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Trump's strikes on Iran could cost the American economy up to $210B, report says

(The Independent) The U.S. war with Iran could cost the American economy as much as $210 billion, according to fiscal analyst Kent Smetters, director of the widely used Penn Wharton Budget Model. The ongoing conflict is already driving disruption to trade, global energy markets, and gasoline prices, though it is difficult to precisely estimate how much the war will impact the economy, Smetters told Fortune. His predictions currently estimate a $115 billion economic loss, though that figure could range between $50 billion and the upward bound of $210 billion depending on the nature and duration of the conflict.

'We May Be Putting Boots on the Ground': Senator Alarmed by Iran Briefing With Trump Officials

(Mediaite) The U.S. and Israel began striking targets across Iran on Saturday. President Donald Trump has said the campaign could last a month or longer. On Tuesday, senators attended a closed-door briefing with Trump administration officials, who apparently did nothing to ease Democratic senators’ concerns. Addressing reporters on Capitol Hill after the briefing, (Sen. Richard) Blumenthal said he believes the deployment of soldiers to Iran is a real possibility: "I just want to say that I am more fearful than ever after this briefing that we may be putting boots on the ground and that troops from the United States may be necessary to accomplish objectives that the administration seems to have."

Iran Reportedly Chooses New Supreme Leader With Familiar Name

(Mediaite) The Islamic Republic of Iran has reportedly chosen its new supreme leader. According to Iran International, a Persian-language outlet based out of London, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, was been selected for the role by the regime’s Assembly of Experts “under pressure from” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Tuesday. CNN had previously reported that the younger Khamenei “is known to wield significant influence behind the scenes and has strong links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the most powerful military body in the country, as well as its Basij volunteer paramilitary force.”

Defense executives plan to meet at White House as strikes on Iran diminish stockpiles

(Reuters) The Trump administration plans ​to meet with executives from the biggest U.S. defense contractors at the White House on Friday to discuss ‌accelerating weapons production, as the Pentagon works to replenish supplies after strikes on Iran and several other recent military efforts, five people familiar with the plan told Reuters. Companies including Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) and Raytheon parent RTX (RTX.N), along with other key suppliers, have been invited to ​attend the meeting, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.

Gulf countries 'raging' they're 'collateral damage' in Trump's Iran bombing campaign

(Raw Story) Gulf countries targeted by Iran after the U.S. and Israel attacks were reportedly frustrated by the escalating regional conflict, an analyst revealed Tuesday. CNN's political and national security analyst David Sanger described how Iran's objective is to put financial pressure on the countries allied with the United States and Israel in the fallout over the military strikes, all while midterm elections loom for President Donald Trump.

Wednesday's Condensed News Cartoons

Talarico wins Texas Senate Democratic nomination while Cornyn and Paxton head to Republican runoff

(AP) State Rep. James Talarico topped Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in an expensive and fiercely contested Texas Senate Democratic primary that once again has the party dreaming of a big upset in November. Who Talarico will face depends on a May runoff between longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn and MAGA favorite Ken Paxton - a race expected to get increasingly nasty over coming months and could hinge on whether or not President Donald Trump offers an endorsement.

Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley clinch US Senate in North Carolina, setting up high-stakes fall fight

(AP) Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and ex-Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley each won their party’s U.S. Senate nominations in North Carolina on Tuesday, setting them up for a fall campaign that could determine control of Congress’ upper chamber. Whatley and Cooper are seeking the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who chose last June not to seek a third term. The two announced their campaigns weeks later and easily won their respective primary elections over crowded fields.

Stephen Miller's dystopian dream: Government-sanctioned child abuse

(The Hill) Before I saw the boy with his iconic bunny-eared hat and backpack, I had seen this movie before. In 2019, after several migrant children died in federal custody, the Trump administration contacted me — a pediatrician who had directed a children’s intensive care unit — and asked me to develop a medical screening protocol that would help Border Patrol agents identify seriously ill children. I developed a protocol, but it was never adopted. But I was granted access to facilities where unaccompanied children were detained in what were appropriately described as “cages.”

Kristi Noem Grilled in Senate Hearing Over DHS Allegedly Giving Former Associates Massive Government Contract

(Mediaite) Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took heat from several lawmakers over former associates of hers alleged receiving a massive government contract for an ad campaign. Noem on Tuesday faced the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify on Department of Homeland Security funding. Throughout the hearing, numerous senators confronted Noem about the $220 million that DHS spent on an ad campaign in which she stars. The ads focused on the department’s deportation efforts in the country.