TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS
MARCH 5, 2026
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The top news stories on March 5, 2026 (or the immediate preceding days leading into today), are heavily dominated by the ongoing U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran, now in its fifth day or more, with escalating strikes, retaliations, and significant global ripple effects. Other areas show more varied or lighter developments.
U.S. News:
- Escalating U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict, including new strikes on Tehran, the sinking of Iranian warships, and reports of additional U.S. military casualties (e.g., soldiers killed in related attacks or operations).
- Senate Republicans block a Democratic measure to curb President Trump's war powers on Iran, rejecting limits on continuing the offensive without congressional authorization.
- Anti-war protests intensify, including incidents like a U.S. senator assisting police in removing a protester from a meeting.
- Pentagon identifies U.S. soldiers killed in related incidents (e.g., in Kuwait or other areas tied to the broader conflict).
Politics:
- Senate vote along party lines thwarts bid to require congressional approval for continued Iran strikes, highlighting deep divisions over Trump's military actions.
- White House defends the strikes, with statements like those from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt citing Trump's "feeling" and intelligence as justification.
- Ongoing political fallout, including conflicting explanations from Trump administration figures (e.g., Trump and Rubio) on the war's origins and duration.
- Broader domestic reactions, such as polls showing disapproval of the strikes and protests against the war.
World Affairs:
- U.S. and Israeli strikes continue across Iran (including Tehran), with death tolls rising significantly (reports of hundreds to over 1,000 killed), targeting military sites, nuclear facilities (no radiation leaks reported), and civilian areas like schools.
- Iran retaliates with missile/drone attacks on U.S. embassies/consulates, bases, and allies (e.g., in Gulf states, Lebanon via Hezbollah), stranding thousands of Americans and prompting evacuations.
- Global concerns over prolonged war, including France's Macron announcing nuclear warhead increases for deterrence amid rising tensions.
- Impacts on energy security and markets, with oil prices surging and fears of Strait of Hormuz disruptions.
Education:
- Ongoing Trump administration push for school choice, parental rights, and education reforms (e.g., discussions around Linda McMahon and related foundations).
- Reports of cyber breaches affecting education systems (e.g., in Karnataka, India, impacting schools via stolen credentials).
- Higher education news, including pushback against proposed federal loan caps for graduate programs and AI integration challenges in teaching.
- Announcements like IIT Hyderabad's summer research internships for 2026.
Economy:
- Market volatility tied to the Iran war: initial plunges in stocks and surges in oil/gas prices due to fears of prolonged conflict and energy disruptions.
- Positive U.S. economic signals amid global turmoil, such as services sector expansion at the fastest pace since 2022, declining interest rates (e.g., 10-year Treasury below 4%), and rising consumer confidence.
- Broader concerns shifting, with some polls showing government/political leadership now ranked as a bigger issue than the economy or inflation for Americans.
Technology:
- Major Apple announcements/refresh in March 2026, including the iPhone 17e (budget model with flagship features), M4 iPad Air, and M5 MacBook lineup focused on AI capabilities.
- Big Tech developments, such as Trump securing pledges from companies to cover data center power costs.
- Other highlights: New phone releases to watch (e.g., Nothing Phone 4a, Samsung Galaxy S26 series with innovative privacy display features), AI breakthroughs/trends, and supply chain moves (e.g., Nvidia on photonics).
Health:
- Policy battles under the Trump administration, including scrutiny over health nominees, potential changes to prescription drug pricing (e.g., MFN models), and focus on issues like PBMs (pharmacy benefit managers).
- Congressional hearings on transforming health care with data and next-generation care.
- Ongoing topics like federal aid for lead cleanup receding and transgender care policies (e.g., Supreme Court blocks on certain school rules).
Sports:
- MLB spring training/exhibition games active (e.g., Houston Astros vs. Miami Marlins, Colombia vs. Atlanta Braves in World Baseball Classic prep).
- Premier League action (e.g., Fulham vs. West Ham highlights).
- Broader discussions around NCAA March Madness potential expansion for the men's basketball tournament in 2026.
- Other notes: Fantasy baseball breakouts and investments in women's softball.
The Iran conflict is the overriding global story right now, influencing markets, politics, and world affairs most prominently. For visuals on key events like strike aftermath or military actions, reliable sources include major outlets like NPR, NYT, or ABC News broadcasts. Stay safe and informed!
Trump Aides Insert Citizenship Question into 2030 Census https://dianeravitch.net/2026/03/04/trump-aides-insert-citizenship-question-into-2030-census/ via @dianeravitch
Despite challenges posed by the Trump administration, the U.S. legal system has occasionally resisted authoritarian policies. Judges and grand juries have blocked attempts to erode constitutional rights, defended immigrants' due process, and refused to bow to politically motivated indictments. However, concerns remain about the Department of Justice's politicization and the Supreme Court's leniency toward certain actions.
