Thursday, April 30, 2026

The cost of the Iran war

Pentagon officials were on Capitol Hill to talk about the Iran war, including how much it's costing taxpayers and when it might end. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Short List

Wed Apr 29 2026

 

Phaedra Trethan National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Hello! We're halfway through the work week. I'm Phaedra Trethan, amazed at these quick-thinking kids. 🚌

In Wednesday's news:

Pentagon officials were on Capitol Hill to talk about the costs of the Iran war. 💰
The Supreme Court rejected a Louisiana congressional map, striking another blow to the Voting Rights Act. 🗳️
Confused about whom you should tip and how much to give? We gotchu. 🤑

But first: Simone Biles says she's done with red carpet events. Her reason is a pretty good one.

The (monetary) cost of war 💰

$25 billion. That's how much the war with Iran has cost the U.S. so far , Pentagon officials told a Congressional committee Wednesday during a hearing that turned contentious at times, especially over questions of strategy, rising gas prices and why the U.S. went to war in the first place. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has posted new social media warnings for Iranian leaders. The latest developments.

Watch: The Pentagon's acting comptroller on the cost of the war so far.
"Completely unacceptable": Elected and military officials are reacting to a USA TODAY report about subpar food served to service members deployed in the Middle East.
A Special Forces officer pleaded not guilty to insider trading charges relating to the Jan. 3 capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Pentagon reveals $25 billion cost of Iran war

Pentagon official tells Congress the Iran war has cost $25 billion so far with most funds used to replenish munitions.

Reuters / House Armed Services Committee

Another strike against Voting Rights Act 🗳️

Breaking along ideological lines, the Supreme Court rejected a congressional map in Louisiana that was drawn to protect Black residents' voting rights, undercutting the landmark Civil Rights Act. The High Court's 6-3 conservative majority sided with the Trump administration in its contention that the map relied too heavily on race. Justice Samuel Alito called it an "unconstitutional gerrymander," while Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent that the consequences of the majority's decision "are likely to be far-reaching and grave," rendering the protections of the civil rights law "all but a dead letter."

Watch: Why the Supreme Court ruled against Louisiana's map
Haitian immigrants say their futures hinge on another case before the Supreme Court.
Photos: Protesters gather outside the Court. 🪧

Real quick

Deportees talked to USA TODAY about being sent by the Trump administration to third countries where they have no ties, no resources and no way to challenge their detention.
The Fed left interest rates unchanged, and Jerome Powell spoke at what's likely his last news conference as the agency's chair.
Trump administration officials are blaming Democrats for the latest alleged assassination attempt. Democrats say the president's rhetoric is far worse.
King Charles' and Queen Camilla's American tour continues. Where they are now. 👑

Guessing about gratuities? 🤑

Do you drop a buck in the tip jar? Push that prompt on the iPad? Slide over a little envelope? It seems like every business is now offering customers the option to tip workers, but as prices rise and belts tighten, there's less spare change to go around. So where should you tip? How much is fair? And when should you skip the tip and safely assume workers and service providers are being adequately compensated? We offer these helpful, uh, tips on tipping.

Americans are not feeling great about the economy. Here's why. 😕
One of the biggest chunks out of family budgets? Child care. These CEO sisters have an idea about how to change that. 👶🏻

Syndication Statesman Journal

Suzy's Taqueria #2 uses a jar as a method of tipping.

Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

A very Florida headline 🐊

"Alligator at large after killing cow, forcing Florida park to close." That kinda says it all, but here's a little more: A conservation area in the Sunshine State is temporarily closed after a gator attacked and mortally injured a cow, trying to drag it into the water. Wildlife officials tried to locate the reptile, but couldn't. They've set traps and are going to keep trying to capture the wayward gator.

A break from the news

Kentucky Derby day is fast approaching. Here's a printable list of horses and odds. 🏇
Cowboy culture is alive and well in this western state, helped by a popular TV show. 🤠
Who's the GOAT, LeBron or MJ? What one of the hoops legends said. 🐐 🏀

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. She'd love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and your Kentucky Derby picks. Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.

A driver fills up her gas tank.

From Aug. 25, 2025, to Jan. 26, 2026, the daily crude oil production in the U.S. ranged from 13.2M to 13.9M barrels. That is more than Americans use.

People protest on the day the Supreme Court hears arguments regarding the composition of Louisiana electoral districts, in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 15, 2025.
 

Supreme Court ruling not expected to affect House maps this year

Supreme Court overturning Louisiana's congressional map shouldn't mean redrawing maps in other states this year because primaries have already passed.

Police arrested the 22-year-old suspect.
 

Costco employee shot dead in Ohio

A Costco employee was fatally shot in Ohio after confronting a man who allegedly attempted to enter the store while armed.

Writer E. Jean Carroll leaves the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where former U.S. President Donald Trump was asking a federal appeals court to overturn a $5 million jury verdict finding him liable for sexually assaulting and defaming her, in Manhattan, New York, U.S., September 6, 2024.
 

Next stop SCOTUS? Trump loses appeal of $83.3 million Carroll verdict

President Donald Trump lost another appeal in his ongoing battle against paying New York writer E. Jean Carroll an $83.3 million defamation judgment.

Britain's King Charles III presents a bell with the inscription "Trump 1944" as a gift to US President Donald Trump (out of frame) during a State Dinner in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026.
 

King Charles III gifts Trump a 'Trump' bell. See its long history

King Charles III gifted President Donald Trump a historic brass bell during the April 28 state dinner. Here's the bell's long history.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 28: State Sen. Charles Perry (R-TX) speaks to the Eastman family during a hearing on Camp Mystic at the Texas State Capitol on April 28, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Owners and employees of Camp Mystic have begun offering testimony and answering questions from lawmakers regarding their response to the deadly flooding at the campsite last year. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
 

4 key takeaways from Texas Legislature Camp Mystic hearings

Texas lawmakers spent two days asking how 27 girls died at Camp Mystic. Four takeaways from the hearings.

SANTA MARIA, CA - JUNE 3: Michael Jackson arrives at the Sana Barbara County Courthouse for the second day of closing arguments in his child molestation trial June 3, 2005 in Santa Maria, California. Jackson is charged in a 10-count indictment with molesting a boy, plying him with liquor and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. The jury is expected to begin deliberations on the case later today. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
 

The Michael Jackson movie is here. It's 'triggering' for his accusers

The new Michael Jackson biopic is set to ignite the box office, even as it omits his years of legal troubles and accusations of child molestation.

Nick Reiner makes a court appearance on murder charges for the killing of his parents Rob and Michele Reiner, at LA Superior Court in Los Angeles April 29, 2026, in this courtroom sketch.
 

Rob and Michele Reiner's autopsies unfinished as son Nick returns to court

Rob Reiner's son Nick Reiner is back in court after pleading not guilty to murdering his parents.

How to greet the royals
 

Greet royals by being polite, and respectful. And don't get too close.

Etiquette for greeting a royal family member includes shaking hands only if they want to, not taking selfies, and not asking nosy questions

Women and the Caregiving Economy Reporter Madeline Mitchell holding her childhood friend Ariana Georganas' son, Callahan.
 

I always wanted to be a mom. After this weekend, I’m not so sure.

I just spent a weekend at an annual mom summit, and it left me with some troubling thoughts.

Play Your Way to a Relaxing Break

Unwind with crosswords and challenges that recharge you. 

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