Good afternoon, everyone. There is a lot to cover this evening. Lindsey Graham’s death has created major challenges for Republicans, especially ahead of Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing and the uncertain future of the SAVE America Act. Meanwhile, the United States continues its large-scale bombing campaign against Iran. New questions are also swirling about Mitch McConnell’s health, while troops are accusing military leaders of ignoring warnings before Iran’s deadly strike on an American base. And that’s just the beginning.
I will have more important Epstein Files reporting tomorrow and Tuesday, including critical interviews with survivors and members of Congress. I am also speaking with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s team to learn more about the situation surrounding Senator McConnell’s health.
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Here’s the news:
Lindsey Graham’s Death:
Lindsey Graham’s death is expected to have immediate consequences for the Trump administration’s agenda, beginning with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Republicans had counted on Graham, a key member of the committee, to provide a critical vote in support of Blanche’s nomination. With Graham gone, Republicans now have only a one-vote margin on the committee, meaning a single GOP defection could block the nomination from advancing. The White House will now face added pressure to keep every Republican in line, including persuading senators such as Thom Tillis, who has previously broken with the party on key votes.
According to Axios, after a phone call on Saturday, Sen. Lindsey Graham reportedly told someone he was not feeling well but planned to seek medical attention after his scheduled Sunday television appearance. He also reportedly joked, “I can't die now. I still need to do the Russia sanctions, get Iran sorted out and do Israeli-Saudi normalization.” His cause of death is below:
Trump ordered all flags across America to be flowing at “half mast.” This is not normal protocol as typically flags are flown at half staff following the passing of a member of Congress in Washington, D.C. and in their home state.
On Meet the Press, Trump said he spoke with Sen. Lindsey Graham “minutes before” his death and described Graham’s passing as “a big blow to the SAVE America Act,” acknowledging the loss could complicate Republicans’ legislative agenda. Trump also revealed he already has someone in mind to replace Graham but declined to name the person, saying it was too soon. When moderator Kristen Welker attempted to ask about Iran, Trump cut off the discussion, calling Iran’s leaders “very, very evil and sick people” before saying he did not want to discuss the issue because he wanted to honor Graham’s life. Here is the full interview:
Trump closed his interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper after declining to discuss other topics out of respect for Sen. Lindsey Graham. Tapper invited Trump to return for another interview, saying there were many additional issues to cover. Trump replied, “Sure. We’re trying to have CNN go on a normal path,” prompting Tapper to respond, “Well I’m on a normal path right here, sir.” Trump ended the conversation by saying, “Good. You are.” This is in reference to Trump wanting to change leadership at CNN:
Rep. Nancy Mace said she is open to running for Sen. Lindsey Graham’s vacant South Carolina Senate seat, telling reporters, “I’ll certainly take a look at it.” Mace becomes one of the first prominent Republicans to publicly express interest in the race, which is expected to feature a crowded GOP primary after Graham’s death. With South Carolina remaining a strongly Republican state, the eventual GOP nominee will likely enter the general election as the favorite.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) called on Senate Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act as a tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, arguing that advancing the legislation would honor Graham's legacy. Lee's comments come as Republicans face a razor-thin Senate majority following Graham's death, complicating the path forward for major GOP legislation.
Iran war:
The United States launched its largest round of strikes on Iran in weeks, hitting roughly 140 Iranian military targets overnight after blaming Iran for attacking a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by launching attacks targeting U.S. military bases across the Gulf, while Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates all reported drone or missile activity, interceptions, or damage. The exchange marks a major escalation as diplomacy between Washington and Tehran continues to unravel. Pakistan, which has served as a mediator in recent negotiations, called on both sides to immediately de-escalate and return to dialogue. This is video from US strikes on Iran:
A Washington Post investigation reports that six Americans were killed in an Iranian drone strike on Kuwait's Shuaiba Port on March 1 after commanders allegedly failed to act on intelligence warning the facility was vulnerable. According to the report, interviews with 17 witnesses indicate the command center lacked adequate drone defenses and that its leaders ignored repeated warnings before the attack. Survivors also reportedly criticized the military's healthcare system and its handling of the aftermath. The allegations have not been independently verified, and the U.S. military has not publicly responded to the Post's findings.
Tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran insisting it has effectively closed the strategic waterway while the United States says it remains open to lawful commercial traffic. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it attacked a merchant vessel and declared transit “not possible,” while U.S. Central Command and President Trump rejected those claims, insisting ships can still pass safely. Despite the conflicting statements, maritime tracking data shows shipping traffic through the strait has slowed dramatically, and a commercial vessel was damaged near the waterway after an attack that forced its crew to abandon ship. The dispute over the strait comes as both countries continue issuing contradictory public statements about the state of negotiations and regional security.
Trump said the United States struck Iran “very hard” after Tehran allegedly abandoned what he described as a nearly completed agreement and instead attacked a commercial ship with a drone. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz also rejected earlier suggestions that Iran’s attacks on merchant vessels were accidental, arguing the strikes reflected deliberate decisions by Iran’s leadership rather than rogue actions by lower-level officers. Meanwhile, additional attacks were reported across southern Iran, including military facilities near Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, as both sides continued exchanging strikes. The rapid escalation has left the region on edge, with Gulf nations increasing security measures while world powers continue urging restraint.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the escalating conflict in the Gulf is becoming increasingly dangerous, saying he is "deeply concerned" by Iran's attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. strikes on Iran, and Tehran's attacks on neighboring countries. He urged all sides to halt the attacks immediately, warning that a full-scale regional war would have catastrophic consequences not only for the Middle East but also for global peace and the world economy.
