Washington, June 21 EST: At a moment when Israeli airstrikes are pounding Iranian infrastructure and the region teeters on the edge of a larger war, Democrats in Washington are staring into the fog of escalation—and seeing themselves divided. The issue isn’t just whether the U.S. should get involved militarily. It’s about who gets to decide, and whether the party has learned anything since the last time it let a president lead them into war.
Old Wars, New Lines
For progressives, the answer is clear—and comes wrapped in constitutional rhetoric and bitter memory. Bernie Sanders, joined by fellow anti-interventionists like Ro Khanna, is trying to slam the brakes before Donald Trump even puts the car in gear. They’ve introduced legislation to prevent Trump from striking Iran without Congressional approval and are invoking the War Powers Resolution with the urgency of people who’ve seen this movie before.
But this isn’t just about process. It’s about trust—or the lack of it. Trump, who made a political identity out of criticizing the Iraq War and vowing to end “stupid wars,” is now reportedly considering a U.S. military response if Iran escalates further. For Sanders and company, it’s a bait-and-switch, and they’re calling it out.
“The Constitution is crystal clear,” Sanders said this week. “No offensive use of military force without Congressional approval.” He’s said versions of that line before—but this time, it’s more than boilerplate. It’s a political warning, aimed at a president who’s already shown he doesn’t care much for institutional restraint.
The Leadership Muddle
If progressives are speaking in high contrast, Democratic leadership is painting in grayscale.
Chuck Schumer and his cohort are threading a needle: backing Israel’s right to self-defense, signaling concern about Iranian aggression, but steering clear of endorsing actual U.S. military involvement. It’s a line they’ve walked before—but this time, it’s wobblier.
Part of that is internal polling. According to numbers circulated within the party, nearly half of Democrats now believe the U.S. is too aligned with Israel, a dramatic shift that reflects changing generational attitudes, rising concern over Gaza, and fatigue with what many perceive as unconditional American backing.
There’s also an electoral angle. The 2026 midterms are already on radar. For vulnerable Democrats, especially in swing states or heavily Jewish districts, the Israel-Iran conflict is a live wire. Too much support for intervention could cost them with younger, anti-war voters. Too little, and they risk alienating moderates or appearing weak on national security.
The Kaine Doctrine
Enter Senator Tim Kaine, who’s spent the better part of the last decade trying to wrest war-making power back from the presidency. Kaine has revived his War Powers Resolution—this time with more bipartisan traction than usual—and aims to codify what many thought was already obvious: Congress gets to decide when America goes to war.
But history is not on his side. Presidents of both parties have routinely stretched, ignored, or outright defied the War Powers Act. Trump, with his preference for unilateral action and disdain for legislative process, is unlikely to be the one who voluntarily colors inside the lines.
That’s why Kaine’s effort matters—not because it will stop Trump outright, but because it’s a line in the sand. If Trump crosses it, Congress will have to decide whether its constitutional authority is real or ceremonial.
The Real Fight
What’s unfolding in Washington isn’t just a debate about Iran. It’s a proxy fight over what kind of party Democrats want to be when it comes to American power abroad. Are they the party of restraint, of post-Iraq humility, of Sanders and Khanna? Or are they the party that still believes American military support—selective, strategic, but forceful—is a tool worth keeping in the bag?
It’s a question that will echo well beyond this crisis. The 2028 Democratic primary season, already in a low boil, will almost certainly feature this divide. And how Democrats respond to this moment—whether they empower Trump, restrain him, or stand paralyzed—will shape that conversation.
So far, the only certainty is that the party is split. And while progressives yell “not again,” and moderates hedge their bets, the missiles continue to fly—not yet American, but perhaps not for long.
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A political science PhD who jumped the academic ship to cover real-time governance, Olivia is the East Coast's sharpest watchdog. She dissects power plays in Trenton and D.C. without bias or apology.