### Key Points
- The U.S. legal system has partially resisted the Trump administration's attempts to undermine constitutional rights and due process.
- Some federal judges, including Trump appointees, have ruled against policies violating immigrant rights and constitutional norms.
- The U.S. Supreme Court limited Trump's tariff powers but has been criticized for supporting claims of presidential immunity.
- Grand juries have consistently refused to indict Trump's political enemies despite pressure from his administration.
- Federal judges have thwarted efforts to punish political critics, including military veterans and legal professionals.
- Recent rulings have declared certain immigration policies, such as deporting individuals to countries they've never lived in, as illegal.
John Thompson: Saving Science from Disinformation, Propaganda, and Lies https://dianeravitch.net/2026/03/04/john-thompson-saving-science/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- John Thompson explores how distrust in science is fueled by propaganda, wealthy donors, and anti-science networks, threatening humanity's future.
- "Science Under Siege" highlights the role of plutocrats, petrostates, and right-wing influencers in spreading disinformation and undermining scientific progress.
- The authors criticize mainstream media for false framing that equates anti-science views with scientific consensus.
- Thompson warns of the long-term damage to scientific infrastructure and education caused by anti-science campaigns.
- Advocates for media literacy training to help young people combat disinformation and protect the culture of science and education.
A Simple Idea That Could Change Things for Kids: Child Impact Statements There's no such thing as a child-neutral policy. So why don't we require policymakers to say how their decisions affect children? BRUCE LESLEY https://brucelesley.substack.com/p/a-simple-idea-that-could-change-things
### Key Points
- Policies often neglect children's needs unless explicitly focused on them, leading to unintended consequences.
- Current child-related assessments are limited and fail to address broader, systemic impacts on children.
- Establishing universal child impact statements can ensure children's interests are considered in federal laws, regulations, and practices.
- Examples of harmful policies include Medicaid and SNAP cuts, and the dismantling of the Department of Education, which greatly affect children without proper assessments.
- Child impact statements are structured evaluations of policy impacts on children before implementation, ensuring accountability and proactive consideration.
- The Kids Impact Initiative and UNICEF USA have developed a toolkit to empower young people to create child impact statements and advocate for change.
- Youth-led initiatives, like those in Colorado, demonstrate the effectiveness of child impact statements in driving structural change.
- Advocates push for federal adoption of child impact statements alongside broader child-centered frameworks.
- Structural accountability, such as child impact statements, is necessary to address the power imbalance affecting children's representation in policymaking.
- Immediate actions include sharing resources, advocating for child impact assessments, and supporting organizations working for children's well-being.
### Key Points
You Don't Need a Weatherman to Know Just Why the NY Post Blows The right's race to the bottom ARTHUR GOLDSTEIN https://arthurgoldstein.substack.com/p/you-dont-need-a-weatherman-to-know
The article critiques the backward mindset prevalent in American society, highlighting the zero-sum mentality that pits individuals against each other rather than striving for collective progress. It criticizes the NY Post and right-wing think tanks for their anti-worker narratives, particularly targeting public sector pensions and benefits. The author advocates for fair compensation, dignified retirement, and universal social benefits, emphasizing the need for corporations and billionaires to pay their fair share of taxes to support public services.
### Key Points
- The article laments the backward mentality in America, where people resent others' benefits rather than advocating for universal access.
- Criticism of the NY Post as Rupert Murdoch's mouthpiece, amplifying anti-worker and anti-public education narratives.
- The author defends public sector pensions, Social Security, and the dignity of retirement for workers, contrasting them with declining private-sector benefits.
- The disparity between public and private school class sizes is highlighted, with overcrowded public schools struggling to meet mandates.
- Corporations and billionaires avoiding taxes are blamed for the lack of funding for universal healthcare and education.
- The author calls for fair compensation for teachers and public workers, rejecting the notion of resentment towards those who earn more.
- A critique of the zero-sum mindset that drives people to begrudge others rather than advocating for equal access to benefits.
Children with developmental delays or disabilities: Early services=improved academic outcome Education Research Report https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/
### Key Points
- Early Intervention (EI) services before age 3 improve academic outcomes in math and English language arts for children with developmental delays or disabilities.
- Investments in EI services benefit children, families, educational systems, and communities, particularly Latino/a children and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Strong family routines, such as regular bedtimes and shared meals, reduce behavior problems and ADHD symptoms in children transitioning to school. Harsh parenting diminishes these benefits.
- Suicide among autistic individuals is linked to societal inequalities starting in childhood, including missed diagnoses, lack of educational support, and insufficient transitional and employment assistance.
- Child exploitation cases have surged in Orange County, affecting younger victims and requiring updated intervention strategies and professional training.
