BRUSSELS (AP) ' How long will it last? Will it grow? What will it mean to us ' and to global security overall? Those questions echoed across the Middle East and the planet Saturday as world leaders reacted warily to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that sowed concerns of a broader conflict. The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting.

Perhaps cautious about upsetting already strained relations with U.S. President Donald Trump, many nations abstained from commenting directly or pointedly on the joint strikes but condemned Tehrans retaliation. Similarly to Europeans, governments across the Middle East condemned Irans strikes on Arab neighbors while staying silent on the U.S. military action.

Other countries were more explicit: Australia and Canada expressed open support for the U.S. strikes, while Russia and China responded with direct criticism.

The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday, and U.S. President Donald Trump called on the Iranian public to 'seize control of your destiny' by rising up against the Islamic theocracy that has ruled the nation since 1979. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

Some leaders urge resumption of talks

In a statement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on the U.S. and Iran to resume talks and said they favored a negotiated settlement. They said their countries didnt take part in the strikes on Iran but are in close contact with the U.S., Israel and partners in the region.

The three countries have led efforts to reach a negotiated solution over Irans nuclear program.

'We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms. Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We call for a resumption of negotiations and urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future,' they said.

Later, at an emergency security meeting, Macron said France was 'neither warned nor involved' in the strikes. He called for intensified efforts for a negotiated solution, saying 'no one can think that the questions of Irans nuclear program, ballistic activity, regional destabilization will be settled by strikes alone.'

The 22-nation Arab League called the Iranian attacks 'a blatant violation of the sovereignty of countries that advocate for peace and strive for stability.' That coalition of nations has historically condemned both Israel and Iran for actions it says risk destabilizing the region.

Countries that maintain diplomatic ties with Israel ' including Morocco, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates ' denounced Iranian strikes targeting U.S. military bases in the region including in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the Emirates.

Saudi Arabia said it 'condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the treacherous Iranian aggression and the blatant violation of sovereignty.' Oman, which has been mediating the talks between Iran and the U.S., said in a statement that the U.S. action 'constitutes a violation of the rules of international law and the principle of settling disputes through peaceful means, rather than through hostility and the shedding of blood.'

Careful wording is (mostly) the order of the day

Countries in Europe and the Middle East used careful wording, avoiding perceptions that they either support unilateral American action or are directly condemning the United States.

Others were more blunt. Russias Foreign Ministry called the strikes 'a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state.' The ministry accused Washington and Tel Aviv of 'hiding behind' concerns about Irans nuclear program while actually pursuing regime change.

Similarly, Chinas government said it was 'highly concerned' about the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and called for an immediate halt to the military action and a return to negotiations. 'Irans sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected,' a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said.

Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country supports the United States in its effort to stop Iran from obtaining an atomic bomb. He described Irans current leadership as a destabilizing force and noted two attacks on Australian soil that were blamed on Tehran. Last August, Australia cut off diplomatic relations with Iran and expelled its ambassador after accusing it of orchestrating two antisemitic attacks in the country.

Despite recent tensions with the U.S., Canada too expressed its support for the military action. 'The Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East,' Prime Minister Mark Carney said.

And the U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, at the request of Bahrain and France.

Concerns expressed of ‘new, extensive war

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank said they were largely unfazed as war erupted Saturday, barely pausing as booms echoed across the sky from Israels Iron Dome intercepting missiles overhead.

Unlike Israel, Palestinian cities have no warning sirens or bomb shelters, despite the risk of falling debris or errant missiles. As people sheltered less than 10 miles away in Jerusalem, streets in Ramallah swarmed with shoppers browsing meat counters, vegetable stalls and Ramadan sweets, some stopping to record the sounds of distant sirens and missile interceptions.

But as Israel closed checkpoints to the movement of people and goods on Saturday, gas stations saw longer-than-usual lines as residents filled spare canisters in case of supply disruptions.

Nervousness is perceptible across multiple countries as people fear a full-scale war engulfing the region. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that he was concerned the failure of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran meant a 'new, extensive war in the Middle East.'

The Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons condemned the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in harsher words. 'These attacks are totally irresponsible and risk provoking further escalation as well as increasing the danger of nuclear proliferation and the use of nuclear weapons,' said its executive director, Melissa Parke.

EU leaders issued a joint statement Saturday calling for restraint and engaging in regional diplomacy in hopes of 'ensuring nuclear safety.'

'We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law,' the statement from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa said.

The Arab League, too, appealed to all international parties 'to work towards de-escalation as soon as possible, to spare the region the scourge of instability and violence, and to return to dialogue.'

Ciobanu reported from Warsaw and Metz from Ramallah. Associated Press writers Angela Charlton in Paris, Paolo Santalucia in Rome, Suman Naishadham in Madrid, Elise Morton and Krutika Pathi in London, Jamey Keaton in Geneva, Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Fatma Khaled and Sam Magdy in Cairo, Ken Moritsugu in Beijing and Adam Schreck in Bangkok contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) ' Key members of Congress are demanding a swift vote on a war powers resolution that would restrain President Donald Trumps military attack on Iran unless the administration wins their approval for what they warn is a potentially illegal campaign that risks pulling the United States into a deeper Middle East conflict.

