Top U.S. & World Headlines — March 5, 2026
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The US Senate rejected a War Powers Resolution to withdraw US forces from hostilities with Iran, with 52 Republicans and one Democrat opposing.
- ❖Joint US-Israeli attacks reportedly caused over 1,200 deaths in Iran, striking 33 civilian sites including hospitals, schools, and residential areas.
- ❖A US submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, killing 87 sailors, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegath celebrated.
- ❖Defense Secretary Hegath stated the US and Israel are 'crushing Iran's government without mercy.'
- ❖Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on US military bases in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and UAE, and targeted Azerbaijan.
- ❖Israel ordered tens of thousands of residents to evacuate southern Lebanon, with several Israeli airstrikes reported in southern Beirut.
- ❖A Marine Corps veteran suffered a broken arm protesting the US-Israeli war on Iran during a Senate hearing.
- ❖New research indicates ocean levels are rising faster than previously thought, threatening tens of millions more people.
- ❖An active measles outbreak with 14 cases was reported at the Camp East Montana ICE facility, which also has COVID-19 and tuberculosis outbreaks.
- ❖ICE dramatically cut its basic training program by over 40% during a hiring spree for deportation efforts.
- ❖Homeland Security Secretary Christy Gnome refused to apologize for calling Renee Good and Alex Pretty 'domestic terrorists' after their deaths by federal agents.
- ❖Minnesota Governor Tim Walls accused the Trump administration of political retribution by freezing Medicaid reimbursements and deploying 'masked, untrained, and unaccountable' federal agents.
- ❖Cuba experienced a massive blackout due to a US oil blockade, with President Trump raising the possibility of a 'friendly takeover.'
- ❖Ecuador expelled Cuba's ambassador and diplomatic staff, coinciding with the deployment of US special forces for joint military operations.
- ❖Venezuela's interim president announced mining law reforms to give the US greater access to natural resources, following the US abduction of former President Nicolas Maduro.
- ❖The House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena US Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case; Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik admitted visiting Epstein's island in 2012.
- ❖A multi-year investigation in Rhode Island found 75 Catholic priests sexually abused over 300 children since 1950, with bishops protecting perpetrators.
Insights
1US Senate Rejects War Powers Resolution Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
The United States Senate rejected a resolution aimed at directing the removal of US armed forces from hostilities with Iran. This procedural vote saw 52 Republicans and Democratic Senator John Fetterman oppose the measure, while 44 Democrats and two independents, along with Republican Senator Rand Paul, supported it. The resolution failed to reach the 51 votes required for passage.
The Senate rejected a resolution Wednesday that would have directed the removal of US armed forces from hostilities with Iran. 52 Republicans were joined by Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman on a procedural vote opposing the War Powers Resolution. 44 Democrats and two independents voted to advance the War Powers Resolution, joined by Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul. That fell short of the 51 votes needed to pass.
2US-Israeli Attacks on Iran Result in Over 1,200 Deaths and Civilian Site Destruction
Iran's government reported that the death toll from joint US-Israeli attacks surpassed 1,200. These attacks struck 33 civilian sites across Iran, including hospitals, schools, residential areas, and historic sites. Specific incidents included the destruction of Tehran's Azadi Stadium and a 'double tap' airstrike on an elementary school in southern Iran, which killed approximately 175 people, mostly young girls.
Iran's government said the death toll from joint US-Israeli attacks past 1,200. Iran's foreign ministry says US and Israeli attacks have struck 33 civilian sites across Iran, including hospitals, schools, residential areas, and historic sites. Earlier today, air strikes destroyed Tran's Zadi Stadium... last weekend's bombing of an elementary school in southern Iran was a so-called double tap air strike... The strikes killed about 175 people, most of them young girls.
3US Defense Secretary Celebrates Sinking of Iranian Warship and Vows 'No Mercy'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegath publicly celebrated a US submarine's torpedo attack on an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, which resulted in 87 deaths. Hegath explicitly stated that 'The US and Israel are in the process of crushing Iran's government, quote, without mercy,' indicating a policy of aggressive military action.
