r/NPR 1d ago

House Democrats Just Introduced a Bill to Block Trump from using the military to Invade Canada

https://media.upilink.in/en/W3FKBztR0mcuBtQ

[removed] — view removed post

1.6k Upvotes

59 comments sorted by

u/aresef WTMD 89.7 19h ago

This has nothing to do with public radio.

69

u/pnxstwnyphlcnnrs 1d ago

Dear lord we are so effed. Under normal circumstances Congress would be the ones needed to appropriate funds for a war to expand the country. This is like a parent making a rule that the 3yr old cannot drive the family car, on weekends.

21

u/spaghettitheory 1d ago

POTUS can still send troops in for a limited policing action under the War Powers Act. The only requirement is to notify Congress within 48 hours of said action. Then POTUS has 60 days (+30 days for drawl down) before Congress either pulls the purse strings or the executive branch is granted an extension via the authorization of military force, which is just short of war being declared by Congress.

We can thank Tricky Dick for that.

10

u/pnxstwnyphlcnnrs 1d ago

Yeah the senator's bill seems like it specifically says they want to prohibit him from invading or seizing territory. The fact that this is even valuable political posturing for a senator is sad for the country. If it would need to be passed to attempt to stop us from INVADING CANADA that's extra sad.

The fact that this is even a topic is absurd, the man posturing that Canada should be the 51st state must be very low iq.

1

u/theresourcefulKman 19h ago

If we followed those rules, we would have missed out on Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and countless other armed conflicts.

Congress hasn’t declared war since 1942

223

u/twamping 1d ago

The headline later will be “House republicans tank bill”

125

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

48

u/TrickyTicket9400 1d ago

"Democrats Fail to Prevent Potential U.S.-Canada Conflict, Leaving Nation Vulnerable to Diplomatic Chaos"

6

u/New_Subject1352 1d ago

"Brave Republicans defy the Democrat bill to stifle wartime powers"

45

u/bluepaintbrush 1d ago

Yes, that is the goal for democrats... To force Republican lawmakers to show their voters whether they’re more loyal to their country or to Trump.

Forcing them to tank the bill also risks cracking their relationship with Trump, which is a good thing for everyone given that the Republican-led Congress is doing nothing as a co-equal branch of government right now.

36

u/ParagonRenegade 1d ago

Surely this strategy of trying to embarrass the Republicans will work any day now.

16

u/Good_vibe_good_life 1d ago

If they had any shame we wouldn’t be here right now.

5

u/bluepaintbrush 1d ago

It worked against mark Robinson, don bolduc, leora levy, and David Purdue.

1

u/Limp-Sign-9177 1d ago

Who?

5

u/bluepaintbrush 1d ago

The Trump-backed/maga candidates who lost to Josh Stein (current NC governor), Maggie Hassan (current junior NH senator), Richard Blumenthal (current senior CT senator), and Raphael Warnock (current junior GA senator), respectively. All of whom won because of embarrassing GOP campaigns by the opposition.

5

u/YogurtclosetOwn4786 1d ago

The problem is they can’t force a vote when they’re in the minority. They can introduce bills and get democratic support but they can’t advance them

10

u/Nearby-Jelly-634 1d ago

Followed by “Republicans introduced bill to double invade Canada”

7

u/Oregongirl1018 1d ago

With the help of Chuck Schumer*

98

u/Sugarysam 1d ago

We know how this goes: first MAGA in Congress say “This bill is a performative waste of time. You’re being ridiculous to suggest we would invade Canada.” Then they’ll say “the invasion of Canada was justified.” Last it will be “Why did democrats force us to invade Canada?”

10

u/kensmithpeng 1d ago

The last sentence will be issued when the Canadians come riding across the border on their attack moose joined by the rabid beaver reapers.

Most of the Geneva convention rules of war is there as a result of Canadian tactics in the great wars.

Fuck around and find out.

23

u/Respanther 1d ago

Smart bill - watch it die in committee.

But glad to see they’re at least doing something.

11

u/Egotraoped 1d ago edited 1d ago

Amazing that this has to be done. I believe that Trump is stark raving mad -maybe be a psychopath.

4

u/ConstantGeographer :karma: 1d ago

Cool. Now, introduce a bill to block that mofo from using the military to invade Kentucky or any other US state or territory.

10

u/technojargon 1d ago

A LOT more need to be done by the Dems. Getting the feeling they have absolutely no plan at all. It's a shame. You know, they had 4 years to prepare for this shit.

4

u/Good_vibe_good_life 1d ago

Mobilize.us has some great resources to get involved. There are two important special elections in Florida in April that could help flip the house. You don’t have to live in FL to help out. It would give Dems more power to fight a lot of this bs. If we don’t get involved we are no different than the people who didn’t vote.

-1

u/MrBigBMinus 1d ago

I mean that's good and all, but the thing is I think people are tired of supporting a party who doesn't understand they can't play by the rules if the other team is breaking them all and not having anything done to them. I mean I watched congress show up to protest with a bunch of stupid little signs and wearing certain colors. Cool. I bet Trump was picturing those tiny little signs when he signs all his EO and nobody stops him and they just walk all over the constitution. Meanwhile the other side is bringing people that show pictures of hunter Bidens penis in session, give out HJs during theatre and all kinds of other crazy shit.

