The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Thu Mar 12 2026

Nicole Fallert
Newsletter Writer & SEO Editor

Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here's what's breaking this morning:

•	An abortion death penalty bill failed in the Tennessee legislature.
•	Why was Katherine Heigl at Mar-a-Lago?
•	USA stays alive in the World Baseball Classic.

Nicole Fallert here, bringing you the news to know on Thursday. We'll begin with what the war in Iran costs Americans, update you on the DHS shutdown and explain how paralympic wheelchair curling works.

Feds warn California could be drone target

Federal authorities have warned California law enforcement agencies that the state could be a potential target of a drone attack tied to the escalating war between Iran, the U.S. and Israel — though officials stress there is no confirmed or imminent threat.

Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers reviewed startling financial estimates from the Pentagon as the Iran war spiraled amid attacks on three ships in the pivotal Strait of Hormuz. According to Pentagon estimates reviewed by lawmakers, the first six days of war in Iran cost U.S. taxpayers at least $11.3 billion. Meanwhile, U.S. average gas prices hit $3.59 a gallon on Wednesday.

More on Iran: This video shows an apparent U.S.-made missile strike near an Iran girls' school.

More news to know now

•	Tornadoes, storms stretch across eastern U.S. The number of Americans under tornado watch is likely to increase or fluctuate as storms move early Thursday. The tornado watches included Southeast Texas, parts of Louisiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and northern Maryland.
•	A fiery debate in the Senate. The Senate once more opted against even partially reopening the Department of Homeland Security after Democrats tried to unanimously pass a bill to fully fund most of its contents except for (crucially) Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and the Office of the Secretary. Here's how the DHS shutdown impacts you.
•	Poisoned food, drugs & money. The murder trial of Kouri Darden Richins is the latest true-crime case taking the nation's attention.

Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics

How does wheelchair curling work?

Team USA's Laura Dwyer and Stephen Emt in action during the mixed doubles bronze medal game against Latvia at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics on March 11, 2026.

Louisa Gouliamaki, REUTERS

Wheelchair curling makes its fifth appearance at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milano-Cortina. Wheelchair curlers use a delivery stick to propel the smooth, 42-pound granite stone across the ice. Unlike able-bodied curling, athletes do not slide on the ice. Instead, the wheelchair remains stationary during the throw.

Health & Wellness

She thought it was a stomachache. It was Stage 3 rectal cancer at 26.

Lauren Ver Steeg told USA TODAY she was always the friend who had "stomach problems," symptoms that she described as typical tummy troubles or a stomachache. She was 26 at the time. She brushed it off. A friend encouraged her to see the specialist, who quickly ordered a colonoscopy. The results? A malignant tumor in her rectum.

Before you go

•	Travis Kelce says Taylor Swift motivated his Chiefs return.
•	Misty Copeland had words for Timothée Chalamet about ballet.
•	Kai Trump's cringy Erewhon grocery haul struck people's nerves.

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

Inflation held steady at 2.4% in February, ahead of Iran war

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 27: People walk along Broadway with shopping bags in Manhattan on February 27, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The data may reveal less than usual about inflation's path as it does not account for gas and oil price surges sparked by the Iran war in early March.

READ MORE