The US-Iran war: Congress's war powers votes and the fight over the war

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

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Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

25% left · 54% center · 21% right of 276 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 75 stories.

Every storyoldest first

1. February 2026

   Feb 28Congress to vote on Trump’s war powers in aftermath of Iran strikes5 articles · 5 independent sources

   1 left, 1 center, 2 right
2. Feb 28– Mar 2Congress set to debate war powers as Iran conflict is already unfolding27 articles · 12 independent sources

   0 left, 4 center, 3 right

3. March 2026

   Mar 2– 4Congress taking first votes on Iran war as debate rages about US goals14 articles · 13 independent sources

   2 left, 5 center, 1 right
4. Mar 2– 5Senate fails to advance Iran war powers resolution37 articles · 17 independent sources

   2 left, 3 center, 6 right
5. Mar 4Cracks Appear in Trump’s MAGA Base as Leading Figures Criticize the Iran War6 articles · 5 independent sources

   1 left, 2 center, 0 right
6. Mar 5– 6House rejects Iran war powers resolution41 articles · 24 independent sources

   4 left, 9 center, 1 right
7. Mar 5Senate Republicans vote down legislation to halt Iran war12 articles · 9 independent sources

   0 left, 4 center, 0 right
8. Mar 9– 12First 6 days of Iran war cost $11.3 billion, Pentagon tells Congress41 articles · 19 independent sources

   6 left, 6 center, 3 right
9. Mar 10Trump says Vance was 'philosophically' different on Iran while downplaying split7 articles · 7 independent sources

   1 left, 3 center, 2 right
10. Mar 15Two weeks into war with Iran, Trump has been knocked back on his political heels11 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
11. Mar 18– 19US national debt surges past $39 trillion just weeks into war in Iran7 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
12. Mar 19Pentagon Seeks $200 Billion in Additional Funds for the Iran War, Source Says33 articles · 29 independent sources

    3 left, 8 center, 9 right
13. Mar 19– 20Pete Hegseth’s Christian Rhetoric Draws Renewed Scrutiny After the US Goes to War With Iran11 articles · 10 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 2 right
14. Mar 21– 22Congress looks for Trump’s exit plan as the Iran war drags on7 articles · 7 independent sources

    0 left, 4 center, 0 right
15. Mar 25– 26Poll: Most say U.S. military action in Iran has gone too far14 articles · 11 independent sources

    0 left, 5 center, 2 right

16. April 2026

    Apr 1Rubio’s and Vance’s differing postures on Iran war highlight their challenges ahead of 2028 election7 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
17. Apr 9US Republicans block bid to rein in Trump Iran war powers6 articles · 5 independent sources

    3 left, 0 center, 0 right
18. Apr 15Senate Republicans again block Democratic effort to end Trump's Iran war15 articles · 15 independent sources

    3 left, 4 center, 3 right
19. Apr 16House Rejects Effort to Withdraw US Forces From the Iran War as Republicans Stick With Trump12 articles · 11 independent sources

    2 left, 3 center, 2 right
20. Apr 29– 30Congress questions Hegseth on Iran war30 articles · 18 independent sources

    2 left, 8 center, 5 right
21. Apr 29– 30Pentagon: Iran war has cost US estimated $25B so far36 articles · 25 independent sources

    8 left, 8 center, 5 right
22. Apr 30– May 1White House says Iran war 'terminated,' as war powers deadline arrives27 articles · 17 independent sources

    6 left, 5 center, 4 right

23. May 2026

    May 1New Poll Shows Iran War Reaching Iraq And Vietnam-Era Disapproval5 articles · 5 independent sources

    3 left, 1 center, 0 right
24. May 11– 13Iran latest: Pentagon new estimates put Iran war cost at $29 billion28 articles · 17 independent sources

