Congress has the power to check the president's war making: but they don't seem interested in using it.

Last night, the Senate voted against legislation that would have required congressional approval of President Donald Trump's further strikes against Venezuela.

The vote was 49–51, with two Republicans—Sen. Rand Paul (R–Ky.) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R–Alaska)—breaking ranks to vote with Democrats to block the president from exercising this power. It was the "second failed bid in a month to rein in the U.S. military campaign against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Latin America that has led to the deaths of nearly 70 people," reports Politico. Sen. John Fetterman (D–Pa.), who was the sole Democrat to oppose last month's measure (voting with the Republicans choosing not to check Trump's power), confusingly flipped and voted with his party this time.

It looks very much like Trump is going for more than just sinking a few more suspected cocaine boats in the Caribbean. So far, the death toll amounts to 69 people from 17 strikes, but with military repositioning near Venezuela—both buildups in the sea and flying missions out of El Salvador—it really does look like Trump wants to unseat Nicolás Maduro and destabilize his regime.

"It's really an open secret that this is much more about potential regime change," Sen. Adam Schiff (D–Calif.) told the Associated Press. "If that's where the administration is headed, if that's what we're risking—involvement in a war—then Congress needs to be heard on this."