Overview

• A War Powers resolution led by Sens. Tim Kaine and Adam Schiff failed 48–51, with Republicans Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski voting yes and Democrat John Fetterman voting no.
• The measure sought to require congressional authorization for further strikes, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged GOP senators to oppose it and the White House signaled a veto.
• U.S. forces have conducted at least four strikes since early September, killing 21 people, with the most recent on October 3 off Venezuela, and lawmakers say they still lack basic details on the targets.
• The administration told Congress it considers the U.S. to be in a “non-international armed conflict” with designated cartels, a shift from traditional Coast Guard interdictions that critics call unsupported.
• Regional tensions are rising as Venezuela protests U.S. operations and Colombia’s president says the latest bombed vessel was Colombian and carried Colombian citizens.