Good morning, everyone. There’s a lot of news to cover today. Despite Donald Trump claiming the United States “won” the war in Iran, the Iranian military spent the night bombing commercial oil tankers and oil ports across the Middle East. America’s allies are publicly saying they have no idea what Trump’s goals are in a war that has already cost taxpayers more than $11 billion. An Iranian-linked hacker group has carried out its first known hack of an American company since the conflict began, and the FBI has reportedly begun training alongside UFC fighters.
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Here’s the news:
- During a CNN appearance last night, I discussed the cost of the war with Iran, noting that while President Donald Trump described it as an “excursion,” I argued that sending billions of dollars overseas and putting American lives at risk constitutes war, and said the administration has not clearly made the case for why U.S. lives should be on the line.
- Americans are worried about whether they can afford health care and groceries, and many see the U.S. spending billions of dollars overseas, which I said could hurt President Donald Trump politically in the November elections.
- According to Axios, after a G7 video call, French President Emmanuel Macron said uncertainty remains about Washington’s strategy in the Iran conflict, stating, “No one can tell what U.S. President Donald J. Trump wants from this ongoing war with Iran.” Israeli officials believe Trump likely won’t end the war in the next two to three weeks, though they acknowledge he could shift course quickly; the initial strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior officials has not yet destabilized the regime as hoped.
- An Iran-linked hacker group called Handala Team claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Stryker, a Michigan-based medical technology company, marking what appears to be the first significant Iranian cyberattack on a U.S. company since the war between the countries began. The attack reportedly disrupted Stryker’s Microsoft environment and may have involved hackers accessing the company’s Microsoft Intune management system to remotely wipe employee devices to factory settings, halting communications and work for some staff; the company said the disruption was contained and not caused by ransomware or malware.
- The Iranian government issued new threats to service members in the region:
- According to Reuters, U.S. intelligence assessments indicate Iran’s government is not at risk of collapse, even after nearly two weeks of U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior officials. Intelligence reports say the regime remains cohesive and retains control of the population, though the situation remains fluid, and analysts note that toppling the government would likely require a ground offensive, while Iranian Kurdish militias lack the manpower and weapons to effectively challenge Iranian security forces.
- The Trump White House faced online backlash after posting an AI-generated video about the Iran war that used bowling imagery—showing pins representing Iranian officials being knocked down by an American-flag bowling ball and captioned “STRIKE”—with critics arguing the post trivialized an ongoing conflict in which U.S. service members have been killed and injured.
- Military analysts say reopening the Strait of Hormuz could require a ground operation to seize Iran’s coastline along the strategic waterway, a move that would significantly escalate the conflict and could lead to higher casualties for U.S. and allied forces, according to the Wall Street Journal.
- Suspected Iranian attacks set oil tankers ablaze near Iraq’s port of Basra, escalating strikes on shipping that have cut off Middle Eastern oil flows and pushed prices back above $100 a barrel, even as President Donald Trump claimed the war had effectively been won early on. The conflict has killed around 2,000 people and caused major disruptions to global energy supplies, while Iranian drones and regional attacks continue across the Gulf.
- Suspected Iranian attacks also set off a fire at a port in Oman:
- Escalating Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz are raising fears the crucial shipping lane could remain closed for an extended period, as the U.S. has so far held off on providing naval escorts for oil tankers and Iran warns it will target any vessels attempting to pass through the waterway. Trump says when oil goes up, the United States makes money:
- FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed to Deadline that several UFC fighters will lead a training seminar for FBI agents at the FBI Academy in Quantico on March 15–16, where agents—including academy students and senior staff—will learn combat techniques, tactics, and training methods used by professional mixed martial artists. The initiative is part of the FBI’s broader effort to modernize and diversify agent training, and features fighters such as Justin Gaethje, Jorge Masvidal, Chris Weidman, Claudia Gadelha, Michael Chandler, Manel Kape, and Renzo Gracie.
- Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is expected to deliver his first public message since being appointed after nearly four days of silence amid reports he was injured in an airstrike. The hard-line leader, who recently succeeded his father Ali Khamenei after he was killed in a U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign, is reportedly wounded but safe, according to a government adviser.
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) says the Iran war is causing the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market, with oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz—normally carrying about one-fifth of the world’s supply—reduced to a trickle after Iranian threats against ships. The agency released a record 400 million barrels of oil to stabilize markets but warned it is only a temporary measure as prices continue to fluctuate.
- Citibank temporarily closed several branches in the United Arab Emirates until Saturday as a precaution after Iran threatened Gulf financial institutions linked to the U.S. and Israel, with the bank planning to reopen most locations Monday while keeping one Dubai branch open.
- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he has ordered the military to prepare to expand operations in Lebanon if the Lebanese government cannot stop Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel, warning that Israel may take control of the territory itself to restore security.
- Lebanese officials say an Israeli airstrike on the Ramlet al-Baida public beach in Beirut killed at least eight people and injured 31, as Israel said it was carrying out wide-scale strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure across Lebanon; the country is also facing a growing humanitarian crisis with about 700,000 people displaced since the war began.
- A new “Mass Deportation Coalition” made up of Trump allies and immigration hardliners is lobbying the White House to expand deportations to all undocumented migrants, not just violent criminals, citing a McLaughlin & Associates poll showing 66% of likely 2026 voters support deporting migrants who entered illegally. The push comes as the administration has recently shifted its messaging to prioritize deporting violent offenders, sparking tension within the president’s political base.
- A federal judge blocked ICE from building an immigration detention facility in Hagerstown, Maryland, siding with the state’s lawsuit arguing the project moved forward without the legally required environmental impact review.
- The Trump administration launched a new trade investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 as it seeks to replace tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court, potentially paving the way for new import taxes aimed at protecting U.S. industries from foreign manufacturing practices and subsidies.
- The Senate is expected to vote again today on a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which has been partially shut down for 27 days due to a partisan dispute over funding and guardrails for ICE and CBP, though the measure is widely expected to fail to reach the 60 votes needed to advance. The standoff comes amid broader controversy over the administration’s immigration crackdown, including the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during federal enforcement operations and the ouster of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after 13 months in the role.
- A West Health–Gallup poll found that about one in three Americans have made financial trade-offs to afford health care, including rationing medications or borrowing money, while nearly one in ten have postponed retirement due to medical costs, underscoring growing financial strain as health care becomes a top voter concern ahead of the midterm elections.
- According to NBC, South Africa summoned U.S. Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III after he publicly criticized the country’s diplomatic ties with Iran and its affirmative action policies, deepening tensions between the two nations under the Trump administration. South African officials said the remarks were undiplomatic, and Bozell later apologized and expressed regret, while broader disputes persist over issues such as land expropriation laws, rural crime, and U.S. allegations about violence against white farmers—claims widely disputed in South Africa.
- A Moscow court convicted 19 people for their roles in the March 22, 2024 terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, where four gunmen killed 149 people and wounded more than 600 before setting the venue on fire during a concert. The attack was claimed by a faction of ISIS, and those convicted received lengthy sentences, including 15 life sentences, while others were given prison terms ranging from about 20 to 22½ years; Russian officials have alleged Ukrainian involvement without providing evidence, a claim Ukraine denies.
- According to the Guardian, an Israeli airstrike hit a tent camp sheltering displaced Palestinians west of Gaza City, after residents were reportedly given five minutes to evacuate via phone warnings from the Israeli military; following warning strikes, a final strike ignited a large fire and heavy smoke at the displacement site.
See you soon.
— Aaron
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