War in Iran; Marty Makary; Education scores; Trump : NPR

Key Points:

• The Pentagon estimates the cost of the war with Iran at approximately $29 billion, up from $25 billion two weeks ago, excluding an additional $4 billion for repairs to U.S. facilities damaged by Iran; supplemental funding will be requested amid growing GOP frustration over limited information from the White House.
• Dr. Marty Makary resigned as FDA commissioner after 13 months, reportedly due to White House pressure to approve flavored vapes; acting head Kyle Diamantas, a lawyer, has been named, but a permanent commissioner appointment may take time due to Senate confirmation challenges.
• The Education Scorecard reveals that the decline in U.S. student math and reading scores during the pandemic is part of a longer "learning recession," with some progress in math gains but limited improvement in reading except in states that changed teaching legislation.
• Legal experts warn that President Trump's pardons of officials convicted of corruption and dismantling the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section undermine efforts to combat public corruption, signaling a diminished seriousness toward corruption enforcement.
• A conflict over glyphosate use divides the Republican Party and the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, with MAHA opposing the herbicide due to health concerns while the administration supports it for farming; this division may provide Democrats an opportunity to attract some MAHA voters amid broader food and health policy disagreements.