Both the House and Senate, where the presidents Republican Party has a slim majority, had already drafted such resolutions long before the strikes Saturday. Now they are ready to plunge into a rare war powers debate next week that will serve as a referendum on Trumps decision to go it alone on military action without formal authorization from Congress.

'Has President Trump learned nothing from decades of U.S. meddling in Iran and forever wars in the Middle East?' said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., a leader in the bipartisan effort. He said the strikes on Iran were 'a colossal mistake.'

In the House, Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., are demanding Congress go on record with a public vote on their own bipartisan measure. 'Congress must convene on Monday to vote,' Khanna said, 'to stop this.'

Massie blasted Trumps own presidential campaign slogan and said: 'This is not ‘America First.'

But most Republicans, particularly their leaders, welcomed Trumps move against Iran. Many cited the longtime U.S. adversarys nuclear programs and missile capabilities as requiring a military response.

'Well done, Mr. President,' said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. 'As I watch and monitor this historic operation, Im in awe of President Trumps determination to be a man of peace but at the end of the day, evils worst nightmare.'

War powers debate tests Congress

The administrations decision to launch, with Israel, what appears to be an open-ended joint military operation aimed at changing the government in Tehran is testing the Constitutions separation of powers in deep and dramatic ways. Nearly two months earlier, Trump ordered U.S. strikes that toppled Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

While presidents have the authority as the commander in chief to conduct certain strategic military operations on their own, the Constitution vests Congress with the power to wage war. Before the Iraq War began in March 2003, Republican President George W. Bush made a monthslong push to secure congressional authorization. No such vote was attempted on Iran, and an earlier Senate effort to halt Trumps actions after last summers strike on Iran failed.

The congressional debate over war powers would mostly be symbolic. Even if a resolution were to pass the narrowly split Congress, Trump likely would veto it and Congress would not have the two-thirds majority needed to overturn that rejection. Congress has often failed to block other U.S. military actions, including in a Senate vote on Venezuela, but the roll calls stand as a public record.

Republican leaders back Trumps action

The response by House Speaker Mike Johnson reflected the partys long-standing views. Iran, he said, is facing 'the severe consequences of its evil actions.'

Johnson, R-La., said the leaders of the House and Senate and the respective intelligence committees had been briefed in detail earlier in the week that military action 'may become necessary' to protect U.S. troops and citizens in Iran. He said he received updates from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and will stay in 'close contact' with Trump and the Defense Department 'as this operation proceeds.'

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., commended Trump 'for taking action to thwart these threats.'

Thune said he looked forward to administration officials briefing all senators ' a signal that lawmakers are seeking more answers to their questions about Trumps plans ahead.

Democrats warn strikes are illegal

Many Democrats are calling the operation illegal, saying the Constitution gives Congress alone the power to declare war. To them, the administration has failed to lay out its rationale or plan for the military strikes, and the aftermath.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the president has undertaken 'illegal, regime-change war against Iran.'

'This is not making us safer & only damages the US & our interests,' Van Hollen, D-Md., said in a social media post. 'The Senate must immediately vote on the War Powers Resolution to stop it.'

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said while Iran is a 'bad actor and must be aggressively confronted' for its human rights abuses and the threat it poses to the U.S. and allies, the administration 'must seek authorization for the preemptive use of military force that constitutes an act of war.'

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, demanded that Congress be briefed immediately on the administrations plans.

'Iran must never be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon but the American people do not want another endless and costly war in the Middle East when there are so many problems at home,' he said.

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Matt Brown contributed to this report.

Elijah Isaiah Potts of South Los Angeles pleaded guilty in December to a count of interference with commerce by robbery. Federal prosecutors have requested $36,109.75 in restitution, but U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb will schedule a hearing on that later.

Also, Devin Matthew Thomas, 19, of South Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to a count of interference with commerce by robbery and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12.

“Over six harrowing weeks, (Potts) and his robbery crew hunted for victims at shopping centers, stalked them to their homes and robbed them at gunpoint outside those homes,” prosecutors said in a sentencing brief. “Defendant’s crimes not only invaded the sanctity of the victims’ homes but irreparably scarred their everyday activities. When an elderly would-be victim inadvertently thwarted a robbery by pulling into a closed garage, the conspirators instead tried to carjack a neighbor, again at gunpoint.”

Prosecutors added that Potts repeatedly “displayed a total disregard for human life. By some miracle, no one was killed.”

Prosecutors argued for 135 months in prison.

The string of robberies happened on Sept. 3, Sept. 4, twice on Sept. 10 and Sept. 19, prosecutors said.

Potts robbed a victim of a Rolex worth $20,000 on Sept. 3 “within feet of a 10-month-old baby and pointed at the victim’s wife and 4-year-old daughter, who were feet away,” prosecutors said.

Potts went on the robbery spree “less than five months after being sentenced for another vicious robbery and serving a probationary term with a three-year prison term suspended,” prosecutors said. “The slap on the wrist he received emboldened him. Defendant chose to victimize and risk the lives of innocent people with small and even special-needs children outside the safety of their homes.”

