Senate Dems Demand Hegseth Detail Iran War Cost

Happy Thursday! The National Toy Hall of Fame today revealed the 12 finalists for induction in 2026, including some classic games, dolls you or your kids probably had and a playground favorite that probably should have been inducted ages ago. The candidates are: bingo, Bop It!, Care Bears, Mahjong, Monster High dolls, Mouse Trap, Pokémon trading cards, Polly Pocket, slides, Sorry!, Tickle Me Elmo and Yahtzee. The public can vote here until September 23 to help pick the toys most worthy of joining the 90 existing hall of famers, from the Atari 2600 and Etch A Sketch to Scrabble and Silly Putty. The chosen inductees will be announced in early November, when we may all be in the mood for some fun and games.

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Senate Dems Demand Detailed Accounting of Iran War Cost

Senate Democrats are pressing the Pentagon for more information about the cost of the Iran war.

In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday, 46 Senate Democrats criticized the lack of "basic information" about the war provided thus far by the Pentagon. They requested that Hegseth provide a detailed breakdown by the end of the month of the cost of military operations against Iran, including damage to U.S. military installations and equipment as well as the cost of refurbishing deployed ships and aircraft and the projected expense of future benefits for veterans.

They also requested a breakdown of the Trump administration's $67 billion supplemental defense funding request and information about how $34 billion in leftover military funding from last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act will be spent.

"Despite asking for tens of billions of additional taxpayer dollars, you have so far failed to provide basic information on how this money has and will be spent," the letter said, adding, "The American people elected us to be responsible stewards of their tax dollars. The information we are requesting is the bare minimum required for us to carry out that responsibility."

The letter was led by Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Senate Democrat not to sign it.

Democrats also contrasted the amount of information provided by the Trump administration during this war with that provided in prior U.S. conflicts in the Middle East.

Hegseth has reportedly briefed the press about the war eight times since the U.S. and Israel first launched combat operations at the end of February. The last briefing was in May.

"Despite your stated needs, you have repeatedly refused to share basic information that previous administrations, Republican and Democratic, provided to the American public and Congress during times of war," the letter said, adding that the lack of details extends from military operations to Pentagon funding. "During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congress regularly received public supplemental requests that were more than a hundred pages long, with detailed explanations for how funding would be used, down to the number of barrels of fuel," the Democrats wrote. "In contrast, your public $67 billion Iran war supplemental request was a thin, seven-page document with only vague descriptions, such as '$1.2 billion for Administration priorities.'"

The Congressional Budget Office said this week that combat operations in the war with Iran cost $38 billion as of August 1, and the future price tag of the war would run $2 billion to $3 billion a month, depending on the level of military activity. A report by the Defense Department's inspector general said that the war, excluding damage to U.S. facilities and other factors, had cost $33.4 billion as of June 29. Outside estimates have put the cost of the war far higher.

The Democrats also point out that Hegseth himself had previously criticized the Pentagon's accountability when it comes to spending, including comments last year saying that American taxpayers deserve to know where their money goes and that it is spent wisely. "We agree," the senators wrote.

Judge Orders Kennedy Center to Provide Notice Before Making Changes

Amid growing concerns that President Trump plans to tear down the Kennedy Center after losing a battle to add his name to the building, a judge ruled Thursday that the performing arts center must provide 30 days' notice before making any significant changes to the venue or its renovation plan.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper issued his order after lawyers representing Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board of trustees, supplied evidence suggesting that Trump intends to destroy the building in Washington, D.C.

Trump on Wednesday repeated his demand for recognition of his effort to help renovate the building; if such recognition, including putting his name on the facility, is denied, then he said he would halt that effort, resulting in closure of the facility and possible demolition.

"I think that the Trump administration should certainly have recognition because, frankly, if we don't do that, it's going to close," Trump told reporters at a campaign event in North Carolina. "It'll end up being ripped down."

Later Wednesday, a photojournalist captured an image that showed Trump sitting on Air Force One in front of a poster that appeared to say, "Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED."

A long-running effort: Trump has been trying to add his name to the iconic building for months. In December 2025, the Kennedy Center board - which is filled with hand-picked Trump supporters after a purge of previous members - voted to change the name of the venue to the "Trump Kennedy Center," and his name was added to the building's façade almost immediately.

Cooper ruled in May, however, that Trump's name must be removed, saying federal law requires the center to honor "President Kennedy alone." Trump's name has reportedly been removed, but the building has remained partially covered with construction tarps that obscure its facade.

