The Morning Cup: Congress Votes to End the Iran War as the Midterms Close In

Good morning and welcome to the Morning Cup.

What a last 24 hours folks...

We are now less than seven weeks from the November 3 midterm elections, and Washington is starting to feel like a pressure cooker.

Congress is fighting over the war in Iran. The Trump administration just lost a major attempt to change mail voting before Election Day. Election officials are preparing for potential disruption. And here in Washington state, voters are being reminded to make sure they are registered and ready.

Here’s what you need to know this morning. Straight up.

The House voted to end the Iran war. Again.

The House voted 220-204 to direct President Donald Trump to end U.S. hostilities with Iran unless Congress authorizes them.

Every Democrat voting supported the resolution, along with seven Republicans.

This is now the third time the House has passed a war powers resolution attempting to limit the president's ability to continue the conflict without congressional authorization. Previous efforts have not ultimately ended the war, and Trump would be expected to veto a resolution if one reaches his desk.

But the politics surrounding this vote are worth watching.

Two Republicans from competitive Iowa districts, Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, supported the latest resolution after previously opposing efforts to rein in the conflict. Both are facing competitive reelection campaigns.

And then there is the cost.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the war had already cost more than $38 billion as of August 1, with continuing costs estimated at roughly $2 billion to $3 billion per month.

With Election Day approaching, the war is increasingly becoming part of the domestic political fight over Congress.

Meanwhile, Trump's attempt to change mail voting has been blocked.

This one needs to be crystal clear because there has been an enormous amount of confusion surrounding voting by mail.

The Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's attempt to impose new mail-ballot requirements before the midterms.

That means the proposed federal changes will not take effect for the November election. Election officials can continue operating under their existing systems.

So if you vote by mail, the important message is simple:

Voting by mail still exists. Follow the rules and deadlines established by your state and local election officials.

Nothing about the Supreme Court decision eliminated your ability to vote by mail.

Election officials are still preparing for an unusually tense November.

Blocking the mail-ballot rules does not mean every election-related fight is finished.

Reuters reports that election officials around the country are preparing for potential legal battles, misinformation, cybersecurity threats and possible federal intervention surrounding the midterms. More than 50 election officials interviewed by Reuters described preparations ranging from additional physical security to legal planning.

Separately, Democratic state parties and activist organizations are preparing thousands of volunteers and legal resources in case disputes emerge around polling locations or federal activity during the election. The Trump administration says its election initiatives are intended to improve election security, while opponents argue several of them represent federal overreach or voter suppression.

That makes official election information particularly important over the next several weeks.

Before sharing a viral post telling you that voting rules have suddenly changed, check with your state or local election authority.

Here in Washington, your election is moving forward normally.

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs says the Supreme Court decision means the state's election process can continue without implementing the blocked Postal Service requirements.

For Washington voters, ballots are scheduled to begin going out October 16.

Online and mailed voter registrations or updates must be received by October 26. Eligible Washingtonians can still register or update their information in person through 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3.

And yes, Washington remains a vote-by-mail state.

And the midterms are almost here.

November 3 is no longer some distant date on the political calendar.

We're talking about weeks.

Control of Congress is on the ballot, alongside governors, state legislatures and thousands of state and local offices across the country.

Thirty-five Senate seats are being contested this cycle. Democrats would need a net gain of four Republican-held seats to control the 100-seat Senate, and Reuters recently identified nine Senate contests as competitive.

There will be an enormous amount of noise between now and Election Day.

Polls. Lawsuits. Campaign ads. Viral clips. Breaking-news alerts. Claims about voting. Claims about candidates. Claims about the election itself.

The best thing voters can do right now is remarkably boring:

Know when your state starts voting. Check your registration. Know what is actually on your ballot. Use official election information. And when voting begins where you live, make a plan for how and when you're going to cast your ballot.

The midterms are coming quickly.

Stay informed. Verify what you see. And most importantly, participate.

That’s your Morning Cup for September 16.

— Sean
Cup of Culture