May 22, 2026 - GOP Delays War Powers Vote

Brian Fitzpatrick represents Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District. It was the 8th when I was coming of political age in Bucks County, PA. For my entire life it's been a purple area. Back in the 1980's, I remember slugfests between Peter Kostmayer and Jim Coyne. Democrats see PA's 1st as ripe for a pickup in the Midterms, but Fitzpatrick is a thoughtful guy, recognized as one of the most independent members of Congress.

So, naturally, what happened at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday caught my attention.

Standing on the tarmac before boarding Air Force One, President Trump was asked a question about a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich - who, as it happens, is Fitzpatrick's fiancée. Trump wasn't asked about Fitzpatrick. But he invoked him in his answer. He apparently thought Heinrich and Fitzpatrick are married - they're not, they are engaged. Said Trump: "Her husband votes against me all the time. Can you imagine? He likes voting against Trump. You know what happens with that? Doesn't work out well."

Doesn't work out well. Hmmmm. Keep in mind this was the day after Pennsylvania's Primary, so opening day of general election season.

Trump was probably feeling his oats, having just knocked off Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and three days prior, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

But here's what Trump miscalculated. Bucks County is a genuine presidential barometer. Bush 41 carried it in 1988. Then it went Democratic in every presidential race until 2024, when Trump won it by a hair. Clinton, Biden, Trump - the county has called the popular vote winner each time. Those voters don't respond well to outside pressure.

Yesterday, I asked Fitzpatrick whether Trump had just done him a favor. He didn't take the bait - but he didn't exactly dodge it either. He told me his job is to "call balls and strikes, strip away ideology, strip away party label." Then he invoked his late brother Mike - a former congressman who died of cancer in 2020 - who told Brian from his deathbed: make every decision as if you're looking back on your life.

"It's a bad policy. It's a bad idea. It's bad for our country," Fitzpatrick said. "It's that simple for me."

Trump may have just handed him his best campaign message.

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