The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell Hegseth grilled on the Hill as Pentagon’s Iran war estimate grows to $29B
May 13, 2026
A deep dive into the Pentagon raising the Iran war price tag to $29 billion and the budget fights that follow. Heated Hill questioning over defense priorities and strategy in the Strait of Hormuz. Reports on rising U.S. gas prices and political fallout. Coverage of a Florida shadow hearing where survivors spoke out and scrutiny of taxpayer-funded White House projects.
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Intelligence Says Iran Recovered Missile Capability
- Classified assessments show Iran regained access to most missile sites and restored operational access to 30 of 33 sites along the Strait of Hormuz.
- The New York Times found these expert assessments clash with Trump and Hegseth's public claims that Iran's military had been crushed.
War Is Driving Inflation And Higher Gas Prices
- The Iran conflict is a major driver of rising consumer prices, with inflation up 3.8% last month and national average gas jumping from $2.98 to $4.50 per gallon.
- Lawrence O'Donnell links the war and tariffs to real household pain in groceries, transport, and farm input costs.
Trump Dismisses Domestic Cost As Nonissue
- President Trump dismissed economic concerns while defending the war, telling a reporter his only priority is preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
- He also insulted the reporter and insisted he doesn't consider the American financial situation when making Iran policy.