In today’s newsletter: Trump’s daily Iran video briefing fuels concerns he’s not getting a full picture on the war. Congress seeks more answers about Jeffrey Epstein’s death. And Savannah Guthrie reveals the “agony” her family is going through after the disappearance of her mother.
Here’s what to know today.
Trump shown daily video montage about Iran strikes amid concerns he’s not getting full picture of war
Each day since the start of the Iran war, U.S. military officials compile a video update for President Donald Trump showing the most successful strikes on Iranian targets over the previous 48 hours, three current U.S. officials and a former U.S. official said.
The montages run for about two minutes, sometimes longer, the officials said. One described the videos as a series of clips of “stuff blowing up.”
This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
Trump is also updated on the war through conversations with top advisers, foreign leaders and news reports, the officials said. Still, the video briefing is fueling concerns among some of the president’s allies that he may not be receiving a complete picture of the war. The officials said the videos are driving Trump’s increasing frustration with news coverage — particularly why his administration can’t better influence the public narrative.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the idea that Trump doesn’t receive information about the full range of developments in the war is “an absolutely false assertion.”
Current and former U.S. officials said the military can’t brief Trump on every strike — there are hundreds every day — and so the curated video doesn’t reflect the full scope of the conflict. Trump has acknowledged seeking information independently. But overall, the information tends to emphasize U.S. successes, with comparatively little detail about Iranian actions.
More about the war updates that Trump receives.
Follow our live coverage of the war.
Trump could name a new CDC head today. ‘We don’t need a TV personality,’ one expert said.
Trump is expected to name a candidate to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on his Truth Social account.
The director, if confirmed by the Senate, would take on an agency marked by mass layoffs, a deadly shooting and hollowed-out leadership. Insiders say they worry the eventual nominee will only further undermine trust in the nation’s top health agency, as measles outbreaks escalate and vaccine policies face resistance.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the CDC’s current acting director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, have long been critical of the agency but haven’t offered ways to support or strengthen it, staffers said. Kennedy has instead touted efforts by other health agencies, including attempts to drive down drug prices, the new dietary guidelines and America’s reliance on ultra-processed foods.
The White House and Department of Health have been quiet on potential nominees, but whoever is chosen doesn’t need to be a “TV personality,” said Dr. David Margolius, Cleveland’s director of public health. “We need someone who is collaborating and putting the health of the residents of the country first, not their ego.”
Why some at the CDC are concerned with the agency’s direction.
More politics news:
- Senate Republicans think they’ve found a viable path to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, as long TSA lines continue to create chaos at airports.
- Democrat Emily Gregory flipped a Republican seat in a special election for the Florida state House district that includes Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
- A California gubernatorial debate was cancelled hours before it was set to occur after mounting criticism that only white candidates had qualified for the event.
- The Missouri Supreme Court upheld a new Republican-drawn congressional map designed to net the GOP a House seat in the midterm elections.
Savannah Guthrie opens up in first interview since her mother’s disappearance
“TODAY” co-host Savannah Guthrie has opened up about the ongoing search for her mother, detailing the “agony” her family is going through more than seven weeks after her disappearance from her home in Arizona.
“Someone needs to do the right thing. We are in agony. We are in agony. It is unbearable,” Savannah told Hoda Kotb in an interview previewed today that will be broadcast throughout the week.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing by her family on Feb. 1 from her home near Tucson, Arizona, after failing to attend a virtual church service at a friend’s house, authorities said.
Authorities have described the case as a possible kidnapping or abduction, but clues have been scarce.
“And to think of what she went through. I wake up every night in the middle of the night, every night,” Savannah said. “And in the darkness, I imagine her terror. And it is unthinkable, but those thoughts demand to be thought. And I will not hide my face. But she needs to come home now.”
More on Savannah’s interview here.
Congress wants to know more about Epstein’s final hours
Within a week of Jeffrey Epstein’s death in 2019, two medical officials said the convicted sex offender died by suicide from hanging in his jail cell. But those findings did not stop conspiracy theories from spreading suggesting Epstein was murdered because of his connections to high-profile public figures.
Now, members of Congress want to know more. This week, the House Oversight Committee will seek testimony from Tova Noel, the prison guard believed to be the last person to see the disgraced financier alive, as part of a review of the federal government’s past investigation.
The House panel questioned Epstein’s accountant Richard Kahn, and his lawyer Darren Indyke, behind closed doors this month. In videos of their depositions, released yesterday, both maintained they did not witness any wrongdoing.
Many questions linger about his death; from an unclear orange blur caught on surveillance video, to how long he was alone in his cell before he hanged himself. Noel is under additional scrutiny because an analysis of her work computer showed a Google search for “latest on Epstein in jail.” The House committee also wants to ask her why she deposited $5,000 into her bank account days before Epstein was found dead.
More on the questions about Epstein’s death.
NBC Select: Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is back — here are the deals actually worth shopping:
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale starts today, which means it’s the perfect time to stock up on household necessities and snag wishlist items for way less. Everyone (not just Prime members) will have until Mar. 31 to shop deals from top-rated brands. Our editor rounded up all the best offers available now, including a few of our 2026 Wellness Award winners. Looking to save even more? Here’s a complete list of all the spring sales happening right now.
Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.
Read All About It
- Officials are investigating allegations of a third domestic violence incident involving “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” stars Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen.
- City council members in Oklahoma welcomed a Google data center. Now they all face a recall.
- A 5-year-old boy who drew widespread attention after appearing in a video call with children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel has been released along with his family from a Texas immigration center.
- In an unexpected move, OpenAI announced its video generating service Sora will be shutting down soon as the company comes under intense pressure from rival Anthropic.
- The MLB is instituting a new high-tech system to challenge and appeal the fraction-of-an-inch calls that separate balls from strikes.
Staff Pick: Doulas can improve health outcomes for women and babies. Insurers are taking notice.
Last year, I spoke with a woman who credited her doula with saving her life by encouraging her to go to the ER with symptoms of an infection after giving birth. She wasn’t able to afford a doula, but the services were covered as part of a pilot program.
Doulas — people who help women navigate prenatal visits, support them through labor and continue on postpartum — remain out of reach for many women because they are not typically covered by insurance.
I was interested in looking into state and national efforts to increase access to doulas, as almost a half of states require Medicaid to cover them. As the U.S. continues to have high levels of maternal mortality, some OB-GYNs (obstetrician-gynecologists) and insurance providers are hoping that doulas can help keep women and babies safe. One large health insurer is even rolling out the benefit for members nationwide, signaling a dramatic change in how doulas interact with the healthcare system and who can access them. — Marina Kopf, associate producer
Thanks for reading today’s Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson, Marissa Martinez and Josh Feldman. If you’re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here.
About the Author