Mitch McConnell Update:
Sen. Mitch McConnell has now been hospitalized for about a month, but his office still has not disclosed why he was admitted or provided details about his condition. His staff has only said that he is “continuing to improve” and remains engaged in Senate and Kentucky matters while recovering. The lack of information has fueled widespread speculation online, prompting calls for greater transparency from figures including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, did not immediately return from a planned trip to China, with her spokesperson saying his condition did not require her immediate return.
In a written statement accompanied by a new photo, Mitch McConnell says he was “briefly unconscious” after his fall last month but did not suffer a heart attack or stroke. He says he’s now recovering in a rehabilitation center after also developing pneumonia and won’t return to the Senate floor until doctors clear him.
Several top Republicans say they have spoken with McConnell in recent days, describing him as alert, engaged, and eager to return to work, even as questions about his health persist. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Sen. John Barrasso, and CNN contributor Scott Jennings all said McConnell discussed policy and current events with them by phone, while President Trump said he has not spoken to him and does not know how he is doing. Reports citing emergency dispatch audio from the day of McConnell’s hospitalization referenced a cardiac arrest call and CPR at his residence, though CNN said it has not independently confirmed those details. McConnell has missed several key Senate votes during his absence, including votes on housing legislation and measures related to presidential war powers.
Other news:
MS NOW reports that two Atlanta-based FBI intelligence analysts, who are married, were fired after refusing to participate in the Trump administration’s investigation into Georgia’s 2020 presidential election, arguing the probe was not justified under FBI and Justice Department policies. According to the report, the analysts were escorted from their office after declining the assignment, while the FBI said employees are expected to follow agency standards but did not confirm the firings. The investigation has reportedly mobilized about 260 FBI intelligence analysts nationwide, with some tasked with reviewing voter records and checking information on approximately 175,000 individuals. The probe has drawn criticism because multiple previous investigations found no evidence of fraud sufficient to change Georgia’s 2020 election results, and Sen. Mark Warner warned that redirecting FBI resources toward the case could undermine the bureau’s core mission ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
According to Reuters, the United States and Canada have reached an agreement allowing the $4.7 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor to open on July 27 after months of delays tied to a dispute over toll revenue. Under the deal, the U.S. will reportedly receive 50% of bridge toll profits and gain veto power over toll increases exceeding 10%, while Canada will establish a 15-year regional economic development fund tied to bridge profits. President Trump claimed the revised agreement secured a "much better deal" for the United States after previously threatening to block the bridge's opening over financial concerns. The new crossing is expected to ease congestion at the busy Ambassador Bridge, reduce truck crossing times by about 20 minutes, and improve freight movement across the busiest U.S.-Canada commercial border crossing.
A tourist was seriously injured Friday evening after a bison tossed them roughly 8 feet into the air in Yellowstone National Park. Professional photographer Mike Macleod, who filmed the incident, said the animal was "angry, agitated and charging anything and everything" before the attack.
Russian troops mounted a YakB-12.7 helicopter machine gun on a fixed stand for a live-fire training exercise, but the drill quickly spiraled out of control. Video shows the weapon's extreme recoil overwhelming the improvised setup almost immediately. The exercise appears to end in chaos as the mounted gun becomes unstable during sustained fire. The footage has rapidly spread online as another example of unconventional battlefield improvisation.
Ukraine has launched one of its most consequential maritime campaigns of the war, forcing Russia to suspend shipping through the Sea of Azov after targeting roughly 90 vessels in less than a week. Ukrainian officials say overnight strikes hit 10 tankers, four ferries, and the Syzran oil refinery, while also damaging electrical infrastructure in occupied Crimea. The shutdown disrupts a critical Russian logistics corridor used to move oil, grain, steel, military supplies, and sanctioned exports through the Kerch Strait and Don-Azov Canal. Ukrainian officials argue the campaign is steadily isolating Crimea, degrading Russia’s military logistics, and shrinking Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet, although many battlefield claims from both sides remain difficult to independently verify.
Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least six Palestinians on Sunday, including 9-year-old Tala Abu Matar, while more than a dozen others were wounded, according to local health officials. The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas infrastructure and a weapons production site in Gaza City but said it was unaware of some reported civilian casualties. Although violence has declined since the October ceasefire, Israeli strikes continue almost daily, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting more than 1,000 Palestinians, including at least 260 children, killed since the truce took effect. Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations remain stalled over Hamas’ disarmament and Gaza’s reconstruction, leaving most of the territory’s more than two million residents displaced and living in overcrowded camps or damaged buildings.
Experts are warning that the new world screwworm could become much harder to contain in the U.S. because the parasite has now become established in wildlife across parts of Central America, not just livestock. Researchers say illegal cross-border cattle trafficking has been the primary driver of its rapid spread north, allowing infected animals to bypass health inspections and transmit the parasite deep into forests. The U.S. is currently releasing about 100 million sterile flies to slow the outbreak, but scientists estimate roughly 500 million would be needed to push the screwworm back south and eradicate it. Experts also caution that today's larger cattle populations, widespread illegal livestock movement, and limited research on the pest make the current outbreak more challenging than the successful eradication campaign carried out in the 1960s.
At least 27 people were killed after a massive fire tore through a pub in Bangkok just after midnight, with firefighters taking about 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the cause of the fire remains under investigation, while several survivors were transported to nearby hospitals. Videos from the scene showed flames engulfing the entrance as patrons fled and thick black smoke billowing into the night sky. The tragedy is the latest in a series of deadly nightclub fires in Thailand, including a 2022 pub fire that killed 14 people and the 2009 Santika nightclub fire that claimed 66 lives.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner successfully defended his Wimbledon title, defeating Alexander Zverev in four sets, 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4, to capture his fifth career Grand Slam championship. The victory comes just weeks after Sinner’s disappointing French Open exit and marks his 10th straight win over Zverev, who appeared hampered by a knee issue after slipping in the third set.
See you soon.
— Aaron
