The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Thu Mar 26 2026

Nicole Fallert
Newsletter Writer & SEO Editor

Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Start with these stories:

•	Trump is sending 82nd Airborne paratroopers to Iran.
•	A Democrat won in Trump's backyard.
•	Teens who made deepfake porn of classmates were just sentenced.

Nicole Fallert here. Think March Madness, but with paws: Vote for your favorite furry friend in USA TODAY's Cute Baby Animal Tournament. Now, on to Thursday's news, from asteroids zooming by Earth to baseball's new robots.

Asteroid set to come near Earth today

This isn't "Project Hail Mary" : An asteroid the size of a house will approach Earth on Thursday. It's one of five asteroids are expected to approach our planet this week.

Leading up to the asteroids' approaches to Earth, eyewitnesses have also reported seeing multiple "fireballs," a very bright meteor or shooting star.

Nerd out, but don't worry . As the asteroids approach, none have been close enough to cause concern. Track them with NASA's Asteroid Watch.

A green fireball was seen crossing the sky in the Pacific Northwest.

Cristian Moreno / American Meteor Society

👩‍🚀 In other space news: NASA could be sending a nuclear-powered spacecraft to explore the skies of Mars in two years, while the space agency hopes to send astronauts next month on a lunar mission.

More news to know now

•	Are TSA lines really that bad? TSA wait times are at a record high and can stretch for hours. But travelers from around the U.S. report uneven experiences. And while Trump mulls deploying National Guard to airports, the administration has not confirmed if ICE officers would vacate airports right away if a partial shutdown ends.
•	Republican gains in California. A new poll sponsored by California Democrats shows two Republican gubernatorial candidates leading among voters for the state's June primary.
•	"I don't like overpaying for things." Shawn Carey, 60, an operations manager at a corporate event company and a wildlife photographer, groaned as he paid $3.45 a gallon to fill up his Subaru Outback . Three weeks earlier at the same gas station, the cheapest near his home in Braintree, Massachusetts, he paid $2.49 a gallon.

Spring 2026

Pink and fluffy trees 🌸

A jogger runs along the Tidal Basin as cherry blossoms bloom on March 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to the National Park Service, the cherry blossoms are expected to reach peak bloom within the next few days.

Kevin Dietsch, Getty Images

Iconic cherry blossoms have reached peak bloom across the country this week, with pink and white petals decorating city sidewalks and flower fans clamoring for that perfect springtime Instagram post.

Sports

MLB's historic first ABS challenge

For the first time in Major League Baseball history, the outcome of a ball-strike call was decided by a machine. In the fourth inning Wednesday night of the New York Yankees-San Francisco Giants season-opener , Yankees shortstop José Caballero challenged a strike call on a pitch from Logan Webb and lost his appeal – with MLB's new ABS system confirming the umpire's initial call.⚾ Learn how the MLB ABS system works and see what it looks like in action.

Before you go

•	Your favorite Olympic ice skaters are back in action.
•	Is it dementia or normal aging?
•	These are the sneakers for kids' perfect summer fun.

Have feedback on the Daily Briefing? Shoot Nicole an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.

See Caitlin Clark photograph the Pacers vs Lakers

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark takes photographs Wednesday, March 25, 2026, during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark is courtside at a Pacers game tonight. That isn't new, but she has a camera in hand to work the game.

READ MORE

A smoke plume rises from an ongoing fire near Dubai International Airport in Dubai on March 16, 2026.

American fleeing Dubai says help from State Department was too late

Americans are criticizing State Department delays as evacuation struggles leave travelers stranded across the Middle East.

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Annunciation Catholic Church and School shooting survivor, Victor Greenawalt, poses with Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sen. Tina Smith.

'Symbol of hope.' Boy honored for saving friend during school shooting

The Medal of Honor Society named Victor Greenawalt as the 2026 Young Hero Honoree for demonstrating "extraordinary bravery far beyond his years."

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Teenager Bruno scrolls through social media on his phone in Madrid on Feb. 4, 2026.

Jury finds Meta, Google liable in social media addiction trial

Meta and Google were found liable in a landmark trial over whether social media apps like Instagram and YouTube are designed to get children addicted.

READ MORE