The two were part of armed robberies in Norwalk, Sherman Oaks, Bellflower, Glendale, Valley Village and Artesia and an attempted armed carjacking in Newport Beach, between Aug. 31 and Sept. 19.

The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday in what President Donald Trump said was a massive operation to destroy the countrys military capabilities and eliminate the threat of it creating a nuclear weapon.

Irans Foreign Ministry said it would defend its homeland and its Revolutionary Guard said it launched counterattacks, firing drones and missiles at Israel and strikes aimed at U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. The exchanges of fire continued into the night, and Iranian state media, citing the Red Crescent, said on Saturday evening that at least 201 people had been killed and more than 700 injured.

The strikes came after Trump has pressured Tehran for a deal to constrain its nuclear program, building up a fleet of American warships in the region as the country struggles with growing dissent following nationwide protests.

More than 80 people were reported killed and dozens wounded at a girls school in southern Iran in the Israeli-U.S. strikes, the local governor told Iranian state TV. Shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack on the capital of the United Arab Emirates killed one person, state media said.

Ayatollahs compound was one of the first targets

Israel announced it had launched an attack on Iran shortly after explosions were heard in Tehran on Saturday morning. The U.S. military said targets in Iran included Revolutionary Guard command facilities, air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.

One of the first strikes hit near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Later Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address that there were “growing signs” that Khamenei had been killed.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are alive 'as far as I know.'

Iran strikes back at Israel and U.S. bases

Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. Witnesses heard sirens and explosions in Kuwait, home to U.S. Army Central. Explosions could also be heard in Qatar, where Al Udeid Air Base hosts thousands of service members.

Saudi Arabia said on state-run media that it had repelled attacks by Iran on its capital and eastern region, and sirens sounded in Jordan.

An apartment building in northern Israel was damaged and shrapnel fell in multiple sites, according to media and police. But Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said there had been no significant hits in Israel and rescue services said there were no serious injuries reported from missile barrages across the country.

Kuwaits health ministry said a dozen people were injured in strikes.

Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, meanwhile, have vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, according to two senior Houthi officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement from leadership.

Trump tells Iranians it’s time to topple their government

It took over an hour for Trump to make an official announcement on the U.S. involvement in what he termed 'major combat operations.'

In an 8-minute video on social media, Trump indicated the U.S. was striking for reasons far beyond the nuclear program, listing grievances stretching back to the beginning of the Islamic Republic following a revolution in 1979 that turned Iran from one of Americas closest allies in the Middle East into a fierce foe.

Trump told Iranians to take cover but urged them to later rise up and topple the Islamic leadership.

'When we are finished, take over your government,' Trump said. 'It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.'

The attacks came a day after Trump voiced frustration over lack of progress in negotiations to stop Irans ability to develop nuclear weapons.

U.S. military has been building up its war machinery in the area

Israel said it had worked with the U.S. for months to plan the attacks.

Before U.S.-Iran negotiations were underway in Geneva, the U.S. had assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to try to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three guided-missile destroyers arrived in January to bolster the number of warships in the region. The worlds largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, and four accompanying destroyers later were dispatched from the Caribbean to head to the Middle East and are now in the Mediterranean.

The fleet has added more than 10,000 U.S. troops to the region.

Fighting grounds flights and disrupts commercial air travel

The fighting disrupted air travel in the region.

Major airlines based in the Middle East canceled hundreds of flights while many other travelers were unexpectedly diverted to airports across Europe or flown back to departure airports.

It was unclear how long the disruption to flight operations could last, and airlines urged passengers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport.

In a statement released on Friday evening, attorney Charles M. Ray said, “On behalf of the family and their 17-year-old son, we categorically deny the allegations that have been suggested and reject any implication that he poses a threat in any way, shape, or form.

'There is no credible evidence to support the narrative that has begun to circulate,' Ray said, adding that the situation appears to have been 'mischaracterized and escalated into something it simply is not.'

The statement comes after a five-day response by the FBIs hazardous materials teams and other federal and local agencies at a home in the guard-gated Altair community near the Great Park. The investigation began Monday, Feb. 23, after the landlord reported what were described as suspicious items at the residence to Irvine police.

Authorities have said little publicly about what was found inside the home on Cartwheel near Iluna. Irvine police previously said the situation began 'after a juvenile at the residence mixed unknown chemicals.'

A source familiar with the investigation told the Southern California News Group on Friday that the investigation involved a student at the University of California, Irvine, and that chemical formulas written on a whiteboard heightened concerns and prompted the FBI to bring in experts from Quantico, Virginia.

Ray described the teenager as an academically advanced student in his fourth year of coursework “at a well-regarded local college” with aspirations of becoming a physician. He is 'deeply committed to science, particularly biology and chemistry,' the statement said, and spends his time studying and developing educational content for a science-focused YouTube channel.

While the family said it respects law enforcement and the responsibility officers carry, Ray said, the circumstances surrounding the response are being reviewed by his office as events continue to unfold.

