Politics and views in the United States

Congressional lawmakers want a more realistic approach to reining in President Trump’s power to wage the Iran War. Administration officials champion a new approach to containing its nuclear program and more Democrats tease their 2028 presidential ambitions.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

With regard to the 25th Amendment, I have little faith that Donald Trump's cronies on his cabinet are going to get on board with removing this president from office.

Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin wants realistic options to limit President Donald Trump's power to wage war with Iran.

After Trump threatened to obliterate the country's civilian infrastructure, House members filed symbolic articles of impeachment and demanded the cabinet remove the president from office.

But four War Powers resolutions have failed on nearly party-line votes, although public opposition to the already unpopular war is likely to increase, along with high gas prices.

U.S.-Iran peace talks have stalled and both sides are now blockading the Strait of Hormuz.

Shipping data says more than 20 ships from various countries have crossed the strait since the U.S. blockade began.

The White House is now proposing a 20-year suspension of Iran's nuclear program.

Iran countered with an offer to suspend its nuclear program for five years, similar to a plan it put forward before the war.

Israeli and Lebanese officials met for the first time in three decades.

Attacks on Hezbollah, the Iranian-supported Shiite militia, continued in spite of a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire.

Congress is back in session after Easter recess.

It's been nearly two months since TSA, FEMA, and civilian Coast Guard employees were paid due to disagreements about reforms to immigration enforcement.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is continuing to blame Democrats.

Republicans have tried repeatedly, not only through the bipartisan appropriations process, to ensure the department and all the agencies and all the employees and all the functions are funded.

We've tried to do it that way.

Democrats have blocked it.

Senate GOP leaders are preparing for another budget using the reconciliation process.

While Thune wants this to be a, quote, anorexic-like skinny package, it's unclear if he can restrain his caucus from adding specific items.

Trump is demanding the bill be passed by June 1st, but is also pressing for inclusion of a strict national voter ID law.

While most of the country is focused on this year's midterms, some Democrats are teasing runs for president in 2028.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and California Governor Gavin Newsom are all laying the groundwork.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear might also be on the list, but says victory runs through governor's offices.

It's not about flipping the House seat in Des Moines, which we have to do.

It's about flipping the governor's mansion in Iowa, in Ohio, in Georgia, in Nevada.

It's about electing good people.

Some analysts say Democrats haven't had a clear guiding voice since Trump returned to office, but Michigan Democratic Representative Alyssa Slotkin says the party's no longer divided between progressives and moderates.

Rather, she says the divide is over fight or flight.

Are you here and do you believe that if we do not fight for the values of this country, it's going to go away?

Or do you believe that if we just wait, if we bide our time, you know, eventually what Trump does will piss people off and they will boomerang on him.

I'm Edwin J. Viera for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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