The true cost of Trump’s Iran war

Plus, judge quashes DOJ's subpoenas of Fed Chair Powell |

VIEW IN BROWSER MS NOW DAILY Understand today's news Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026   THE LATEST How the money spent on Trump's Iran war could have helped Americans By Philip Bump How the money spent on Trump's Iran war could have helped Americans By Philip Bump The bean-counters at the Department of Defense — admittedly not the best bean-counters in the federal government — have tallied up the cost of President Donald Trump's unilateral military incursion into Iran. The first week of the conflict, they estimate, ran up a bill for U.S. taxpayers of somewhere around $11 billion, though they admit this is more of a ballpark number than a hard-and-fast calculation. It is probably safe to assume that any error in their calculations is leading them to underestimate the cost rather than to overstate it. Much of that cost was incurred in the form of munitions. The missiles and bombs that have been pounding Iran since the first attacks on Feb. 28 each carry substantial price tags. Add in the time of the pilots and operators carrying out the strikes — and then the costs of their support teams and vehicles — and it's clear how quickly costs can add up.   This is a preview of Philip Bump's latest column. Read the full column here. TOP STORIES HAYES BROWN The dangerous significance of Pete Hegseth's 'no quarter' Iran war pledge The defense secretary's disdain for rules of engagement and the laws of war is apparent. And it could lead to war crimes — by Americans and against Americans. Read more. BRANDY ZADROZNY 'Didn't feel right': Influencers offered cash to bash Chicago Democrat online Progressive House candidate Kat Abughazaleh told MS NOW the secretive campaign is "filled with false and defamatory claims." Read more. AYMAN MOHYELDIN Gulf leaders now face the shockwaves of a war they did not start As the GCC region becomes a battlefield by proximity, ordinary civilians are paying the ultimate price. Read more. JULIANNE MCSHANE Ex-ICE attorney who told judge 'this job sucks' is running for Congress Julie Le, 47, is launching a primary campaign to unseat Rep. Ilhan Omar, who has denounced the agency Le worked for. Read more. TOP VIDEOS KATY TUR Federal judge quashes DOJ's subpoenas of Fed Chair Powell WATCH NOW THE WEEKNIGHT Trump: U.S. launched bombing raid on Iran's Kharg Island WATCH NOW KATY TUR County sheriff discusses investigation into Michigan synagogue attack WATCH NOW CHRIS JANSING REPORTS TSA workers miss first paycheck as DHS shutdown drags on WATCH NOW MORE FROM MS NOW Tonight, tune in for a special conversation between Nicolle Wallace and Emmy and Grammy-nominated comedian Tig Notaro from her podcast, "The Best People with Nicolle Wallace." They discuss Notaro's deeply personal documentary about the profoundly impactful late poet and activist Andrea Gibson. Watch tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern on MS NOW. By subscribing to MS NOW's We the People Newsletter, you can expect exclusive insights and perspectives from your favorite MS NOW anchors, access to even more content than what you see on-air, more ways to engage with MS NOW and a vibrant community where your voice matters. Sign up now at ms.now/wethepeople. This weekend on MS NOW SATURDAY MS NOW's "The Weekend" at 7 a.m. ET: Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.)... Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)… Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Va.)... Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.)... U.K. Liberal Democratic Leader Ed Davey MS NOW's "Velshi" at 10 a.m. ET: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.)… Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton… Former Rep. Joe Walsh… Maryland Democratic Congressional Candidate Jonathan White SUNDAY MS NOW's "PoliticsNation" at 5 p.m. ET: Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.)... Rep. Jim Cylburn (D-S.C.)... Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis MS NOW's "The Weekend: Primetime" at 6 p.m. ET: Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.)… Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Va.)... Lieutenant General Mark Hurtling… Former Pentagon Chief Wes Bryant 229 West 43rd St. New York, NY 10036 PRIVACY | CONTACT | UNSUBSCRIBE