00:02Today marks 60 days since the United States entered the war with Iran, and now there is a growing fight
00:08in Washington over whether the president needs Congress to sign off on what happens next.
00:14At a Senate hearing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued the administration does not have to seek authorization yet, saying the
00:21current ceasefire pauses that 60-day clock.
00:25Ultimately, I would defer to the White House and White House counsel on that.
00:28However, we are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in
00:34a ceasefire.
00:35I do not believe the statute would support that.
00:37I think the 60 days runs maybe tomorrow, and that's going to pose a really important legal question for the
00:44administration.
00:45Under the War Powers Act, presidents have 60 days to continue military action without approval from Congress.
00:52That deadline is now here, and lawmakers do not agree on whether it still applies.
00:57Some Republicans say the president has more time.
01:00Others say Congress needs to weigh in now.
01:03The conflict itself is largely paused under a ceasefire, but U.S. forces remain in the region, and tensions haven't
01:11gone away.
01:11President Trump, meanwhile, told reporters on Thursday that Iran is ready to negotiate.
01:16I mean, Iran is dying to make a deal.
01:18I can only tell you that.
01:20I don't want to get into the deal.
01:21But they cannot be nuclear other than that.
01:25But their navy is gone.
01:28Their air force is gone.
01:30Every ounce of any form of equipment practically is gone.
01:34They want to make a deal badly.
01:36And we have a problem because nobody knows for sure who the leaders are.
01:41It's a little bit of a problem, you know.
01:42The leaders have been wiped out along with their military.
01:47Talks have stalled, and the administration has not said whether it will ask Congress to authorize the war.
01:53That's now drawing a line from some Republicans.
01:56Senator Lisa Murkowski says she will introduce a measure to force a vote on the war
02:00if the White House does not present a clear plan within the next week.
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