'We are prepared to address any charge(s), if they are even brought, through the proper legal process and remain confident that the truth will prevail,' the statement said.

“The family will have no further comment at this time and looks forward to returning to their normal lives as soon as possible,” it concluded.

Law enforcement officials have not announced any arrests or filed charges as of Saturday. Authorities have repeatedly said there is no known threat to public safety, and there have been no evacuations, though Irvine police spokesman Kyle Oldoerp said the investigation is expected to continue through the weekend.

That second egg arrived just before 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, and viewers of the livestream created by Friends of Big Bear Valley were able to watch live.

This is the fourth egg this season for the pair, the first two were destroyed by ravens.

Earlier this week, the first egg of this clutch arrived, and nature watchers were eager to see if a second egg would soon follow.

And sure enough, on Friday it did.

The livestream has turned Jackie and shadow into social media stars, attracting thousands of viewers every day, as people around the world tune in to see what the famous eagle pair is doing and have a front-row seat to nature.

It’s been an especially difficult year for the Friends of Big Bear Valley team and fans of the birds, after the first clutch was destroyed by ravens in the nest on Jan. 30, less than two weeks later, on Feb. 11, Sandy Steers, the executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley died.

In recent weeks, the Friends watch team had reported that Jackie and Shadow had been mating frequently, meaning the second clutch could be likely.

And now with a second egg in that second clutch now here, it’s possible there could be a third egg.

“Jackie has always laid her eggs 3 days apart,” the Friends of Big Bear Valley Facebook post announcing this second egg says, if a third egg is to come, “we can watch for that Monday.”

Fans of the page say they’re watching closely.

“This decision to strike Iran without congressional approval stands in stark contrast to a president who promised to put Americans first and end foreign wars,” U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla said Saturday, Feb. 28.

“The Iranian regime has oppressed its own people, and its state-sponsored terrorism and nuclear ambitions pose significant risks to the safety of Americans and regional stability,” Padilla said. “We must work with our allies to counter those threats. Regardless of what the president may think or say, he does not enjoy a blank check to launch large-scale military operations without a clear strategy, without any transparency or public debate and not without congressional approval.”

Related: US and Israel launch a major attack on Iran. Trump urges Iranians to ‘take over

Along with Israel, the U.S. launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday, with some of the initial strikes appearing to hit areas around the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, although it was not immediately clear if he was in the area at the time. Smoke could be seen rising from the capital as part of strikes that Iranian media said occurred nationwide.

President Donald Trump, in a video message posted to social media, said the military began “major combat operations” to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.”

“It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it any longer,” said Trump.

Republican congressional representatives praised Trump in the aftermath of the attack.

Rep. Young Kim, R-Anaheim Hills, said the president “took decisive action in response to refusal by the Iranian regime to take diplomatic off-ramps, dismantle its nuclear program and end its reign of terror against the United States and our allies.”

Notably, Kim also said Congress should be briefed on what’s been dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.”

“I hope for a swift and decisive operation that will pave the way for a more peaceful Middle East and a safer world,” she said. “My prayers are with our brave U.S. servicemembers risking their lives to protect our nation.”

Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, said he was notified after the attack began since he chairs the Defense Appropriations Committee.

“I look forward to continued briefings from our military and civilian national security leaders,” Calvert said. “We will stand together with Israel and our allies in the region as they face retaliation by Iran, and help them shape a more peaceful future for the Middle East.”

Calvert noted former presidents, both Republicans and Democrats, have attempted, without success, to get the Iranian regime “to divert from its violent path.”

“President Trumps decision to launch Operation Epic Fury will protect America and our allies by eliminating the Iranian regimes ability to wage terror and threaten its enemies,” Calvert said. “It will also provide the Iranian people with a historic opportunity to shape their own future free from oppression.”

Democrats struck a more critical tone.

“Over the past few months, my heart has ached for the Iranian people,” said Rep. Dave Min, D-Irvine. “For decades, they have suffered under this evil regime, but in recent weeks, the Islamic Republic has brutally attacked, tortured, raped and killed tens of thousands of peaceful Iranians. Many of my constituents have not been able to be in contact with their family and friends in Iran.

“However, as a member of Congress and an American citizen, I cannot stand by quietly while President Trump drags us into a costly and illegal war without even consulting with Congress, let alone receiving a declaration of war or authorization to use military force.”

Trump, Min said, should “immediately present his case for putting our servicemembers in harm’s way to Congress and the American people.”

That was a similar sentiment echoed by Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, who also castigated the Iranian regime but still said Trump needed congressional approval before undertaking such an attack.

“By launching this operation on his own, the president has put Congress and the country in the worst possible position,” Gomez said. “He started a war first, and now Congress is being asked to deal with the consequences instead of deciding whether the war should begin at all.”

“Once troops are in harms way, the pressure to escalate grows. That is how conflicts expand, costs rise and American lives are put at risk without a clear plan to end them,” Gomez added.

Should Congress be brought into the decision, Rep. Sydney Kamlager Dove, D-Los Angeles, said there would be bipartisan support for a comprehensive plan that supports the Iranian people while also preventing the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon. That just hasn’t happened, she said.

But Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, said he would oppose a vote that leads to a sustained war in Iran.

“I have no greater responsibility as an elected representative than deciding whether to send service members into harm’s way,” Levin said. “I believe that we can support Iranians’ struggle for democracy without initiating a regional war.”

Find more reactions from lawmakers around Southern California below.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, Democrat: “The corrupt and repressive Iranian regime must never have nuclear weapons. The leadership of Iran must go. But that does not justify the president of the United States engaging in an illegal, dangerous war that will risk the lives of our American service members and our friends without justification to the American people. President Trump is putting Americans at risk abroad because he is unpopular at home.”

Sen. Adam Schiff, Democrat: “There is no doubt that the Iranian regime is responsible for killing thousands of its own citizens and sponsoring acts of terrorism against its neighbors and the United States. The American people stand in solidarity with the Iranian people protesting their own murderous and authoritarian government. However, President Trump had no authority under the Constitution to initiate this war of choice, place the lives of U.S. servicemembers in harms way and risk a broader conflict without making the case to the American people and seeking congressional approval.”

Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Redlands: “Iran is a terrorist state, a destabilizing force in the Middle East and continues to violate the human rights of Iranians. However, the Trump administration must immediately brief all members about this military action and explain why they are sending American troops and taxpayer dollars to another war in the Middle East. House Democrats will force a vote on the War Powers resolution offered by Reps. Khanna and Massie to restrict military action in Iran without congressional approval. I will vote for the War Powers resolution in the House and will continue praying for our servicemembers who are in harms way.”

Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-San Pedro: “Today is a sad and dangerous day for the men and women of our military and their families, as the president starts another potential war in the Middle East with Iran. Given the severity of the presidents actions, which I believe ignores and tramples on the Constitution, the Speaker should immediately call on Congress to return to Washington to debate and vote on the matter.”

Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Thousand Oaks: “Donald Trumps decision to launch strikes against Iran without congressional authorization is a blatant violation of the Constitution and a dangerous abuse of executive power. This reckless escalation comes after his unilateral withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. He has never presented a coherent strategy to confront Irans malign activities. As a result, the United States and our allies are less safe today. Preemptive U.S. military action against Iran not only endangers our troops, it risks further destabilizing an already volatile region and igniting a broader conflict. By launching these strikes, Donald Trump has thrust the United States into war without approval from Congress.”

Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Covina: “The president cannot circumvent the Constitution and wage war without the approval of Congress. Iran is a bad actor and oppressive state that has suppressed its people and supported terrorism around the world. However, our military forces do not belong to the president to use on a whim, or because he doesnt agree with the pace of negotiations. This is not about defending the nation. This is the president being reckless. Donald Trumps actions have put military forces at risk and made us less safe.”

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park: “President Trump has launched an unlawful war with Iran despite no imminent threat to the United States, no long-term strategy, no support from the American public and no authorization from Congress. The House of Representatives must immediately take a vote on … a War Powers resolution that I cosponsor to halt all military operations in Iran without congressional authorization. The Iranian regime is brutal, repressive and has denied Iranians freedom and dignity for generations. These facts alone do not give President Trump the authority to unilaterally launch a major, pre-emptive military operation which puts so many lives at risk. Americans have already seen this playbook fail in Iraq and Afghanistan, at enormous cost.”

Rep. Laura Friedman, D-Glendale: “We cannot allow President Trump to drag Americans into another endless war. That is why I have supported bipartisan legislation to end U.S. involvement in Iran without congressional authorization since June of 2025. We must vote on that legislation immediately. I stand for the freedom of the Iranian people and support their fight for the right to choose their own leaders. However, we are a country of laws, and no president is above the law or the Constitution.”

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach: “The American people deserve lower prices and affordable healthcare, not another war in the Middle East. We can support the people of Iran and their self-determination without this dangerous action that is already costing innocent lives. End this war. We need a War Powers Vote now.”

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Bonsall: “May God bless and protect our brave service members as they carry out their duties and their mission.”

Rep. Luz Rivas, D-Pacoima: “In the dead of night, Donald Trump conducted an unauthorized attack on Iran that will surely bring about instability across the region. Donald Trump has neglected to make the case for these attacks in front of Congress and the American people. The Constitution is clear: the president cannot enter into a war without approval from Congress ' he is not above the law.”

Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Indio: “Once again, Donald Trump has lied to the American people, broken the law, and risked American lives for a personal vendetta. He repeatedly promised no new wars and criticized past presidents for starting wars without congressional approval, but here he is, doing exactly that. We had an international agreement that prevented Iran from having nuclear weapons, but Trump tore it up. He’s the only reason Iran is able to pursue nuclear weapons. Congress must act immediately to stop Trump from risking American lives.”

Rep. Linda Sánchez, D-Whittier: “Just eight months after attacking nuclear sites in Iran and declaring its nuclear program ‘completely and totally obliterated,’ President Trump has dangerously escalated the situation. He has again violated the Constitution by launching additional airstrikes targeting major cities in Iran without congressional approval, further risking another forever war in the Middle East without a clear strategy or credible evidence of an imminent threat. Congress must reject this course. I urge Republicans to join Democrats in defending the Constitution and protecting our troops from this reckless president.”

Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks: “At times like this, we reflect upon the patriotism and courage of our men and women in uniform, and their dedication to protecting Americans and minimizing civilian casualties.”

Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside: “President Trump has launched a major military operation in the Middle East without a clear objective and without making the case to Congress or the American people. This reckless action puts American troops at risk and edges us toward a wider regional war. Congress must immediately reconvene and pass an Iran War Powers Resolution to stop this before it spirals further.”

Rep. Norma Torres, D-Pomona: “Decisions that place American servicemembers in harm’s way require clarity of purpose, defined objectives and a strategy that prioritizes long-term stability and security. The Constitution entrusts Congress with the authority to declare war, ensuring that matters of armed conflict are subject to careful deliberations and democratic accountability. When the House considers a War Powers resolution to reaffirm Congress’ role, I intend to support that effort. It is essential that we proceed thoughtfully, uphold our constitutional framework and avoid actions that could lead to unintended consequences.”

Rep. Derek Tran, D-Orange: “Iran is a terrorist nation-state and is a threat to democracies worldwide. It is governed by a brutal regime that oppresses its people and is an enemy to the United States. However, the fact remains that America is not willing to entangle ourselves in another forever war. This administrations failure to seek diplomatic resolution, combined with its failure to seek Congressional buy-in, is a recipe for catastrophe. Instead of a strategy to prevent Irans nuclear proliferation, we are seeing a reckless policy of regime change that threatens to ignite a full-scale war. Congress is not a bystander in matters of war and peace; we are a coequal branch of government with the sole constitutional authority to declare war.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Gov. Gavin Newsom first requested tens of billions of dollars in disaster aid from the federal government in February 2025 and is still waiting for Trump to give the signal to the Republican-led Congress to approve the supplemental funding.

The bipartisan resolution the Assembly passed on Thursday, Feb. 26, called on the president to “immediately submit a supplemental disaster declaration” for Congress to “unlock funding.” At the same time, it urged Congress to approve the aid “regardless of whether it receives a request” from Trump.

“Mr. President, stop playing politics with people’s lives. Do your job and give us our … money,” Assemblymember John Harabedian, D-Pasadena, said in floor remarks.

Harabedian, whose district represents survivors of the Eaton fire, is the lead author of the resolution, along with Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks, whose constituents include those impacted by the Palisades fire.

Irwin said families who survived the fires are nearing the end of their mortgage forbearance period. She said, “The long road to rebuilding and recovery deserves certainty.”

“The people of Los Angeles County can wait no longer for the federal support they need to recover,” she said in a statement.

This week’s resolution passed the state legislature’s lower chamber with 68 “yes” votes and zero “no” votes. Twelve lawmakers, including five Democrats and seven Republicans, did not cast a vote.

Following the vote, Speaker Robert Rivas’ office said that although “many” Republicans supported the resolution, a “handful of Republicans could not muster the courage” to join the bipartisan demand for federal disaster aid.

The press release from Rivas’ office called out the GOP lawmakers who did not cast a vote, including Assemblymembers Diane Dixon of Orange County, Natasha Johnson of Riverside County and Kate Sanchez, whose district spans both of those counties.

But five Democrats also did not vote. This included L.A. County Assemblymembers Tina McKinnor, one of the bill’s co-authors, and Celeste Rodriguez. Assemblymembers Avelino Valencia of Orange County and James Ramos of San Bernardino County also did not register a vote.

Staff for McKinnor, Ramos and Valencia said the elected officials were out on Thursday due to an illness, a medical reason or another excused absence. Eric Lopez, spokesperson for Valencia, said the Assembly member would have voted for the resolution had he been present.

Staff for Dixon, Johnson, Rodriguez and Sanchez did not respond to requests for comment.

Unlike bills that become law, resolutions are nonbinding and simply express a chamber’s ' in this case, the Assembly’s ' position on a matter.

According to the resolution, copies of it will be transmitted to Trump, Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and to each U.S. senator and House member from California.

In January, on the one-year anniversary of the fires, California’s entire congressional delegation also sent a letter to Trump, calling for additional aid.

So it was no surprise that when a coalition of Jewish organizations convened a forum with some of the top-polling candidates for governor on Thursday, Feb. 26, the event took place in Los Angeles.

Candidates discussed a range of topics, from antisemitism and immigration to California’s relationship with Israel and the Trump administration.

Participating candidates included former Fox News host Steve Hilton, a Republican, and four Democrats: San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, entrepreneur and environmentalist Tom Steyer, Rep. Eric Swalwell and former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Rep. Katie Porter, both Democrats, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, also were invited but did not attend due to scheduling conflicts, according to organizers.

Candidates who polled in the top five in a recent nonpartisan, reputable and independent poll or had raised at least $1 million since July 1 were invited to participate, according to event organizers.

Here are highlights of the discussion from the forum.