Sri Lanka's Navy says it's rescued 32 Iranian sailors... after an Iranian warship was torpedoed by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lankan officials said they'd recovered 87 bodies from the ship's wreckage... Defense Secretary Pete Hegath celebrated the attack on Wednesday... Secretary Hegsth added, 'The US and Israel are in the process of crushing Iran's government, quote, without mercy.'
4Israel Orders Mass Evacuation of Southern Lebanon Amid Airstrikes
Israel's military ordered tens of thousands of residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate dozens of villages north of the Litani River, threatening them with death if they remained. This order prompted massive traffic jams as an estimated 200,000 people attempted to flee. Lebanon's health ministry reported eight additional deaths from Israeli attacks across Lebanon, including overnight airstrikes in southern Beirut.
Israel's military has ordered tens of thousands of additional residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate dozens of villages or face death. An Israeli military spokesperson posted a message in Arabic on X reading, quote, 'Residents of southern Lebanon, you must move immediately to areas north of the Latani River.' Some 200,000 people live in the region... Lebanon's health ministry says Israeli attacks have killed eight more people across Lebanon with several air strikes overnight in southern Beirut.
5US Intensifies Pressure on Cuba and Orchestrates Venezuelan Resource Access
The Trump administration intensified pressure on Cuba with an oil blockade, leading to a massive island-wide blackout. President Trump also raised the possibility of a 'friendly takeover' of Cuba. Concurrently, Ecuador expelled Cuba's ambassador as the US deployed special forces for joint military operations. In Venezuela, the interim president announced reforms to mining laws, granting the US greater access to natural resources, following the US abduction of former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
A US oil blockade is cut off the Cuban government from accessing desperately needed fuel as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Cuba. President Trump recently raised the possibility of a quote friendly takeover of Cuba. Meanwhile, Ecuador's expelled Cuba's ambassador... the US announced it had deployed special forces to Ecuador to conduct joint military operations... Venezuela's interim president Elseie Rodriguez announced Venezuela will reform its mining laws in a move that will give the US greater access to Venezuela's natural resources... This all comes two months after the US attacked Venezuela and abducted the Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Silia Flores.
Lessons
- Monitor legislative actions related to military engagements, such as War Powers Resolutions, to understand the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in foreign policy.
- Investigate the impact of US foreign policy decisions, particularly military interventions, on civilian populations and regional stability, using diverse news sources.
- Support organizations advocating for government accountability and transparency in military actions and domestic policy, especially concerning immigration and civil liberties.
Notable Moments
A Marine Corps veteran, Brian McInness, had his arm broken while being aggressively removed by Capitol police for protesting the US-Israeli war on Iran during a Senate hearing.
This incident highlights the intense public opposition to US foreign policy and the forceful suppression of dissent within governmental spaces.
Homeland Security Secretary Christy Gnome refused to apologize for labeling Renee Good and Alex Pretty 'domestic terrorists' immediately after federal agents killed them.
This demonstrates a lack of accountability and potentially inflammatory rhetoric from a high-ranking official regarding civilian deaths at the hands of federal agents.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walls accused the Trump administration of political retribution, deploying 'masked, untrained, and unaccountable' federal agents who violated citizens' constitutional rights under the guise of combating fraud.
This reveals a significant federal overreach and alleged abuse of power, raising concerns about civil liberties and the weaponization of federal agencies against political opponents.
Quotes
"The Declaration of War is not a power that the President of the United States has. The Constitution makes it clear the Declaration of War is the authority and the responsibility of Congress."
"An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo."
"The US and Israel are in the process of crushing Iran's government, quote, without mercy."
"Residents of southern Lebanon, you must move immediately to areas north of the Latani River."
"Under the guise of combating fraud, the federal government has flooded Minnesota with masked, untrained, and unaccountable agents who are wreaking havoc in our communities. On the streets of Minnesota, federal agents have entered US citizens homes who have committed no crimes. They have violated the constitutional rights of our citizens. They have ignored court orders. They have shot first and asked questions later. Time and again, they have gas lit us by demanding that we ignore what we see before our very eyes. But the American people are not so easily fooled."
Q&A
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