0:00
Draft war powers are circulating in Washington that would let President Donald Trump use force
0:05
against drug cartels he labels terrorists and against countries he says harbor or aid them
0:12
The White House says sharing the draft for comment is routine, not an endorsement
0:17
This follows two U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean that killed 14 people
0:21
accused of drug smuggling. Trump says his commander-in-chief powers cover those attacks
0:27
Legal experts and some lawmakers say they were unauthorized and unlawful. Typically, drug smuggling at sea is handled through interdiction and arrest, not lethal force
0:38
On Capitol Hill, Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Kaine filed a resolution to halt unauthorized hostilities and reassert Congress's role, arguing drug trafficking isn't an armed attack
0:50
Legal experts note Congress can authorize force against non-state actors. Critics call it a blank check for open-ended conflict
0:58
The authority would run five years, has no geographic limits, and doesn't define terrorist tactics
1:05
To stay up to date with the latest unbiased straight fact reporting, download the Shader News app today
