Wisconsin senators clash over US war with Iran, Trump Attorney General nominee

Wisconsin lawmakers in Washington are wrestling with a slate of new developments on the national stage, including the U.S. war with Iran and President Trump's controversial nominee for Attorney General.

A new wave of U.S. airstrikes has continued to spur debate among U.S. lawmakers about the cost of the months long war with Iran. Pentagon officials estimated one month ago that the total price tag for the Iran war had reached $29 billion.

It also costs American consumers. For months Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the world's oil and natural gas normally travels. A recent analysis from Moody's Analytics found that the average American household spent an extra $447 on rising energy costs since the war began. And it's caused farmers in the Midwest to suffer record high diesel prices and surging fertilizer costs.

Amid the war, President Donald Trump recently nominated a controversial Attorney General pick to replace Pam Bondi — his former personal lawyer Todd Blanche. Lawmakers from both parties are concerned Blanche won't remain independent from defending or pursuing President Trump's personal interests. Senators will have the chance to question Blanche as the confirmation process unfolds.

Republican Senator Ron Johnson and Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin spoke about those issues and more on WPR's “Wisconsin Today.â€

On the U.S. and Israel war with Iran

It's been more than 100 days since the US and Israel first launched strikes on Iran. This week, American and Iranian forces traded strikes after Iran shot down a U.S.Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. 

President Trump has said negotiations with Iran's leadership are ongoing and making progress, even as missile strikes continue. 

When asked about the state of the war, Senator Baldwin told “Wisconsin Today†it has “accomplished nothing except for higher prices for Americans.â€Â 

“It's important to take stock of where we are right now,†Baldwin said. “Iran still has its nuclear materials. It has basically the same regime in place — one might argue it may even be more hard-line. And the Strait of Hormuz is still, for all purposes, closed.â€Â 

Baldwin has been advocating in the Senate for lawmakers to take up a resolution to end the war. A similar resolution already passed in the House of Representatives. 

Senator Johnson argued the current war didn't begin with Trump's ordered strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, killing its supreme leader, but rather 47 years ago with the Iranian Revolution that brought the current regime into power. 

 “President Trump was the only one who made the very tough — and it was a very tough decision — to try and end this war for all time, and I support his efforts,†Johnson said. 

Johnson called opposition to Trump's war efforts “aiding and abetting the enemy†in his eyes. 

“He's the commander-in-chief,†Johnson said. “I'm not putting any pressure on him. I'm supporting his efforts and I pray for him.â€

On rising consumer prices

The latest Consumer Price Index found inflation rose 4.2 percent over a year ago in May, largely driven by rising energy prices due to the war blocking marine traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. 

Diesel fuel hit an all-time high in Wisconsin in May at $5.88 per gallon, according to AAA estimates. 

Johnson accused former Democratic President Joe Biden of waging a “war on fossil fuels†in 2022 and said people should give Trump more leeway for current gas prices.

“I don't like the high fuel prices, high fertilizer prices, nor does President Trump, nor do any of us,†he said. “But I also recognize that what would be worse is if Iran became a nuclear power and they wiped out our grid.â€

“Hopefully this is just short-term pain,†Johnson said. “And it is painful, I recognize that, but that's why the sooner we win this war, the better for everybody.â€Â 

In a Chippewa County visit last week, Trump promised farmers that prices for fuel and fertilizer would go down once the war is over. 

Baldwin said she's also been visiting with farmers around the state to gauge how they're being impacted by inflation from the war. She said many of them have tractors and combines that hold up to 300 gallons of diesel. 

“A lot of them don't have the money right now to fill their tanks for the planting season,†Baldwin said. “Many of our farmers are having to do without the full complement of fertilizer that they need for their fields. This is going to have ramifications for months and months to come.â€Â 

“Our farmers work harder than anyone I know,†she continued. “There may be a glitzy rally that the president holds in Wisconsin, but that does nothing to deal with the real harm our farmers, and ultimately the American consumers of their products, will have to deal with.â€

On Todd Blanche's AG nomination

Baldwin pointed to acting Attorney General Blanche's support of Trump's controversial “anti-weaponization fund†as an indicator that he's loyal to Trump — not the needs of the federal government or even federal law. Democratic lawmakers have said the fund would give money to Trump's political allies, and some Republican pushback as well caused Blanche to withdraw the plan for the fund. 

“(Blanche) has expressed his complete fealty and loyalty to Donald Trump, at times above the law,†Baldwin said. “His loyalty to Donald Trump seems to be a higher priority, and that is not acceptable.â€Â 

Johnson said he's not worried about Blanche's ability to represent the American people and act independently over his former client Trump's wishes, any more than he has been with any other attorney general. 

“That's just kind of the nature of the beast here,†he said. 

Johnson said he supports the anti-weaponization fund, calling it no different than any other compensation program for people “who have been abused by the federal government on both sides of the political spectrum.â€Â