Sen. Gillibrand says Democrats must end Iran war, hold Trump accountable. But how?

Democrats have retaken control of Congress, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York says the party's priorities are bringing down costs, restoring health coverage and ending the war in Iran. What they can accomplish while Donald Trump remains president is the open question. Speaking with NPR's A Martínez on Morning Edition, Gillibrand pointed to bipartisan legislation that would bring back Medicaid coverage and dared the president to veto it.

The party also faces pressure to use its new investigative authority to scrutinize the administration, and some supporters want a third impeachment. Gillibrand declined to promise that course. She said Democrats could pursue accountability alongside their agenda, and she offered a proposal to bar members of Congress and senior administration officials from trading stocks.

Gillibrand, like other Democrats, credited public anger over the Iran war with helping the party win, arguing that Trump had abandoned a pledge to steer clear of long conflicts as the fighting pushed prices higher. Trump conceded Wednesday that the war hurt Republicans at the polls. Fighting has not ended, though, and Iranian officials are cautioning against fresh American strikes. Democrats have not made clear how they would force an end to the war.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NPR’s reporting. Read the full story at NPR →