    4 left, 6 center, 5 right
25. May 12Hegseth defends $1.5 trillion budget request as cost of Iran war climbs to $29 billion8 articles · 6 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
26. May 12Hegseth is facing a new round of questioning from Congress on the Iran war and more13 articles · 10 independent sources

    0 left, 5 center, 2 right
27. May 19– 20Senate advances bill aimed at ending Iran war as Cassidy, after primary loss, flips to support it27 articles · 19 independent sources

    5 left, 4 center, 3 right
28. May 21– 22Iran latest: Republicans call off vote on War Powers Resolution, still no deal between US and Iran26 articles · 16 independent sources

    4 left, 4 center, 2 right
29. May 27U.S. will need years to replenish advanced weapons stockpile due to Iran war15 articles · 11 independent sources

    1 left, 5 center, 1 right

30. June 2026

    Jun 3– 4House passes war powers resolution directing Trump to end hostilities with Iran34 articles · 25 independent sources

    6 left, 6 center, 6 right
31. Jun 3– 4House approves war powers resolution to halt military action against Iran, in a rebuke of Trump18 articles · 16 independent sources

    1 left, 6 center, 2 right
32. Jun 8Trump rejects idea that Iran betrays his 'no new wars' campaign message9 articles · 8 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
33. Jun 16– 17Republicans in US Senate left in dark by Trump on Iran deal, but want details and a vote13 articles · 1 independent sources

    2 left, 0 center, 0 right
34. Jun 19What Americans think about Trump's handling of Iran, according to a new AP-NORC poll5 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
35. Jun 23– 24Senate rebukes Trump by approving House-passed measure calling for end to Iran war18 articles · 13 independent sources

    3 left, 3 center, 2 right
36. Jun 23US military seeks another $80B to cover costs of Iran conflict22 articles · 10 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 2 right
37. Jun 23Senate for first time approves a war powers resolution in a rebuke to Trump over Iran conflict16 articles · 12 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 3 right
38. Jun 23– 25Senate Republicans reject Iran war powers resolution after clashing with Trump at Capitol meeting32 articles · 24 independent sources

    2 left, 9 center, 4 right
39. Jun 24– 25Trump wants $87.6 billion to pay for his war in Iran, aid to farmers and more21 articles · 4 independent sources

    3 left, 1 center, 0 right
40. Jun 25– 26Senate Republicans reverse Iran war powers vote after Trump berates them at Capitol meeting9 articles · 5 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 3 right

41. July 2026

    Jul 13– 14Trump has officially notified Congress of a “new war” against Iran13 articles · 12 independent sources

    2 left, 4 center, 4 right
42. Jul 13– 14US military death toll in Iran war rises to 14 after Navy pilot death this month10 articles · 10 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
43. Jul 15– 17House Republicans’ $95 billion Iran war package clears first hurdle90 articles · 34 independent sources

    1 left, 9 center, 2 right
44. Jul 19– 21The Faces of U.S. Service Members Killed in Iran War13 articles · 12 independent sources

    1 left, 4 center, 1 right
45. Jul 21– 23Hegseth estimates Iran war has cost $37.5 billion as he defends funding request at fiery hearing170 articles · 71 independent sources

    14 left, 24 center, 10 right
46. Jul 21– 23Support for Iran war among MAGA Trump voters plummets: Poll10 articles · 9 independent sources

    2 left, 2 center, 5 right
47. Jul 21– 22‘Urgent requirements’ for US military funding cited by GOP as Hegseth estimates war cost16 articles · 1 independent sources

    2 left, 0 center, 0 right
48. Jul 22– 25House GOP Approves $95 Billion Iran War Funding Plan104 articles · 39 independent sources

    2 left, 7 center, 4 right
49. Jul 23– 24House again passes resolution seeking to halt military action in Iran as some Republicans defect146 articles · 64 independent sources

    10 left, 14 center, 8 right
50. Jul 23– 28Pentagon's official Iran war death toll no longer lists 4 troops killed during renewed fighting46 articles · 32 independent sources

