Leonne's Daily Post
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Thursday, March 19
Nebraska officials provide update on wildfires as crews continue to work to contain the blazes

Nebraska wildfires have now burned an area larger than Rhode Island, underscoring the scale of the ongoing disaster.

Continue reading at KETV Omaha
Trump started a war with no clear end in sight. They rarely end well for presidents

Trump's war with Iran mirrors a troubling historical pattern: presidential conflicts without clear endpoints tend to tank approval ratings and create political vulnerability.

Continue reading at NPR Politics
As overseas terrorists regroup, is the Iran war increasing danger in the U.S.?

As investigators examine recent domestic attacks, there's growing concern that Trump's Iran war may be creating conditions for increased terrorist threats on U.S. soil.

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Sen. Markwayne Mullin faces intense questioning at his DHS confirmation hearing

Trump's DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin faced a tough confirmation hearing Wednesday, with senators pressing him on his readiness and temperament for the job.

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US intelligence chief says Iran's regime 'intact' but 'degraded'

U.S. intelligence officials testified that Iran's regime, while damaged by the war, remains functionally intact—raising questions about the conflict's strategic success.

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Iran hits back at multiple refineries after Israeli strike on its offshore gas field

Iran is escalating attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure in retaliation for Israeli strikes, intensifying the regional energy crisis.

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Live updates: Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib killed, Israel defense minister says

Iran's Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib has been killed, according to Israel's defense minister, marking another escalation in targeted assassinations.

Continue reading at Associated Press
China ignores Trump’s Hormuz request

China has declined Trump's request to help secure the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war, offering no military support.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Dozens of ships slip through the Strait of Hormuz as Iran’s oil exports get through

Dozens of ships are transiting the Strait of Hormuz successfully despite tensions, signaling that Iran's ability to block trade remains limited.

Continue reading at Associated Press
What to know about Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant after report of projectile hitting its complex

Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant is under scrutiny after reports of a projectile hitting its complex during escalating military strikes.

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Trump pays his respects in Delaware to 6 US service members killed in the Middle East

Trump paid respects in Delaware to six U.S. service members killed in Middle East operations, emphasizing the human cost of the conflict.

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US drivers see gas prices jump to their highest level since 2023 as the Iran war drags on

U.S. gas prices have climbed to their highest level since 2023 as the Iran war drags on, squeezing consumer budgets.

Continue reading at Associated Press
FBI investigating whether departed counterterrorism official leaked classified info, source says

The FBI is investigating whether a departing counterterrorism official leaked classified information in connection with his vocal protests against the Iran war.

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Sen. Richard Blumenthal talks about Sen. Markwayne Mullin's DHS confirmation hearing

Senator Blumenthal reflects on questioning Trump's DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin, offering insight into the contentious confirmation process.

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Joe Kent speaks out about his decision to resign in protest over the Iran war

Joe Kent, who resigned as Trump's counterterrorism chief over the Iran war, went public with his concerns in an appearance with Tucker Carlson.

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Five takeaways from Markwayne Mullin's Homeland Security confirmation hearing

Key takeaways from Mullin's DHS hearing reveal how budget uncertainty and questions about his judgment loomed over the entire process.

Continue reading at BBC U.S.
Chief Justice Roberts says personal criticism of judges is dangerous and has ‘got to stop’

Chief Justice Roberts warned that personal attacks on judges have become dangerous and must stop, signaling concern about institutional respect.

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Judge strikes down Arkansas law mandating schools display the Ten Commandments

An Arkansas judge struck down a law requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments, citing constitutional separation concerns.

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What to know about the resignation of Joe Kent as Trump’s counterterrorism chief

Joe Kent's resignation as Trump's counterterrorism chief signals deep internal dissent over the Iran war strategy.

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FAA mandates radar separation for helicopters and planes after deadly DC midair collision

The FAA has mandated radar separation between helicopters and planes following the deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C.

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Unspecified allegations against labor rights icon Cesar Chavez lead to cancellation of celebrations

César Chavez faces unspecified sexual abuse allegations that have prompted cancellation of celebrations honoring the labor icon.

Continue reading at Associated Press
US holds interest rates as Iran war triggers inflation fears

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady despite inflation pressure from the Iran war, signaling cautious skepticism about the conflict's economic scope.

Continue reading at BBC U.S.
US wholesale prices rose by a surprisingly hot 3.4% last month, the most in a year

U.S. wholesale prices jumped 3.4% last month—the hottest inflation reading in a year—signaling mounting cost pressures.

Continue reading at Associated Press
US to demand bonds of up to $15,000 for visa applications from 12 more countries

The U.S. will now demand visa application bonds of up to $15,000 from citizens of 12 additional countries, expanding a controversial immigration policy.

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Gas price soars 25% after strikes on Qatar hub

Natural gas prices spiked 25% after strikes hit a key Qatar energy hub, signaling how vulnerable global energy markets remain.

