War Without Congress: The Rise of Executive Power

This episode examines growing concerns over the expansion of presidential military authority after the President publicly suggested he could launch military action in Venezuela without approval from Congress. The Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war, but this move signals a shift toward unilateral executive control. If left unchecked, it could permanently weaken congressional oversight and allow future presidents to use military force without accountability, changing the balance of power in the United States.

#WarPowers #ConstitutionalCrisis #ExecutiveOverreach #ChecksAndBalances #CongressionalAuthority

Episode Transcript

(00:04):
Hello and welcome to the
Vlogging pod.
Today we're taking a look
at a developing political issue that
hasn't had major headlines, but
it could have serious consequences for
constitutional power in the United States.
This story centers on the

(00:24):
expansion of executive military authority and
the quiet erosion. Of congressional
checks that were put in place to
prevent exactly that.
Recently, the president stated
publicly that he does not
need congressional approval before launching
potential military action in Venezuela,

(00:45):
saying, quote ,we're just
going to .... people while
referring to suspected drug organizations
in the region, that public
statement. Isn't just policy
position, it's a constitutional
challenge. Under Article
One of the US
Constitution,only Congress

(01:06):
has the authority to
declare war.
Yet we are now
watching a president suggest that
military force can be used
unilaterally, without congressional
authorization and without declaring A
legitimate act of National

(01:26):
Defense. This matters because it
sets a precedent.
Once a president
assumes a new power, the
office rarely gives it back.
That means future presidents,
regardless of party, could
use this precedent to launch
military action anywhere in

(01:48):
the world without oversight and.
with Congress already weakened by
gridlock and partisan loyalty, we
are watching the slow shift
toward unchecked executive
power, a shift
that moves the United States
further away from the
balance of power that

(02:08):
defines A constitutional
Republic. If Congress does
not respond, this will not
just be about Venezuela.
This will be about whether
1 branch of government can
erase the role of another through
practice, not law. That's not policy,
that's power. Today's

(02:30):
sources come from we're
just going to.... people.
Trump says he does not need
declaration of war for Venezuela,
strikes the Guardian. Trump suggests
Venezuela actions could bypass Congress
BBC News. ,
thank you for listening. Until next
time, bye. Bye for now.