    3 left, 5 center, 3 right
51. Jul 27– 30Recent fighting with Iran using up US stockpiles25 articles · 25 independent sources

    3 left, 5 center, 3 right
52. Jul 30– 31How views on Trump’s handling of Iran have shifted, according to a new AP-NORC poll26 articles · 23 independent sources

    6 left, 2 center, 3 right
53. Jul 30– 31Iran war powers resolution blocked in Senate as conflict heats up31 articles · 9 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 2 right

54. August 2026

    Aug 4– 6US has used ‘virtually all’ of its long-range precision missiles during Iran war, sources say31 articles · 25 independent sources

    8 left, 7 center, 8 right
55. Aug 4– 7Iran Is Playing for Time as Midterms Loom for Trump9 articles · 8 independent sources

    2 left, 2 center, 3 right
56. Aug 5– 6Poll: As Iran war drags on, Americans brace for more chaos14 articles · 6 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 2 right
57. Aug 6– 7Trump defends Hegseth after reported clash over munitions at Camp David16 articles · 13 independent sources

    3 left, 3 center, 5 right
58. Aug 6– 7Trump grows angry over reports on depleted munitions — believing it weakens him in Iran negotiations22 articles · 20 independent sources

    1 left, 5 center, 5 right
59. Aug 19– 22Pentagon says more than 750 US service members wounded in Iran war24 articles · 15 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
60. Aug 31– Sep 3Trump under pressure to contain Iran fighting as midterms near16 articles · 9 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 2 right

61. September 2026

    Sep 2Trump says midterm elections won’t impact timeline for war with Iran1 articles · 1 independent sources

    0 left, 0 center, 1 right
62. Sep 3Trump denies U.S. ammunition shortage, rages against ‘treasonous SCUM’ on social media7 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 2 right
63. Sep 3– 4Vice President JD Vance says Iran fight isn't a 'war' as Trump tries to navigate unpopular conflict as election nears55 articles · 38 independent sources

    9 left, 7 center, 4 right
64. Sep 4– 7Trump calls Iran conflict "small potatoes"43 articles · 34 independent sources

    6 left, 7 center, 3 right
65. Sep 10– 12Now Trump says he thinks Iran war will end ‘very soon,’ likely after midterms10 articles · 9 independent sources

    3 left, 1 center, 5 right
66. Sep 14– 16US Watchdog Tallies Iran War's Hit to Weapons Stockpiles, Military Bases and More24 articles · 20 independent sources

    3 left, 8 center, 2 right
67. Sep 15– 20The cost of the Iran war swells to $43.6 billion75 articles · 60 independent sources

    14 left, 15 center, 11 right
68. Sep 16– 17House votes for a third time to end the Iran war as conflict drags on52 articles · 38 independent sources

    5 left, 11 center, 6 right
69. Sep 18– 20US troop deaths in Iran war exceed Pentagon count by at least four, Washington Post reports11 articles · 10 independent sources

    4 left, 2 center, 1 right
70. Sep 22Republican support for Trump’s handling of war in Iran shows cracks in new CNN poll11 articles · 11 independent sources

    1 left, 1 center, 0 right
71. Sep 22– 24Why a Growing Number of Republicans Are Breaking With Trump on Iran15 articles · 14 independent sources

    4 left, 4 center, 4 right
72. Sep 24– 26Senate rejects resolution to halt the Iran war as gas prices upend midterms44 articles · 40 independent sources

    11 left, 10 center, 5 right
73. Sep 24Lisa Demuth breaks from Trump saying Iran War should end11 articles · 11 independent sources

    1 left, 0 center, 1 right
74. Sep 25Iran's president tells Fox anchor the war was 'imposed on us'11 articles · 5 independent sources

    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
75. Sep 27– 28Some Republicans issue a new call on Trump’s war with Iran: End it now5 articles · 5 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 0 right