Safety concerns and antisemitism

Moderator Alex Cohen, an anchor with Spectrum News, said Jews represent roughly 3% of the state’s population yet account for 15% of reported hate crimes statewide, and asked what each candidate would do as governor to ensure safety for Jews and all other vulnerable communities.

Villaraigosa cast himself as a “uniter” of people, telling the audience he grew up alongside Jews, Latinos and Japanese Americans in Boyle Heights and reminding them he once was mayor of Los Angeles, a city where nearly 70% of residents are people of color.

“I will stand up and be the uniter I was in this town. … I brought us together, and as governor, I will bring us together as well,” he said.

Hilton said university leaders must “be stronger in the face of the hate that we see.”

He called it “outrageous” that a planned lecture at UCLA featuring CBS News editor Bari Weiss was recently canceled due to security concerns. He also criticized the state’s largest teachers union.

“We have to push back against those who are pushing the hate. And they’re pushing the hate into our schools through the curriculum,” said Hilton.

Mahan also addressed classroom instruction, saying he’d advocate for better curriculum.

“It is completely unacceptable that we have teachers teaching curriculum that just divides children into ‘oppressor’ and ‘oppressed’ and say some people’s opinions are valid and others are not,” said Mahan.

Swalwell noted he’s endorsed by the California Police Chiefs Association and said he’d work with law enforcement to protect the Jewish community.

In terms of curriculum, Swalwell said he was taught the Holocaust in high school by a teacher who was politically active in the teachers union.

“I’m willing to bring to the table educators and the community to make sure we get this right for our kids,” he said.

Steyer, meanwhile, said he’d want to reach out to other communities for a broader view “of where we’re going together” as a state.

Relations with Israel

Candidates were also asked how they plan to respond to pressures for California to cut ties with Israel when the state has had deep economic, technological, environmental and cultural connections with that country.

Many of the candidates drew a distinction between the people of Israel and the Israeli government. All five candidates said they oppose the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement or are not considering divesting.

“The Jewish people of California are not the Israeli government any more than … most of you are part of the White House or support the White House. And that’s how I’m going to approach this as governor,” said Swalwell, who said the state should partner with Israel to meet California’s energy and water needs.

Steyer, too, drew a distinction between the people of Israel and the country’s government. He said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is an ally of President Donald Trump‘s ' someone whom Steyer hasn’t been shy to criticize.

“Having said that, how do I feel about the people of Israel, a scrappy group of people trying to build a country, build their families, build businesses? That’s a completely different question,” said Steyer, adding, “The administration, I have a lot of problems with.”

Villaraigosa said he doesn’t agree with Netanyahu or his government but respects the Israeli people and would work with the country on matters related to water, science and technology. The former L.A. mayor also said he supports a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine and Israel’s “right to exist.”

Hilton, an entrepreneur, said he wants to increase business relationships with Israel, which he believes would help address some of the mistrust and division in society.

“That foundation of prosperity and cooperation is how we build a stronger future for Israel and for us here in California,” he said.

Maintaining relationships with Israel is important for California, said Mahan, who said he’s lost count of the number of entrepreneurs and investors from Israel he’s met in Silicon Valley who have brought “incredible innovation.” That exchange, he said, needs to continue.

“That exchange is something we need to continue to invest in,” he said.

Trump and democracy

The candidates were asked how, as governor, they would avoid polarization, foster collaboration and work toward a more unified California, as public satisfaction with democracy at the state level falls.

Swalwell, who served as a House impeachment manager during Trump’s U.S. Senate trial, said he’d always seek collaboration as governor, including with the president, though he drew a line in the sand on attacks by the Trump administration against “the most vulnerable people in our state.”

Presumably referring to federal immigration raids, Swalwell spoke of people running for the fields or factories where they work and women being dragged into unmarked vans.

“The president wants to go after any of those vulnerable communities, he knows … he has to go through me,” he said.

Villaraigosa said he’d work with Trump if the president wants to work with California, though he suggested that wasn’t likely.

“We have to become more bipartisan. Maybe not with him (Trump) because he’s not interested, but with the rest of them. I can work with both sides,” Villaraigosa said. “We’ve got to teach our children that civil war is not an option.”

Mahan said it’s not an “either/or” situation; he said California needs a governor who will stand up to Trump but who also will “work across the ideological spectrum to solve problems.”

Steyer, meanwhile, criticized Trump for wanting to “take over” federal elections.

“I don’t think there’s any reason for us to sit here and think we’re going to get along because we’re not going to get along,” Steyer said.

Hilton, the lone Republican on stage, said people have lost faith in democracy because nothing has gotten better in California, election after election. That, he said, is why voters should elect an outsider like himself.

Voters “want change,” he said. “And that is the best way that we can restore faith in democracy ' to elect someone who’s actually going to change things and deliver results.”

Thursday’s forum at the Skirball Cultural Center, which drew a crowd of 1,000, with thousands more tuning in online, was billed by organizers as the largest statewide gathering of Jewish voters this election cycle.

Event organizers included Jewish Federation Los Angeles, Jewish California (formerly known as the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California, or JPAC), Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area and the Skirball Cultural Center.

