The latest figures from the Pentagon on the war against Iran amount to $38 billion, with future costs running at $3 billion a month. And contrary to some of the president's earlier statements, it's not about to be over.

And who is paying the price? Look to your left. Look to your right. Look in the mirror.

Don't take my word for it. This is what Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had to say:

"Look, we're going to acknowledge, obviously, gas prices are too high right now, diesel prices are too high. There's a very simple reason for it. It's tied, of course, to the Strait of Hormuz. We have got to get commerce stabilized in the Strait of Hormuz. Gas prices will immediately come down again. The cost of groceries will, as well, because that's tied in many ways to the cost of transport, of getting the goods to the market."

"And so that Iranian situation, the Strait of Hormuz — as soon as that's resolved, it comes down. Now, the president has forecast, you've heard him even in recent days, he thinks it can get done maybe right after the election."

In California, diesel prices have skyrocketed to $8 a gallon. The result is that everything that travels by truck—including all your groceries — costs more.

For months, Republicans have been claiming that the war would be over by the midterms. They're not claiming that anymore. When will the war end — and prices will go down? "Maybe right after the election." Promises, promises.

Maybe right after the Democrats win. President Donald Trump has tried his best to gerrymander his way to victory. He's tried to restrict mail-in ballots. The only thing he hasn't done is end this war — a war that will cost the Republicans dearly in the election.

And who's to blame? On this, Mike Johnson's explanation is almost laughable. "We're not there yet. It takes a long time to turn the aircraft carrier, the ship of state. We're pulling out of the most disastrous situation that we inherited after Biden-Harris." Blame Biden. Americans aren't buying it, and they shouldn't.

According to the latest New York Times/Siena University poll, likely voters now trust Democrats over Republicans on the economy (by 7 points), the cost of living (by 8 points) and even the deficit (by 10 points). The poll also found Democrats leading by nearly 9 points on the generic congressional ballot.

Republicans are used to owning these issues — and winning on them, as they did in 2016 and 2024. They don't own them anymore. On the economy, voters' No. 1 issue, Trump's approval rating was 39% according to the New York Times/Siena University poll; and on the cost of living, it sank to 28%. As for the Iran war, 31% approved of Trump's handling of it.

And Tuesday night, for the third time, the House voted 220-204 to end the war, approving a war powers resolution that would halt Trump's ability to continue military action without congressional approval. It's all symbolic — unless the Senate acts, it never even makes it to the president — if it's Trump — who would veto it. But not in the next Congress.

Rep. Seth Moulton, a former Marine in the Iraq War, who in his last days in Congress pushed the resolution, reminded Congress of this administration's schizophrenic view of the war. "Remember when Donald Trump said that this war would last just a few weeks?" he said. It's time for Congress to "actually ask tough questions, as the Constitution directs us to do, rather than be subservient to another warmongering administration."

He's right.

To find out more about Susan Estrich and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Jakub ?erdzicki at Unsplash