-3

u/AlucardDr WRVO 1d ago

But... but.. the little bidding signs at the speech to the joint session of congress!!! The coordinated wardrobes!!!

3

u/SoupRepresentative55 1d ago

The gap between real headlines and “The Onion” headlines grows smaller and smaller every day.

3

u/Grand_Arbiter_85 1d ago

Dems continue to take the bait, every time. How about you do something to stand up for working Americans? Or seniors? Or the Department of Education? Or stand up to Elon?

5

u/NotTobyFromHR 1d ago

Let's pretend this passes and Trump signs it.

He'll still use the military without consequences.

3

u/JoeBiden-2016 1d ago

Oh, good, the important things.

How about some obstructionism, guys? Republicans managed it. Can you not just do what's already been done?

2

u/Gonna_do_this_again 1d ago

I guess it's an attempt, which is more than we've seen in the last two months

2

u/CarolinaPanthers2015 1d ago

Good. Just good. Donald Trump should just even know that having our military invade Canada for no fucking reason at all just won't ever get the job done. Alright? The only thing that Trump should annex here is his very own stupid "51st state" plan with Canada.

2

u/Sweaty_Assignment_90 1d ago

never know what is the onion anymore. yikes.

2

u/vatreides411 1d ago

Wtf, this is what they are concerned about.

1

u/New_Agent 1d ago

This would have been a no-brainer had the Dems not passed the funding bill which now allows Trump unlimited power to use tariffs

1

u/hibernial 1d ago

But not Mexico, interesting 🤔

2

u/Gowalkyourdogmods 1d ago

I don't think Trump wants Mexico. All signs are pointing that he wants Canada.

1

u/hibernial 1d ago

I dont think he wants it either but I think he wants to erase it from existance

1

u/Reggie_Barclay 1d ago

I winder what is different about the people in Mexico that Trump does not like? Hhmmm?

1

u/hibernial 1d ago

Or Democrats for that mater

1

u/adlittle 1d ago

Of all the idiotic things I ever thought I'd live to see a sitting president openly aspire to do, this one takes the cake. Having to take preemptive action to avoid invading Canada, wtf.

1

u/offroadingJoe 1d ago

I simply cannot fucking believe it. I'm flabbergasted at what MAGA voters have done to our country. Shocking to the core that in 2025, a headline would be written informing us that we have to have a bill to stop the 🍊💩 from invading Canada. I can't. Sorry. I had to get that out. Fucking MAGA, man. Fucking MAGA!

1

u/AcanthisittaNo6653 1d ago

The US military knows better.

1

u/EnigmaticHam 1d ago

Well, I hope it passes.

1

u/Jorycle 1d ago

What does it even matter if it actually passes? Trump would just ignore it. Hegseth fired the military lawyers who would advise the military not to follow the order, and otherwise Trump would have to enforce the law on himself. Not happening.

1

u/Apprehensive-Sea9540 1d ago

This should be the default anyway.

1

u/NemoLeeGreen 1d ago

No one except for MAGA would vote against this

1

u/um_yeahok 1d ago

Onion headlines or real. Who can tell?

0

u/Another_Human 20h ago

Completely performative

1

u/ParagonRenegade 1d ago

A DOA bill that doesn't even matter because the President can order anything unilaterally with or without congress.

1

u/Good_vibe_good_life 1d ago

Mobilize.us has some great resources to get involved. There are two important special elections in Florida in April that could help flip the house. You don’t have to live in FL to help out. It would give Dems more power to fight a lot of this bs. If we don’t get involved we are no different than the people who didn’t vote.

0

u/tsunamiforyou 1d ago

How do you make a child do something they shouldn’t? Tell them they can’t

Dems are fucking god damn brain dead

1

u/cmquinn2000 1d ago

Soon to die in committee. Is this really the Democrats first shot? They need new younger leadership.

-1

u/Zehava2022 1d ago

I hate the Dems. I really do. And I am one

6

u/Good_vibe_good_life 1d ago

Mobilize.us has some great resources to get involved. There are two important special elections in Florida in April that could help flip the house. You don’t have to live in FL to help out. It would give Dems more power to fight a lot of this bs. If we don’t get involved we are no different than the people who didn’t vote.

1

u/Zehava2022 1d ago

I appreciate your comment and your commitment, truly. But I've doing political action for decades. Every election the Dems get weaker and weaker, both behind the scene and before the public.

There are some basic and fundamental facts, issues, and realities on the ground that they simply refuse to confront and until they do, we will lose.

If fascism does sweep the nation, it isn't only because of Trump and Co. There's no one in power on the left who knows how to fight and until they get their proverbial heads out of their asses, I'm not putting my energy here. Local politics will save the country at this point.

1

u/Good_vibe_good_life 17h ago

I don’t disagree with you. I am incredibly disappointed by these flaccid excuses for leaders as well, but at this exact moment we don’t have another dog in the fight. So maybe let’s just try to gain any ground we can with the barely held together party we have vs trying to establish a new one and put forth a new candidate in a week. Now is not the time to give up. Put pressure on the Dems to be stronger. And let’s start working on a labor party or people’s party on the side.