MORE POWER April 19

This week in MORE POWER:

Impeachment Saga Over
Surveillance Program Faces Deadline
Iran Iran Iran
Foreign Aid Bills Separate
More Than They Bargained For, cc. TikTok

Impeachment Saga Over

After a long wait, the impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas finally had their day in the Senate on Wednesday. House Republicans voted to impeach Mayorkas in February for his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, including "willful and systemic refusal to comply" with immigration law and a "breach of trust" for saying the border was secure. Senate Democrats argued that the articles were unconstitutional. The votes on each of the articles of impeachment were 51-48 and 51-49, both along party lines. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the charges failed to meet the standard of "high crimes and misdemeanors," while Republicans argued for a full trial. The dismissal is an embarrassing defeat for House Republicans and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who made the impeachment a priority. It comes amid political tensions over border security.

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Surveillance Program Faces Deadline

Midnight tonight is the deadline to reauthorize the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s (FISA) warrantless surveillance program. The House passed the reauthorization bill last week. The Senate is scheduled to vote on it today but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) faces opposition from both Republicans and Democrats seeking significant changes to the bill, like provisions to bar intelligence and law enforcement agencies from buying Americans’ data from third parties, prohibiting FISA from authorizing any surveillance or searches of Americans, or requiring warrants to review Americans’ information. Amending the bill could lead to missing the deadline, which would result in a lapse in intelligence surveillance. Tensions are high as lawmakers grapple with the looming deadline without a clear plan for handling proposed changes to the bill.

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Iran Iran Iran

Tensions are rising between Iran and Israel as they fire missiles at each other and the U.S. is pledging its full support to Israel and issuing sanctions on Iran. Over the weekend, Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones toward Israel in retaliation to an Israeli airstrike on a diplomatic compound in Damascus that killed high-ranking Iranian military personnel. In response, Israel, with assistance from the United States and regional allies, intercepted the majority of the incoming projectiles. This morning, Israel reportedly struck Iran with drones. The House passed several bills throughout the week on the matter. The full list is below but here is a preview:

H.R. 5921 No U.S. Financing for Iran Act of 2023

H.R. 5923 Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act of 2023

H.R. 3033 Solidify Iran Sanctions Act

H.R. 5826 No Paydays for Hostage-Takers Act

H.R. 6015 Iran Sanctions Accountability Act

H.R. 6245 Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act

H.R. 6603 No Technology for Terror Act

H.R. 4691 Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act

H.R. 6323 Iran Counterterrorism Act

Foreign Aid Bills Separate

After months of infighting over the $95 billion foreign aid package that passed the Senate in February, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) put forward separate bills that would provide roughly the same amount to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. The bills include funding for missile defense systems for Israel, assistance for Ukraine's war efforts, and support for the Indo-Pacific region. However, the move led to Johnson facing opposition from hardline Republicans seeking to oust him. With the support of House Democrats, he persisted, and this morning, the House voted to advance the bills. The chamber is expected to pass them tomorrow.

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More Than They Bargained For, cc. TikTok

In addition to the elements that passed the Senate, the separate House versions of the foreign aid package include an additional bill for sanctions against Iran, Russia and China, along with the TikTok bill that passed the House last month, which would ban TikTok in the U.S. if it doesn’t separate from its Chinese parent company.

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