NPR News: 05-13-2026 7AM EDT

This NPR News Now broadcast rounds up developments including congressional resistance to the Trump administration's proposed defense budget amid escalating Iran war costs, redistricting battles in Southern states, new safeguards against insider trading in prediction markets, a Senate confirmation for a Federal Reserve position, and criminal charges tied to the Baltimore bridge collapse.

Defense Budget Faces Bipartisan Scrutiny

Lawmakers are pushing back against the Trump administration's $1.5 trillion defense budget request for the next fiscal year, demanding more details especially on the costs of the ongoing war in Iran. Pentagon estimates put the war's price tag at $29 billion so far, excluding billions more for repairs to U.S. facilities damaged in Iranian attacks. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the proposal as "historic," "fiscally responsible," and a "warfighting budget" aimed at remaking the military. The Pentagon also plans supplemental funding requests on top of the main budget. This resistance spans both parties, fueled by frustration over shifting administration plans during an unpopular war, which raises questions about fiscal priorities and transparency in wartime spending.