Trump brushed off the idea of Iran striking American cities as "a very small price to pay," a remark that lands badly for anyone with family in the military or in the cities he named.

• At a Nebraska rally before next month's midterms, Trump said letting Iran hit Los Angeles or San Diego would be a small price for keeping the world safe, and the crowd cheered.
• San Diego is home to a huge share of the US Navy and many military families, which makes the choice of target especially strange.
• The same remark from a Democratic president about a red state would have triggered weeks of outrage, and that double standard is the point.
• At least 19 US service members have been confirmed killed in the Iran war, with reports suggesting the real number is higher and that some wounded troops were turned away from care.
• The deeper complaint: this second war is being fought for Israel's goals after Trump already claimed Iran's nuclear sites were destroyed in the first one.

Outlook: Expect the rally line to become a midterm attack ad while the Iran war and its casualty count keep climbing.