In today’s newsletter: Trump says he wants to take Iran’s oil as the war sends global prices surging. Travelers express frustration with Congress as TSA workers are caught in the shutdown crossfire. And a stunning March Madness finish seals the Men’s Final Four.
Here’s what to know today.
Trump says he wants Iran’s oil and could seize Kharg Island
President Donald Trump said yesterday that he would like to “take the oil in Iran” and is considering seizing the export hub of Kharg Island.
“To be honest with you, my favorite thing is to take the oil in Iran but some stupid people back in the U.S. say: ‘Why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people,” the president said in an interview with the Financial Times.
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The interview marks some of Trump’s most direct comments about his thinking on what to do with Iran’s oil and comes as global prices jump. Brent crude oil surged 3% to more than $116 a barrel last night, the highest level since the conflict started. Average U.S. gasoline prices hit $3.98 a gallon, according to AAA.
Thousands of U.S. troops arrived in the Middle East over the weekend, but Trump and his administration continue to sound optimistic about their 15-point proposal to end the war a 15-point proposal to end the war. Iran accused Washington of secretly planning an assault while seeking negotiations.
The U.S. is “unaware that our men are waiting for American soldiers to enter on the ground so they can set them ablaze and punish their regional partners forever,” said Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, according to state media.
Read the full story here.
Follow the latest on our liveblog.
More on the Iran war:
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his country’s military will widen its ground campaign in southern Lebanon.
- Russia took satellite images of a U.S. air base days before Iran attacked the site and wounded Americans, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NBC News.
Travelers frustrated with Washington as DHS shutdown drags on
Amid the long lines and airport delays, travelers nationwide say they feel deeply sympathetic to the airline workers caught up in the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
TSA workers “are suffering enough,” said one woman at San Diego International Airport. “We don’t want another 9/11. … I’d like these people to get funded.”
After an order from Trump, TSA workers are expected to receive most of their back pay starting today, according to an email shared by an agency officer.
Travelers who spoke with NBC News also expressed frustration with Congress and the federal government’s inability to work together.
“I blame them all. It’s their job to work this out and they’re not doing it,” said a Florida resident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. “I blame the Democrats more if I had to pick a side. Withholding TSA money is not on target for the issue that they’re protesting.”
Here’s what other travelers said.
March Madness nears finish line as teams advance to Final Four
The Final Four in the men’s NCAA Tournament is set: The No. 1 Arizona Wildcats will play the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines, and the No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini will take on the No. 2 Connecticut Huskies Saturday in Indianapolis.
UConn secured its spot after a come-from-behind victory against the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils in the final game of the men’s Elite Eight yesterday. Huskies freshman Braylon Mullins hit a 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds left to win.
In the women’s bracket, UConn became the first to win a spot in the Final Four after beating Notre Dame 70-52. UCLA also advanced with a 70-58 victory over Duke. The final two spots will be determined tonight as Michigan faces Texas and TCU plays South Carolina.
Read the full story here.
Democrats push Trump administration to tackle insider trading in booming prediction markets
Over 40 Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate signed a letter to top administration regulators and ethics officials today asking for governmentwide training on insider trading in prediction markets.
The letter highlights concerns that federal employees may have used insider knowledge to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit from trades relating to the capture of Nicolás Maduro, the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Ayatollah and the length of White House press conferences.
Federal employees are prohibited by law from future contracts or trading using nonpublic information they gain from their jobs. The letter, organized by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, asks the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Office of Government Ethics to issue guidance on regulations.
Read our full exclusive reporting here.
Read All About It
- Staying sedentary can increase dementia risk, but these brain workouts could be a defense.
- A video of Taylor Frankie Paul attacking her ex-boyfriend reignited fevered online discourse around domestic violence and reactive abuse.
- Trump said he has “no problem” with a Russian oil tanker off the coast of Cuba with a Russian oil tanker delivering relief to Cuba amid a U.S. oil blockade.
- A real estate agent’s murder rocked the industry. After a recent arrest in the long-dormant case, some agents say the barrage of threats persist — and not enough is done to protect them.
Staff Pick: NASA’s make-or-break moon shot
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NASA Artemis II crew speaks on upcoming lunar launch
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The countdown is on for NASA’s first launch toward the moon in more than 50 years. As a space reporter, I’m all too familiar with the twists and turns, fits and starts (and often long delays) that come with covering big NASA programs, like the agency’s efforts to return to the moon. The road to the upcoming Artemis II mission is certainly no exception.
NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to build a base on the moon and establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface, is years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget. But an upcoming launch on April 1 — the first time astronauts will ride aboard NASA’s Space Launch System moon rocket and Orion capsule — could quiet the program’s critics. The astronauts will not land on the moon this time around, but a successful flight could inject some much-needed momentum into the agency’s efforts to return astronauts there one day.
My story examines the high stakes involved with the upcoming Artemis II launch, and outlines the dramatic backstory that got a 322-foot-tall moon rocket back out to the launchpad.
— Denise Chow, science reporter
NBC Select: We tested 5 pairs of Hokas for 3 months to find the best walking shoe
A favorite among podiatrists and athletes alike, our editors wanted to uncover the best pair of Hoka shoes for walking. After three months of intense testing, here’s what they found. More of a runner? Our editors also talked with outdoor experts to find the best trail running shoes and the best running shoes for your arch type — because odds are, you’re probably wearing the wrong ones.
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