THE FINAL FOUR: After repeated attempts by House Democrats to pass a war powers resolution to assert Congress’s authority to declare war, finally, a handful of Republicans were disenchanted enough with the progress of the war in Iran to cross the aisle and vote to send the legislation to the Senate, by a vote of 215-208. The four Republicans who voted with all the Democrats were Reps. Thomas Massie (KY), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Tom Barrett (MI), and Warren Davidson (OH). Although a rebuke of President Donald Trump, the measure is likely to remain symbolic, given that Republicans control the Senate, and White House has argued the limits on the president’s war-making powers as commander in chief are unconstitutional. Trump could simply veto the measure — if it reaches his desk.The Trump administration also argues the war technically ended when major combat operations were replaced by a ceasefire within the 60-day limit proscribed by the 1973 War Powers Resolution. The strikes and counterstrikes between the U.S. and Iran don’t rise to the level of a full-scale war, or even violation of a ceasefire, Trump argued yesterday, seeming to excuse Iran’s attacks on America’s Gulf allies. “They were slightly provoked because we took a strong action … so they were reciprocating,” he told reporters at a White House signing session.