The Trump Administration’s strong rhetoric following this week’s attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman is just another example of their maximum pressure campaign on Iran. Because of this, there are conversations in Congress about how the president’s office is utilizing war powers - the power to declare, and to sell weapons to other countries. What loopholes have Trump’s team been taking advantage of? And how have been lawmakers responded? Phil and Cooper discuss the laws in question and get some key reports from Al-Monitor’s congressional correspondent Bryant Harris.

• Democrats want to tie Trump’s hands on Iran. Here are their options. (Bryant Harris)
• Democrats move to defund Yemen war after veto defeat (Bryant Harris)
• Democrats fret over Iran escalation risk (Bryant Harris)
• Republicans rebuke Trump over Gulf arms sales (Bryant Harris)
• Sen. Van Hollen challenges Trump's bypass of Congress on Saudi Arabia, Iran
• Congress opens several new fronts in bid to block Gulf arms sales
• US blames Iran for Gulf tanker attack (Jack Detsch)

 

Extra Listening:

• Episode #8, A Hollow Orb for the King (5/31/2017): The US and Saudi Arabia sign a prospective arms deal totaling $350 billion over ten years.
• Episode #75, Crown Control (10/31/2018): A conversation with Al-Monitor columnist Bruce Riedel about the Saudi Crown Prince and his controversial policy decisions.
• Episode #77, Backing Out (11/14/2018): Phil and Cooper talk with Pentagon correspondent Jack Detsch about American military support for the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen.
  
  

Music: Mashrou’ Leila - “Cavalry” (Spotify | Apple Music)