On Thursday, January 8, 2026, five Republican senators broke with their president on a matter of war and peace. The Senate voted 52-47 to advance a resolution that would block President Trump from conducting further military operations in Venezuela without approval from Congress first. Every Democrat voted yes. So did Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Todd Young of Indiana.
The vote came five days after more than 150 U.S. military aircraft descended on Venezuela in a predawn raid to capture President Nicolás Maduro.
What matters is what the vote reveals about the limits of presidential power. Even some in the GOP are asking: Can a president invade another country and tell Congress about it later?
It signals that they have spoken to the house and know it will not pass there.
All it signals is that when election time comes, they can tell their gullible electorate that they “stood up’” for what is right.
It signals nothing
