NYT: a Democratic victory in congressional elections won’t stop Trump

Even if Democrats win a majority in both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections, they will not be able to significantly limit the power of President Donald Trump.

That is the conclusion drawn by New York Times columnist Jeffrey Toobin.

In the author’s view, the American political system is now more favorable to the president than ever before. Trump will be able to block congressional investigations through the courts, dragging out proceedings until the end of his presidential term. Additional protection is provided by the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling granting the president immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.

Toobin separately examines the question of a possible war with Iran. Democrats would be unlikely to stop it, even if they tried to cut off funding. The administration would be able to use funds already allocated to the Pentagon, and Trump has the right to veto any new budget restrictions. Overriding such a veto would require two-thirds of the votes in both chambers of Congress.

The only serious lever of influence available to Democrats, Toobin argues, is the ability to block the appointment of federal judges, including Supreme Court justices — but only if the party wins a majority in the Senate.

Beyond that, a Democratic victory, even a convincing one, is unlikely to significantly shift the balance of power in favor of the opposition, according to the NYT columnist.