Congress has been a hive of activity this Spring. Washington hosted a new bout of GOP infighting, a monarch’s visit to his forefathers’ colonies, and yet another lunatic attempting to forge his political vision by bullet. The war in Iran rages on, MAHA is slipping out of relevance, and Republicans are beginning to feel the squeeze of a grumpy voting base as midterms loom.
Let’s Get This Strait: The phone lines between Washington and Tehran have been humming this April. In the beginning of the month, a U.S. fighter jet was shot down over Iran. Both pilots were extracted in a daring rescue mission deep in Iranian territory. Shortly after, the warring countries entered a ceasefire and are still trying to come to terms. However, that hasn’t stopped either party from twisting the knife. Tehran has kept a tight hold on the straits of Hormuz, while Washington has Iran captive to a naval blockade. Both countries are feeling the economic squeeze, although Iran does look worse for wear.
Meanwhile, Congress is edging closer to a decision deadline. Nearly 60 days have passed since the war began, and that means lawmakers have to act. The War Powers Act permits the president to deploy troops for 60 days without congressional approval. The Senate has already voted against several resolutions that would require congressional approval for continued war efforts in the Middle East. With midterms approaching and an increasingly disgruntled base, many Republicans are conflicted about whether Trump’s war powers ought to be restricted by Congress.
Deadbeat DHS: Meanwhile on the home front, the DHS is still partially unfunded. The clock is ticking. Trump’s executive order to pay TSA agents has nearly run its course, and thousands of DHS employees face the possibility of losing yet another paycheck.
The Senate passed a bill to fund the DHS in early April, but House Republicans have signaled that they are not pleased. The bill does not include funding for ICE and Border Patrol. There is talk of a separate appropriations bill that would address this gap, and House Judiciary Chair, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), acknowledged that Republicans may just have to go this route. One of the major concerns, however, is that excluding ICE and Border Patrol may just become precedent. As Rep. Jordan explained, there could come a time when Democrats simply refuse to fund immigration enforcement in the DHS.
MAHA … Meh: Bobby Kennedy’s MAHA movement has faced a rough couple of months. In February, Donald Trump signed an executive order ensuring a national supply of glyphosate and phosphorus for American agriculture. Now, the Farm Bill in Congress has sparked infighting over a provision that would protect pesticide companies from liability. While some GOP lawmakers see this bill as an opportunity to court rural voters, others see this as a betrayal of the health-conscious base. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has promised to “blow up” the bill if these allowances are not removed. It’s not clear whether she will be successful, but the legislation does alienate an already uneasy section of MAGA. Democrats may pounce on the opportunity to court MAHA votes in the upcoming midterms.
I Spy: The notoriousSection 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is set to expire on April 30th. Through it, government agencies have been spying on American citizens without notification or warrant. The FBI recently admitted to digging into upwards of 7,000 Americans’ private communications.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has called 702 a “key anti-terrorism tool,” is having a rough go of it. The White House wants to see it live on without reform, but Johnson’s attempts to pass a clean FISA, which would allow for agencies to continue their snooping, have been met with rowdy rebukes from a strange coalition of Republicans and Democrats.
The New Normal: President Trump faced yet another attempt on his life at the White House Correspondents Dinner on April 25th. The suspected shooter, Cole Thomas Allen, has been charged with an assassination attempt. House Leader Mike Johnson marveled at Trump’s calm demeanor and, like many other Republicans, noted what appeared to be lax security at the event. Senator Josh Hawley (MO) called for a hearing “to assess the adequacy of presidential security arrangements and resources in the current threat environment.” The shooting is just another reminder of how unstable the social and political fabric of our country is at the moment.
Long Live the King: Nearly 250 years after his predecessor was shown the door, King Charles addressed Congress. He emphasized the historic ties between the United States and Great Britain, highlighting our shared roots in Magna Carta which, as he put it, is “the foundation of the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances.” He received a standing ovation after his strong statement on Christianity: “The Christian faith is a firm anchor and daily inspiration that guides us not only personally, but together as members of our community.” His visit concluded on April 30th.
Applying Phyllis’s Philosophy Today
While Democrats and Republicans spar over DHS funding and the immigration debate, we can turn to Phyllis for a sane take on the matter. Unprecedented numbers of the Global South are waltzing over the American border, while leftist politicians advocate for them in the halls of government. Phyllis understood the consequences of reckless demographic transformation and consistently expressed this in her writings. She admonished our government to properly address the issue: “We should immediately close our borders to all illegal aliens and deport those who are inside the United States, including the millions who are illegally in this country on expired visas. It is a default of duty that our government hasn’t made this a regular practice.” Her prudence can serve as a guide as we continue to carve out America’s future.
Veronica Lademan is the congressional policy analyst for Eagle Forum Education & Legal.
