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On Politics

Wed Mar 4 2026

Kathryn Palmer | Politics Reporter

@KathrynPlmr

Hello readers, and welcome back to On Politics. Kathryn Palmer here, with the latest on last night's nail-biter elections and developments in the war with Iran.

US sinks Iranian warship as death toll climbs

The U.S-Israel war with Iran continued to expand today , after officials said a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship, killing at least 80, and NATO air defenses intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile fired towards member state Turkey. Officials said today the United States and Israel would soon control Iranian airspace. The death toll in Iran has risen to 1,045 since the attacks began Saturday, according to state media. The Iranian Red Crescent Society previously put the death toll at 787. That includes about 150 girls and staff killed at a primary school. In a few short days, the war has transformed the region. U.S. troops across the Middle East continue to be under attack by Iran and its proxies, and over 1,000 U.S. citizens are still looking to escape the region as the war extends to neighboring countries, causing panic in the financial markets and oil prices to surge. Six Americans have been killed in Iranian aerial counterattacks.

As the conflict balloons, the Senate is scheduled to vote today at 4 p.m. ET about whether to block Trump from ordering more strikes on Iran. Follow USA TODAY's live updates.

A woman holding a picture of children reacts during the funeral of the victims following an Israeli strike on a school, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Minab, Iran, March 3, 2026.

Amirhossein Khorgooei, via REUTERS

A politics roundup:

•	U.S. and Ecuador launch operations against what officials say is "narco-terrorism"
•	It's a rare incumbent-on-incumbent race as two Texas Dems head to a primary runoff
•	What to know about James Talarico, who defeated Jasmine Crockett in bid for Texas Senate
•	The Pentagon has identified the 4 U.S. soldiers killed in the U.S-Israel war with Iran

Gallery: Hundreds mourn in Iran after scores of schoolgirls killed by US-Israeli strikes

5 takeaways from the 2026 primary kickoff

Surprises and uncertainty dominated the evening after millions of Americans flocked to the polls yesterday, kicking off the high-stakes 2026 midterm elections that will largely be a referendum on Trump's return to power. Voters across three states − Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas − made their voices heard. Much of the national spotlight shone on the Republican and Democratic primaries for U.S. Senate in the Lone Star State, which cost a combined total of about $110 million, breaking campaign spending records. Confusion reigned among Democratic contenders in Texas, after election rules and court orders disrupted the battle between Rep. Jasmine Crockett and the victorious state Rep. James Talarico, in a contest fought over style and perceived electability in November rather than their modest policy differences. USA TODAY chief political correspondent Phillip Bailey breaks it all down.

Noem defends DHS, denies creating protester database

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is testifying for a second day on Capitol Hill today and has so far faced rebukes from Democrats and applause from Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee. In her opening statement, Noem defended her handling of the agency, blasted the Biden administration and accused Democrats of taking "political pot shots," based on what she called "falsehoods and lies." Noem refused again to apologize to the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, who were killed during ICE protests in Minnesota, for labeling the two domestic terrorists. And she denied under oath that the Department of Homeland Security is creating a database of American citizens protesting the conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Thank you for reading! Scroll down for more stories. You can reach me at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @ KathrynPlmr.