Politics and views in the United States

VP Vance is confident in the 'fragile truce' between the U.S. and Iran. A former House Speaker says the president’s power is overshadowing Congress and polls show a third Trump impeachment has public momentum.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

The Iranians have agreed to open up the Straits.

The United States has agreed to stop attacking.

And not just the United States, but also our allies have agreed to stop attacking.

And that is the basis of this fragile truce that we have.

Vice President J.D. Vance says he's confident the Iran war ceasefire will last, but it already faces challenges.

Israel has continued bombarding Lebanon and Tehran responded by again slowing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. will hold talks between Tel Aviv and Beirut and Trump continues to make a variety of statements, including threats to resume, quote, bigger, better and stronger attacks on Iran.

Some stated goals of the war, including ending Iran's nuclear program, now seem well out of U.S. reach.

The White House says troops will remain in the region to ensure Iranian compliance as terms are being worked out.

Those favoring diplomacy note the deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama restrained the nation's nuclear activities with much less risk.

Trump continues to criticize European allies who participated in the Obama deal and now says the U.S. will consider leaving NATO because its members refused to help with the war.

America can't formally leave NATO without an act of Congress, but the administration could remove U.S. forces protecting the continent.

NATO Secretary General Mark Root admits alliance members didn't help reopen Hormuz, in part because they had no warning.

Either way, he says, NATO is in a moment of profound change.

Europe is assuming a greater and fairer share of the task of providing for its conventional defense.

And from that, there will be no going back and nor should there be.

This is a move from unhealthy codependence to a transatlantic alliance grounded in true partnership.

A fourth Iran war powers resolution failed in the House.

Democrats still want to limit Trump's authority, but even Republicans who oppose the war argue the resolution is pointless with the ceasefire in effect.

Former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says Trump's second-term power is successfully usurping Congress's role.

He has a greater determination of whether a Republican wins re-election than any leader in Congress does.

He raises the money.

Bills don't pass.

He's the whip and the speaker the president is right now.

With only a tiny majority, the current speaker faces a maybe impossible to-do list, reauthorizing the unpopular Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and passing a stalled Homeland Security budget.

Meanwhile, new polls show a majority of Americans support impeaching Trump for a third time.

The Free Speech for People poll finds more than half of independents and nearly a quarter of Republicans support the move.

The group's president, John Bonifaz, calls that extraordinary given Trump has only been back in power for 14 months.

The people know Donald Trump has committed multiple abuses of power and that Congress must do its job, carry out its sworn duty to protect and defend our Constitution and impeach and remove this lawless president.

Some of those surveyed cited military actions in Latin America, the Iran War, and indiscriminate ICE raids that have even reached into military families.

I'm Edwin J. Viera for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.