Continue reading at BBC News
How Europe sleepwalked into yet another energy crisis

Europe's latest energy crisis reveals how the continent has failed to learn from past shocks, leaving it vulnerable to geopolitical disruption.

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DR Congo and Rwanda agree to ease tensions after talks in US

DR Congo and Rwanda have agreed to ease tensions following talks in the U.S., though whether the peace hold remains an open question.

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Ecuador gang leader wanted for murder of presidential candidate arrested

Ecuador's authorities have arrested a gang leader believed responsible for the 2023 murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

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Paraguay becomes final South American country to approve Mercosur-European Union trade deal

Paraguay became the final South American country to approve the Mercosur-EU trade deal, a landmark regional agreement.

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New autism group meets to counter MAHA's 'ideological agenda'

Autism experts are organizing a counterweight to the Trump administration's MAHA agenda, proposing their own research priorities rooted in evidence.

Continue reading at NPR Science
Higgs boson breakthrough was UK triumph, but British physics faces 'catastrophic' cuts

Britain's physics community faces potential 'catastrophic' funding cuts, including withdrawal from planned Large Hadron Collider upgrades despite past achievements.

Continue reading at BBC Science
It's called 'private credit' — and it could lead to big trouble on Wall Street

Private credit—a booming but opaque lending market—is showing cracks that could spell trouble for Wall Street and beyond.

Continue reading at NPR Technology
Musk’s tactic of blaming users for Grok sex images may be foiled by EU law

The EU is moving to ban AI 'nudifier' apps after Elon Musk's Grok became notorious for generating non-consensual intimate images.

Continue reading at Ars Technica
Trump Is Betraying Iran’s Pro-Democracy Protesters

Trump promised Iran's pro-democracy protesters 'help is on the way,' but his escalation of the conflict has left them feeling abandoned and betrayed.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
Wednesday, March 18
Top US counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war, urging Trump to 'reverse course'

Joe Kent, Trump's top counterterrorism official, resigned publicly and argued the president started an unjustified war largely at Israel's behest.

Continue reading at BBC U.S.
Iran confirms death of Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib

Iran has confirmed the death of Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, marking Israel's third high-profile killing in two days.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Both sides in Iran war ratchet up attacks on energy facilities, as oil prices surge

Both Israel and Iran are escalating attacks on energy infrastructure as the war intensifies, driving oil prices sharply higher.

Continue reading at Associated Press
US was informed about plan for Israeli strike on Iranian gas field but did not take part, AP source says

The U.S. was informed of Israel's plans to strike Iran's South Pars gas field but did not participate in the operation, according to a source.

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US eases Venezuela oil sanctions as Trump seeks to boost world oil supply during Iran war

The Trump administration has eased sanctions on Venezuela's state oil company, seeking to boost global supplies during the Iran war.

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Federal Reserve projects one rate cut this year, sees limited economic impact from Iran war

The Federal Reserve projects only one rate cut this year while expecting the Iran war to worsen inflation, signaling cautious economic uncertainty.

Continue reading at Associated Press
US judge orders Trump administration to reopen Voice of America

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reopen Voice of America after it laid off roughly 85% of staff, signaling legal skepticism about the move.

Continue reading at BBC U.S.
Dolores Huerta says she was sexually abused by César Chavez

Dolores Huerta, César Chavez's co-founder of the United Farm Workers, has revealed she was sexually abused by him and stayed silent for 60 years.

Continue reading at Associated Press
Quantum Cryptography Pioneers Win Turing Award

Three pioneers in quantum cryptography have been awarded the Turing Award, recognizing decades of work on theoretically unbreakable encryption.

Continue reading at Quanta Magazine
Federal cyber experts called Microsoft's cloud a "pile of shit," approved it anyway

Federal cybersecurity evaluators called Microsoft's cloud security posture 'a pile of shit' in internal documents, yet approved it anyway—a troubling disconnect.

Continue reading at Ars Technica
Sony removes 135,000 'deepfakes' of its artists' music

Sony removed 135,000 deepfake copies of its artists' music from streaming sites, highlighting how AI has enabled industrial-scale music forgery.

Continue reading at BBC News
Washington’s Sewage Apocalypse

A massive sewer pipe break near Washington, D.C., caused one of the worst raw-sewage spills in U.S. history—yet remains largely unaddressed two months later.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
Trashing American Allies Turns Out to Be Bad for National Security

Trump's decade of attacking U.S. allies has left him unable to secure their support for his Iran war, trapping him in an isolated conflict.

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Why Britain Is Saying No to Trump’s Iran War

Britain's reluctance to support Trump's Iran war reflects deeper concerns about presidential overreach and Congress's weakened war-making authority.

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The Iran War’s Next Threat Is to Food and Water

The Iran war threatens the food and water security of the Arabian Peninsula, undermining decades of economic investment by Gulf rulers.

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The Same War, on a Loop

Life in Israel during the Iran war has become a tense cycle of air-raid sirens and shelters, with children attending school from home.

Continue reading at The Atlantic