'No deal' with Iran, only ‘unconditional surrender,' Trump says

By: The Hill

Published on: March 7, 2026, 1:04 am

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story 'No deal' with Iran, only ‘unconditional surrender,' Trump says President Trump on Friday called for Iran’s unconditional surrender to end the war launched by the U.S. and Israel last week. © Alex Brandon, The Associated Press...

To cool prices, Trump eyes un-sanctioning Russia oil

By: The Hill

Published on: March 7, 2026, 12:22 am

{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment   The Big Story To cool prices, Trump eyes un-sanctioning Russia oil The U.S. is lifting some restrictions on Russian oil and considering more actions to “unsanction” it as the conflict in Iran raises prices globally, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday. © Greg Nash Bessent told Fox Business that...

Kennedy: Noem was 'dead as fried chicken' after Senate hearing

By: The Hill

Published on: March 7, 2026, 12:21 am

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) on Friday said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was "dead as fried chicken" after he pressed her during a Senate hearing about a $220 million ad campaign not approved by President Trump, days before the president fired her. "I was stunned when Noem answered categorically that the president approved every single...

Former Hawaii Rep. Colleen Hanabusa dies at 74

By: The Hill

Published on: March 6, 2026, 11:47 pm

Former Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii), the first Asian American woman elected as president of a legislative body, died Friday following a private battle with cancer, according to multiple reports. Hanabusa, 74, was "a veteran lawmaker and attorney from Waianae who fought for local people for three decades as a Congresswoman and state Senate President," her...

There is big news for Trader Joe's mini tote bag lovers

By: The Hill

Published on: March 6, 2026, 11:47 pm

Trader Joe's tote bag mania continues in 2026 with the popular grocer confirming a new color – and an upcoming release date ... sort of.

US lifts some restrictions on Russian oil, considers more actions to 'unsanction' it as prices spike

By: The Hill

Published on: March 6, 2026, 11:20 pm

The U.S. is lifting some restrictions on Russian oil and considering more actions to “unsanction” it as the conflict in Iran raises prices globally, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday. Bessent told Fox Business that the U.S. would allow India to buy Russian barrels. "Yesterday, Treasury agreed to let our allies in India start buying...

US Postal Service will run out of cash in early 2027 without help: Postmaster general

By: The Hill

Published on: March 6, 2026, 11:17 pm

The U.S. Postal Service will run out of money within a year, Postmaster General David Steiner told The Associated Press this week.  “We have to have a conversation with the American public,” Steiner said in an interview with the AP published Thursday. “If you want us to deliver everywhere, every day, we’ll do it. That’s...

VOA Persian journalist says he was fired over coverage of Reza Pahlavi 

By: The Hill

Published on: March 6, 2026, 11:09 pm

A journalist with Voice of America’s (VOA) Persian service said he was fired this week over efforts to limit coverage of Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. Ahmad Batebi, a prominent Iranian dissident, human rights activist and American journalist, said he was given no explanation for why his contract was terminated but blamed it on...

Tech giants break silence on Anthropic

By: The Hill

Published on: March 6, 2026, 11:07 pm

{beacon} Technology Technology   The Big Story Tech giants break silence on Anthropic spat Three major tech companies — Microsoft, Google and Amazon — have said Anthropic’s AI tools will remain available on their platforms for work that does not involve the Pentagon after the company was labeled a supply chain risk. © Adobe Stock...

Man accused of setting fire to rep's office over TikTok ban sentenced to prison

By: The Hill

Published on: March 6, 2026, 11:00 pm

A Wisconsin man accused of attempting to set fire to Rep. Glenn Grothman's (R-Wisc.) office for his support of a bill to have TikTok's Chinese owner sell off its U.S. operations was sentenced to seven years in prison on Thursday. Caiden Stachowicz, 20, was also sentenced in Fond du Lac County Court to seven years...

Man who killed parents to fund Trump assassination plot sentenced to life in prison

By: The Hill

Published on: March 6, 2026, 10:16 pm

A Wisconsin man was sentenced to life in prison Thursday after he pleaded guilty to killing his parents in order to fund a plot to assassinate President Trump involving a drone with explosives or an AR-15 assault rifle. Nikita Casap, 18, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in Waukesha County Circuit Court...

California Democrat says Noem ouster is proof DHS shutdown is 'working'

By: The Hill

Published on: March 6, 2026, 10:04 pm

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) on Friday pointed to the firing of Kristi Noem as proof that the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was “working,” insisting it would not persuade Democrats to drop their demands for Republicans to rein in immigration enforcement operations. Kamlager-Dove told anchor Audie Cornish on “CNN This Morning” that...

Trump says defense contractors agree to quadruple production of 'exquisite class' weapons

By: The Hill

Published on: March 6, 2026, 9:40 pm

President Trump said major defense contractors have agreed to quadruple the production of "exquisite class” weaponry following a meeting Friday at the White House.  “They have agreed to quadruple Production of the ‘Exquisite Class’ Weaponry in that we want to reach, as rapidly as possible, the highest levels of quantity. Expansion began three months prior...

National Symphony director to exit amid Kennedy Center fight

By: The Hill

Published on: March 6, 2026, 9:31 pm

Jean Davidson announced she was exiting her position as the executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) on Friday, citing frustrations with President Trump’s controversial changes that have caused recent turmoil at the Kennedy Center.  “It’s no secret that this has been a really hard year,” Davidson told The New York Times on Friday....

Tech giants say Anthropic tools will remain available for nondefense work

By: The Hill

Published on: March 6, 2026, 9:28 pm

Three major tech companies — Microsoft, Google and Amazon — have said Anthropic’s AI tools will remain available on their platforms for work that does not involve the Pentagon after the company was labeled a supply chain risk. A Google spokesperson said in a statement Friday that they “understand that the Determination does not preclude...