Republicans reverse course on war powers vote and give Trump unchecked authority in Venezuela [View all]

Republicans reverse course on war powers vote and give Trump unchecked authority in Venezuela

Two Republicans flipped their votes after intense pressure from Trump.

https://www.ms.now/news/republicans-reverse-war-powers-vote-trump-unchecked-authority-venezuela

Jan. 14, 2026, 6:36 PM EST
By
Mychael Schnell
When five Senate Republicans voted with Democrats last week to advance a resolution to restrict President Donald Trump’s military authority in Venezuela, it looked like a significant rebuke of the administration.

Now, a week later — after two Republicans flipped their votes following intense lobbying from Trump and the White House — it looks like the latest example of GOP lawmakers bowing to the president.

On Wednesday, Senate Republicans approved a procedural gambit to block the Venezuela war powers resolution from getting a final vote, stopping the bipartisan effort dead in its tracks after it appeared headed for success.

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The turn-of-events came to fruition after Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana — two of the GOP senators who voted to advance the measure last week — sided with Republicans on a point of order to rule the war powers resolution ineligible for a fast-track vote.