Republicans think patients should be shopping for better health care prices. The party has long pushed to give patients money and let consumers do the work of reducing costs. After some GOP lawmakers closed out 2025 advocating to fund health savings accounts, President Donald Trump introduced his Great Healthcare Plan, which calls for, among other policies, requiring providers and insurers to post their prices 'in their place of business.'

The idea echoes a policy implemented during his first term, when Trump suggested that requiring hospitals to post their charges online could ease one of the most common gripes about the health care system ' the lack of upfront prices. To anyone whos gotten a bill three months after treatment only to find mysterious charges, the idea seemed intuitive.

'Youre able to go online and compare all of the hospitals and the doctors and the prices,' Trump said in 2019 at an event unveiling the price transparency policy.

But amid low compliance and other struggles in implementing the policy since it took effect in 2021, the available price data is sparse and often confusing. And instead of patients shopping for medical services, its mostly health systems and insurers using the little data there is, turning it into fodder for negotiations that determine what medical professionals and facilities get paid for what services.

'We use the transparency data,' said Eric Hoag, an executive at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, noting that the insurer wants to make sure providers arent being paid substantially different rates. Its 'to make sure that we are competitive, or, you know, more than competitive against other health plans.'

Not all hospitals have fallen in line with the price transparency rules, and many were slow to do so. A study conducted in the policys first 10 months found only about a third of facilities had complied with the regulations. The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services notified 27 hospitals from June 2022 to May 2025 that they would be fined for lack of compliance with the rules.

The struggles to make health care prices available have prompted more federal action since Trumps first effort. President Joe Biden took his own thwack at the dilemma, by requiring increased data standardization and toughening compliance criteria. And in early 2025, working to fulfill his promises to lower health costs, Trump tried again, signing a new executive order urging his administration to fine hospitals and doctors for failing to post their prices. CMS followed up with a regulation intended to up the fines and increase the level of detail required within the pricing data.

So far, 'theres no evidence that patients use this information,' said Zack Cooper, a health economist at Yale University.

In 2021, Cooper co-authored a paper based on data from a large commercial insurer. The researchers found that, on average, patients who need an MRI pass six lower-priced imaging providers on the way from their homes to an appointment for a scan. Thats because they follow their physicians advice about where to receive care, the study showed.

Executives and researchers interviewed by KFF Health News also didnt think opening the data would change prices in a big way. Research shows that transparency policies can have mixed effects on prices, with one 2024 study of a New York initiative finding a marginal increase in billed charges.

The policy results thus far seem to put a damper on long-held hopes, particularly from the GOP, that providing more price transparency would incentivize patients to find the best deal on their imaging or knee replacements.

These aspirations have been unfulfilled for a few reasons, researchers and industry insiders say. Some patients simply dont compare services. But unlike with apples ' a Honeycrisp and a Red Delicious are easy to line up side by side ' medical services are hard to compare.

For one thing, its not as simple as one price for one medical stay. Two babies might be delivered by the same obstetrician, for example, but the mothers could be charged very different amounts. One patient might be given medications to speed up contractions; another might not. Or one might need an emergency cesarean section ' one of many cases in medicine in which obtaining the service simply isnt a choice.

And the data often is presented in a way thats not useful for patients, sometimes buried in spreadsheets and requiring a deep knowledge of billing codes. In computing these costs, hospitals make 'detailed assumptions about how to apply complex contracting terms and assess historic data to create a reasonable value for an expected allowed amount,' the American Hospital Association told the Trump administration in July 2025 amid efforts to boost transparency.

Costs vary because hospitals contracts with insurers vary, said Jamie Cleverley, president of Cleverley and Associates, which works with health care providers to help them understand the financial impacts of changing contract terms. The cost for a patient with one health plan may be very different than the cost for the next patient with another plan.

The fact that hospital prices might be confusing for patients is a consequence of the lack of standardization in contracts and presentation, Cleverley said. 'Theyre not being nefarious.'

'Until we kind of align as an industry, theres going to continue to be this variation in terms of how people look at the data and the utility of it,' he said.

Instead of aiding shoppers, the federally mandated data has become the foundation for negotiations ' or sometimes lawsuits ' over the proper level of compensation.

The top use for the pricing data for health care providers and payers, such as insurers, is 'to use that in their contract negotiations,' said Marcus Dorstel, an executive at price transparency startup Turquoise Health.

Turquoise Health assembles price data by grouping codes for services together using machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence. It is just one example in a cottage industry of startups offering insights into prices. And, online, the startups advertisements hawking their wares often focus on hospitals and their periodic jousts with insurers. Turquoise has payers and providers as clients, Dorstel said.

'I think nine times out of 10 you will hear them say that the price transparency data is a vital piece of the contract negotiation now,' he said.

Of course, prices arent the only variable that negotiations hinge on. Hoag said Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota also considers quality of care, rates of unnecessary treatments, and other factors. And sometimes negotiators feel as if they have to keep up with their peers ' claiming a need for more revenue to match competitors salaries, for example.

Hoag said doctors and other providers often look at the data from comparable health systems and say, '‘I need to be paid more.'

©2026 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.