As the military uses up expensive weapons in the war with Iran, it naturally seeks to replenish them. However, CNN’s Saturday host of First of All, Victor Blackwell, suggested that the money being used to protect our troops means that the government isn’t concerned with “you” as he rattled off several welfare programs he claimed the money should go to instead.
Blackwell began by introducing a clip of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, “First of all, war has a cost. It has a cost in lives, in attention, in money. President Trump says that he’s now considering winding down the military efforts in the Middle East. But that’s not before the administration asked Congress for $200 billion for the war with Iran.”
CNN’s Victor Blackwell suggests that the Pentagon wanting $200 billion to replenish its stockpiles is contrary proof the government isn’t interesting in helping “you.” He asks “How could that $200 billion help you. If the government put it into federal programs instead?” He then… pic.twitter.com/eO631PoPZU
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) March 21, 2026
In the clip, Hegseth declared, “As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move. Obviously, it takes money to kill bad guys.”
One could also add that it costs money to protect good guys. The standoff munitions used against Iran allow our pilots to engage targets before they come into range of enemy air defense systems, while air defense interceptors protect troops on the ground as well as strategically important infrastructure. Not replenishing the stockpiles puts future service members and national security at needless risk.
Nevertheless, Blackwell resumed his commentary, “And so what’s the money for: to restock weapons. Keep the military in top shape. “Tippy top” as the president says, $200 billion. He says it’s a small price to pay for that. Small price. That’s good to know.”
Instead, Blackwell urged viewers to consider all the welfare programs that could use $200 billion, “Because when we think about what the country could do with $200 billion, it can seem like Monopoly money. So, let’s see if we can now wrap our heads around what $200 billion can accomplish. How could that $200 billion help you if the government put it into federal programs instead.”
He then gave several examples, “So, one of the biggest fights in Congress over the past year was extending enhanced health care subsidies for about 23 million people in the U.S., $200 billion could fund more than half of the projected cost until 2035.”
Blackwell took the lowest estimate of these subsidies’ cost. On the high end of the estimates, $200 billion would not even cover one-third of the cost.
Still, Blackwell rolled on:
Food assistance SNAP benefits to serve more than—almost rather 42 million people every month. How much does that cost? $200 billion could fully fund SNAP for two years. What about paid family and medical leave? The U.S. is one of the few developed countries that does not provide paid leave after major life events. We’re talking things like childbirth. $200 billion would cover the cost of up to four weeks a year of that kind of leave for nine years. Health care, food, time off to take care of yourself or your family. You get what you pay for.
You do get what you pay for, and that applies to the military as well. One reason why the number of U.S. casualties is not higher is because we invest in the technology to give them every possible advantage, but that costs money, and in the long run deterrence is cheaper than a great power war.
Here is a transcript for the March 21 show:
CNN First of All With Victor Blackwell
3/21/2026
8:00 AM ET
VICTOR BLACKWELL: First of all, war has a cost. It has a cost in lives, in attention, in money. President Trump says that he’s now considering winding down the military efforts in the Middle East. But that’s not before the administration asked Congress for $200 billion for the war with Iran.
PETE HEGSETH: As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move. Obviously, it takes money to kill bad guys.
BLACKWELL: And so what’s the money for: to restock weapons. Keep the military in top shape. “Tippy top” as the president says, $200 billion. He says it’s a small price to pay for that. Small price. That’s good to know.
Because when we think about what the country could do with $200 billion, it can seem like Monopoly money. So, let’s see if we can now wrap our heads around what $200 billion can accomplish. How could that $200 billion help you if the government put it into federal programs instead.
So, one of the biggest fights in Congress over the past year was extending enhanced health care subsidies for about 23 million people in the U.S., $200 billion could fund more than half of the projected cost until 2035. Food assistance SNAP benefits to serve more than—almost rather 42 million people every month. How much does that cost?
$200 billion could fully fund SNAP for two years. What about paid family and medical leave? The U.S. is one of the few developed countries that does not provide paid leave after major life events. We’re talking things like childbirth. $200 billion would cover the cost of up to four weeks a year of that kind of leave for nine years. Health care, food, time off to take care of yourself or your family. You get what you pay for.
