tempore:
Does the gentleman have a parliamentary inquiry?
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA):
Yes. That is my parliamentary inquiry. I just want to know what has happened with the Iran War Powers Resolution.
Speaker pro tempore:
The gentleman may consult with his leadership regarding the scheduling.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA):
Mr. Speaker, further parliamentary inquiry.
Speaker pro tempore:
The gentleman will state his parliamentary inquiry.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA):
Are we not voting on it because the American people are sick and tired of this illegal war that is costing tens of billions of dollars, gas prices are through the roof, and people can’t afford their groceries? Is that why you are pulling it? You guys don’t have the guts or the balls to vote on this.
Speaker pro tempore:
The Chair is prepared to move on to the next question.
Nominations
Senate Committee on the Judiciary
March 25, 2026
Witnesses:
- Sheria Akins Clarke, United States District Judge for the
District of South Carolina - Evan Rikhye, Judge for the District Court of the Virgin
Islands
Clips
1:10:25 Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT):
Ms. Clark, who won the 2020 election?
Sheria Akins Clarke:
Senator, under our Constitution, the mechanism for electing a
president…
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT):
I am amazed. I am just amazed by the insult to this committee of witness after witness seeking to be a federal judge subverting our constitution and showing how you have no
independence, which is essential to a federal judge. Ms. Lane, who won the 2020 election?
Kathleen S. Lane:
Senator, the Constitution outlines the process, and as a judicial nominee, I’m here to talk about what the Constitution requires, which is an electoral vote and certification by Congress.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT):
And in 2020 who won the election?
Kathleen S. Lane:
In 2020 President Biden was…
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT):
Mr. Rikhye, who won the 2020 election?
Evan Rikhye:
Senator, as my colleagues have stated, the process we have in our under the Constitution is a vote by the electoral college followed by certification…
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT):
Was the capital attacked, Mr. Rikhye, on January 6?
Evan Rikhye:
There was violence that occurred here on January 6, Senator.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT):
Was the capital attacked?
Evan Rikhye:
I would just say, Senator, there was violence that occurred here on that date.
Nomination Hearing
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
February 12, 2026
Witness:
- Wesley Brooks, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Clips
43:40 Wesley Brooks:
If confirmed, I commit to you to drive OES diplomacy on the administration’s priorities, including access to rare earths and critical minerals, OES leadership and deep seabed mining and the recycling and recovery pillar of the administration’s bilateral critical mineral frameworks, support the Department’s broader Pax Silica initiative, and directly benefits US supply chain security and resilience.
44:55 Wesley Brooks:
OES must also defend against global regulatory approaches that stifle innovation and disadvantage US companies.
1:04:45 Wesley Brooks:
So you have a group of countries on the one hand that are looking to establish a global regulatory framework that would seek to ban certain products or certain additives or place caps on the amount of plastics or certain additives in products. We think this is a really bad approach. The United States manufacturing industry, 26% of it is plastics, and so we, as you all know, and many of you have been forceful champions for advanced manufacturing and rebuilding America’s manufacturing base, we need to hold on to as much of that industry as possible, and America has shown that we can manage plastic waste well, and we can encourage that management style in other places and raise standards where they’re currently lacking.
Music
Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito
