Leonne's Daily Post
Friday, March 13, 2026
Friday, March 13
Iran's new supreme leader vows to block Strait of Hormuz in first statement

Iran's newly appointed supreme leader has issued his first statement vowing to maintain attacks on Gulf Arab states and leverage control of the Strait of Hormuz, signaling continuity of aggressive policy.

Continue reading at BBC News
Bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in US torpedo strike to be repatriated

The bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in a U.S. submarine strike are being repatriated, underscoring the mounting human cost of the escalating conflict between the two nations.

Continue reading at BBC News
The Iran War Has Four Stages. We’re in the Second.

The Iran war is entering its second stage following the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei, with uncertain prospects for regime change and implications for both regional and global stability.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
Trump blames Iran for the war — critics question the diplomacy

Critics are questioning the Trump administration's diplomatic approach to Iran, suggesting that talks may have masked military preparations rather than genuine efforts toward negotiation and de-escalation.

Continue reading at NPR Politics
Swing voters are not happy with Trump's war in Iran

Focus groups of swing voters in Michigan show broad opposition to the ongoing U.S. war with Iran, suggesting the conflict could become a significant political liability in the 2026 midterms.

Continue reading at NPR Politics
US eases Russia oil sanctions as Iran war pushes up energy prices

The U.S. has granted a temporary waiver on Russian oil sanctions in response to energy price spikes from the Iran conflict, illustrating how geopolitical tensions create complex policy trade-offs.

Continue reading at BBC U.S.
Iran's unrelenting attacks on Mideast shipping and energy infrastructure send oil prices soaring

Iran's sustained attacks on shipping and energy infrastructure in the Middle East are driving oil prices higher, escalating the economic costs of the regional conflict.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Oil shock from Iran war prompts countries to open strategic reserves

Countries are turning to strategic oil reserves as Iran's attacks threaten Middle Eastern energy supplies, a defensive measure reflecting serious concerns about supply disruptions.

Continue reading at Associated Press
'There's no hiding place on a ship': The sailors stranded in the Gulf

Sailors working on ships in the Gulf face an increasingly dangerous environment as drones, missiles, and fighter jets have become routine hazards, reflecting the conflict's expanding impact on commercial shipping.

Continue reading at BBC News
China’s Clean Energy Push Has Made It Less Vulnerable to Energy Shocks, Including the Iran War

China's significant investments in clean energy and coal have insulated it from oil price shocks during the Iran war, illustrating how energy diversification provides strategic resilience.

Continue reading at Inside Climate News
The Pentagon’s Lawyers Are Now Under Review

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired senior military lawyers and is proposing a 'ruthless' overhaul of the Pentagon's legal structure, raising concerns about accountability and the rule of law in military operations.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
Pentagon blocks photographers from Hegseth's briefings on the Iran war

The Pentagon is blocking photographers from Secretary Hegseth's briefings about the Iran war, raising transparency concerns about media access to military leadership.

Continue reading at Associated Press
UN panel says racist hate speech by Trump and other US leaders has led to human rights violations

A UN panel has concluded that racist hate speech by Trump and other U.S. leaders has contributed to human rights violations, escalating international scrutiny of American political discourse.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Lawmakers vent frustration over DHS shutdown as lines grow at nation's airports

A Department of Homeland Security shutdown is creating chaos at airports nationwide, with lawmakers expressing frustration over operational failures and security lapses.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Social Security watchdog opens probe into alleged misuse of data by ex-DOGE employee

The Social Security Administration is investigating alleged misuse of beneficiary data by a former DOGE employee, raising privacy and oversight concerns.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Trump visa changes squeeze rural schools relying on international teachers

Trump's restrictive visa changes are forcing rural schools to scramble as they lose access to international teachers, creating staffing crises in underserved regions.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Iowa bars local gender identity protections after rolling back its civil rights code

Iowa has barred local governments from enacting gender identity protections after rolling back statewide civil rights protections, accelerating legal battles over transgender rights.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Leavenworth, Kansas, relents and will allow a private prison to reopen and house immigrants

Leavenworth, Kansas has reversed its opposition to reopening a private immigration detention facility, prioritizing economic concerns over previous community objections.

Continue reading at Associated Press
States sue the Trump administration to challenge policy requiring colleges to collect race data

Multiple states are suing the Trump administration over a policy requiring colleges to collect race data, challenging the move as a violation of privacy and education principles.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Live Nation director boasted of gouging ticket buyers, "robbing them blind"

Unsealed court documents reveal that a Live Nation director boasted of price gouging concert-goers through hidden fees, providing damaging evidence in a case seeking to break up the company's merger with Ticketmaster.

Continue reading at Ars Technica
HP has new incentive to stop blocking third-party ink in its printers

HP's practice of issuing firmware updates that block third-party ink cartridges is now under scrutiny by environmental and industry groups as potentially violating sustainability standards.

Continue reading at Ars Technica
The who, what, and why of the attack that has shut down Stryker's Windows network

Stryker, a major medical device manufacturer, confirmed a cyberattack linked to Iranian state-aligned hackers just weeks after U.S. airstrikes, exemplifying the destructive potential of retaliatory cyber operations.

Continue reading at Ars Technica
China's ByteDance gets access to top Nvidia AI chips, WSJ reports

ByteDance has reportedly gained access to Nvidia's most advanced AI chips, suggesting ongoing Chinese efforts to bridge technological gaps despite U.S. export controls.

Continue reading at Reuters
Chinese banks boost loans to tech sector as Beijing ramps up AI push

Chinese banks are significantly increasing lending to the technology sector as the government accelerates its AI development strategy and competitiveness efforts.

Continue reading at Reuters
Apple cuts China App Store commission fees after government pressure

Apple has reduced its App Store commission fees in China following government pressure, reflecting the company's ongoing negotiations with Chinese regulators.

Continue reading at Reuters
How the humble hornwort could supercharge agriculture

Hornwort, an aquatic plant, could transform agriculture by improving photosynthesis efficiency through a remarkable enzyme, potentially boosting crop yields significantly.

Continue reading at Grist
Warming Waters Threaten Seafood Supply

Warming ocean temperatures are causing fish to evolve smaller sizes to survive, a biological shift that threatens the protein security of billions of people who depend on seafood.

Continue reading at Inside Climate News
Bucking stigma, more places turn to factory-built for affordable housing

Factory-built homes are shedding their stigma as municipalities reconsider zoning restrictions in response to housing shortages, offering a potentially more affordable path to homeownership for working families.

Continue reading at NPR Politics
Trump wants more apprenticeships. An Arkansas manufacturer is giving it a try

Trump's push for apprenticeships as a path to economic opportunity is being tested in real manufacturing settings, raising questions about whether policy rhetoric translates to sustainable job training and career advancement.

Continue reading at NPR Politics
Democrats set a turnout record in Texas, so is this the year it turns blue?

Texas Democrats achieved record primary turnout with significant Latino support, fueling long-held hopes that the state could finally shift blue—though decades of electoral history suggest caution is warranted.

Continue reading at NPR Politics
EveryLibrary Institute releases 2025 Annual Report highlighting national impact, policy wins, and growing civic engagement

The EveryLibrary Institute released its 2025 annual report highlighting policy victories and resilience efforts as libraries navigate political pressure, censorship, and funding challenges.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
Book Resumes hosted by thee VERSO ILS SaaS library catalog management solution

Soutron Global's VERSO ILS is supporting the American Library Association's Unite Against Book Bans initiative by hosting Book Résumés, a catalog of challenged and banned titles.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
Artemis II: Nasa targets early April for Moon mission

NASA is targeting early April for the Artemis II Moon mission launch, announcing that technical issues have been resolved and the rocket is ready to proceed.

Continue reading at BBC Science
Four killed after US refuelling plane crashes in Iraq, military confirms

A U.S. refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq with four confirmed dead, marking another military incident in a region already destabilized by wider regional conflict.

Continue reading at BBC News
4 of 6 crew aboard US KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in Iraq confirmed dead, US military says

Four crew members of a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in Iraq have been confirmed dead, with military officials ruling out hostile fire as the cause.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Thursday, March 12
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., says Trump's plans for the war in Iran are 'incoherent'

A Democratic senator characterizes the Trump administration's war plans for Iran as 'incoherent and incomplete,' suggesting deep skepticism about military strategy and the absence of clear diplomatic objectives.

Continue reading at NPR Politics
Customer sues Costco for tariff refunds

A lawsuit seeking Costco tariff refunds highlights the legal complexities and potential $166 billion liability surrounding the administration's tariff policies and their impact on consumers.

Continue reading at BBC U.S.
Easy-to-use solar panels are coming, but utilities are trying to delay them

Plug-and-play solar panels are becoming more accessible to consumers, but utility companies are persuading lawmakers to delay or block regulations that would make them widely available.

Continue reading at NPR Science
The secret superpower of Brazil’s vast savanna

Brazil's cerrado savanna is proving to be a climate superpower, storing six times more carbon per hectare than the Amazon through hidden peat deposits in its wetlands.

Continue reading at Grist
Can Hydropower Ride the Wave of the Energy Boom?

Hydropower, often overlooked in energy discussions, is experiencing renewed interest as policymakers recognize its reliability and the International Energy Agency urges greater investment.

Continue reading at Inside Climate News
The Atlantic’s April Cover: McKay Coppins on His Year as a Degenerate Gambler

Staff writer McKay Coppins received his Mormon bishop's permission and The Atlantic's backing to spend $10,000 gambling for a cover investigation into America's sports betting epidemic.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
‘If You Win One Penny, You’re in the Top 2 Percent of Bettors’

An Atlantic podcast explores how the 2018 Supreme Court decision legalizing sports betting nationwide has transformed American culture, with sobering statistics about gambling addiction.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
What Atheism Could Not Explain

Christopher Beha's intellectual journey from atheism to spiritual seeking illustrates how lived experience and existential questions can evolve beyond ideology.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
Old Dominion shooting suspect is ex-Army National Guard member with past terror conviction

The Old Dominion University shooting suspect has been identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, an ex-Army National Guard member with a 2016 conviction for attempting to support the Islamic State.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Armed man rammed vehicle into Michigan synagogue and was fatally shot by security, AP source says

An armed man rammed a vehicle into Michigan's Temple Israel synagogue and was fatally shot by security in what appears to be a targeted attack on the Jewish community.

Continue reading at Associated Press