Trump has continued to push to have his name applied to the building, prompting the judge to rule earlier this week that the Kennedy board cannot "install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress's blessing."

Following that ruling, the board voted to close the center immediately for a two-year renovation. Trump and his allies insist that the facility is in such bad shape that it threatens public safety.

Congress provided $257 million last year to the center for renovations, ABC News reports, but Trump said earlier this week that no renovation will occur unless he receives the recognition he demands.

A Third of Those With Health Insurance Have Medical Debt: Report

About one in three U.S. working-age adults with private health insurance has medical debt, according to a new report from the Commonwealth Fund based on a representative survey of 6,353 adults.

Hospital visits are the largest source of medical debt, with nearly two-thirds of those paying off such debts citing either inpatient or outpatient care or emergency room care. Nearly half of those with debt owe $2,000 or more.

The rates of medical indebtedness vary across groups. Women have more medical debt than men, 37% compared to 28%, while more people in the South (39%) have debt than those in the North (26%). Race plays a role, as well, with 41% of Black adults reporting medical debt compared to 31% of white adults and 20% of Asian or Pacific Islander adults.

Overall, higher out-of-pocket costs and deductibles play an important role. "Even for insured Americans, high out-of-pocket costs and plan deductibles can make health care difficult to afford," the report says. "People with private insurance are often frustrated in their attempts to get and pay for care through their health plan, leaving them with bills they didn't expect. For many, the fear of incurring high bills is a deterrent to getting needed medical care."

Quote of the Day

"Let me be clear: You have a strong and steadfast friend in the White House. We've accomplished in 19 months things that would have seemed unthinkable two years ago."

• Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., telling attendees at a conference of Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine advocacy group he once chaired, that they have an ally in the Trump White House.

Kennedy delivered a keynote address, which the Associated Press reports was "peppered with questions about long established vaccine safety, also highlighted how once fringe views on vaccines have been given a prominent pulpit under the Trump administration."

The AP notes that Kennedy's appearance at the conference comes as the United States is suffering its worst year for measles cases since 1991 and has seen seven reported measles-associated deaths in the last two years, more than the combined total of the previous three decades.

Fiscal News Roundup

• House Leaves Early for Campaign Trail, Reigniting Debate Over Work Ethic – Wall Street Journal
• Democrats Seize on House GOP's Decision to Leave Town Early – Washington Post
• Gas Prices Are About to Take a Big Jump, Analysts Say, With the Worst Still to Come – Washington Post
• Judge Says Trump Has to Give 30 Days Notice Before Demolishing Kennedy Center – ABC News
• Photos Spur Speculation About Possible Demolition of Kennedy Center – New York Times
• Trump: Surging Gas Costs Are 'Very Inexpensive Price to Pay' for Iran War – The Hill
• Carney Embraces EU Associate Membership Proposal as Trump Pushes Canada Closer to Europe – Associated Press
• Billions in Taxes Go Unpaid. Under Trump, the IRS Won't Say How Much – New York Times
• Industry Titans' Warning to Congress: Do What We Say or Health Insurance Premiums Are Going Up – Politico
• House Passes Bill Aimed at Addressing Impact of Data Centers on Energy Costs – Associated Press
• Democrat Blocks Fast-Track Passage for Data Center Ratepayer Bill – Politico
• Trump Administration Reduces Protections for Endangered Species Again – The Hill

Views and Analysis

• As Republicans Tout Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' Here's Who the Tax Breaks Benefited Most – Kate Dore, CNBC
• There Are Three Paths for the Economy. Only One Is Good – Mohamed A. El-Erian, New York Times
• What to Know About the Kennedy Center Closing Under Trump – Amber Phillips, Washington Post
• Trump's Ego Is Closing the Kennedy Center. Nothing Else – Sara Pequeño, USA Today
• Congress May Be Broken Beyond Repair. Lawmakers Told Us How It Happened – Robert Draper, New York Times
• Why the Federal Reserve Is Lifting Rates Now, and What It Means – Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press
• The Spiraling Cost of Federal Healthcare Subsidies and Carveouts – William McBride and Guy Cardwell, Tax Foundation
• Seven Weeks to Go: Polling Not Getting Better for Republicans; 8 House Rating Changes – Kyle Kondik, Sabato's Crystal Ball
• Betting on Democrats Flipping the Senate? It's Not So Simple – David M. Drucker, Bloomberg
• Want People to Believe in Democracy? Tax a Billionaire – Sarah Pray, The Hill
• Will Democrats Fail to See the Working Class Again? – Stanley B. Greenberg, American Prospect