- Insufficient sleep among US adolescents has increased significantly from 2007 to 2023, with larger impacts on non-Hispanic Black students and those with depressive symptoms or suicidal thoughts.
- Boys show higher levels of motivation-related traits, while girls demonstrate stronger correlations between self-efficacy, grit, and growth mindset. Boys benefit from socio-emotional learning, while girls need encouragement to increase self-compassion.
- Community college bachelor's degree graduates earn 14% more annually than associate degree holders but less than traditional bachelor's degree graduates. Earnings vary by field, with nursing and criminal justice graduates achieving parity with traditional bachelor's degree holders.
TX: They Don't Want School Choice PETER GREENE https://curmudgucation.substack.com/p/tx-they-dont-want-school-choice?sort=new
### Key Points
- Texas has a taxpayer-funded school voucher program, but many schools, including Islamic private schools, are excluded due to political and religious biases.
- Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock excluded schools associated with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) from the voucher program, citing unsubstantiated claims linking CAIR to terrorism.
- The exclusion affects not only Islamic schools but also Christian schools, schools serving special needs students, and others, leading to a lawsuit by a Muslim parent.
- The lawsuit argues that the exclusion is based on discrimination against Islamic schools, raising concerns about First Amendment violations and religious freedom.
- The author critiques school choice advocates in Texas, accusing them of supporting school choice only when it aligns with their religious or political preferences.
“Mr. President, I have a Question…” (and a book you should read) | The Merrow Report https://themerrowreport.com/2026/03/04/mr-president-i-have-a-question-and-a-book-you-should-read/
### Key Points
- President Trump claimed significant reductions in prescription drug prices, citing mathematically impossible figures.
- The author highlights the lack of questioning from reporters on Trump's questionable math.
- Broader societal issues of mathematical illiteracy are discussed, including its impact on decision-making and susceptibility to scams.
- The article advocates for a rethinking of math education in schools, prioritizing practical and relevant skills.
- The book "Aftermath" by Ted Dintersmith is recommended as a resource for improving math education and literacy.
Most New Yorkers statewide agree with Mayor Mamdani: Tax the rich! FRED KLONSKY https://fredklonsky.substack.com/p/most-new-yorkers-statewide-agree
- A majority of New Yorkers statewide support Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s proposal to tax residents earning $1 million or more, rather than increasing property taxes for homeowners and working families.
- A Siena poll shows strong statewide backing for the tax on millionaires: 54% support versus 29% opposition, with even higher support in NYC (62%) and among Democrats (72%). Suburban and upstate residents also favor the proposal.
- Despite widespread public support, Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders have not acted on the proposal, and Hochul’s approval ratings are reportedly declining.
- Advocacy efforts call for New Yorkers to pressure legislators in Albany to implement the tax on millionaires.
Teacher Tom: Striving to Be the Adult Children Need https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2026/03/striving-to-be-adult-children-need.html
### Key Points
- Teacher Tom discusses his internal urge to tackle and links it to understanding children's impulsive behaviors.
- He highlights the role of the prefrontal cortex in controlling impulses and the importance of supporting children until their brains are fully developed.
- The author shares insights on finding common emotional ground with children to provide the support they need.
- Teacher Tom provides free resources for educators and parents to foster play-based learning environments.
- He invites readers to support his blog and offers details about his work, books, and speaking engagements.
First Fish Chronicles: Sunlight is the Best Disinfectant | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/sunlight
- The article discusses the increasing integration of EdTech and AI tools, such as chatbots, in schools, despite minimal evidence of their educational benefits and concerns about their impact on children.
- It highlights the risks of untested and unproven EdTech products, which are being implemented without sufficient transparency, evidence of efficacy, or proper consent from parents and educators.
- The article emphasizes the need for "radical transparency" in how schools procure and implement EdTech products, urging parents and educators to demand accountability and question the use of such tools.
- It criticizes the business models of EdTech companies for being profit-driven and potentially harmful to child development, comparing them to Big Tech companies like YouTube and Instagram.
- The author calls for thorough evaluation of EdTech tools before their implementation, focusing on their effectiveness, safety, legality, and whether they are superior to traditional teaching methods.
- The article provides a list of questions for parents and educators to ask school leaders regarding the use of EdTech products, emphasizing the importance of protecting children and ensuring their best interests.
Education Media Misunderstands and Misinforms: Math and NAEP Edition "Numerous op-eds blamed the trend of declining math performance on the campus’ increased enrollment of underserved students." Pamela Burdman, February 2026 PAUL THOMAS https://substack.com/home/post/p-189875467
### Key Points
- The media often portrays education in the U.S. as either a crisis or a miracle, which oversimplifies complex issues and leads to misinformation.
- A UC-San Diego report highlighted a perceived math crisis among incoming students, but analysis showed no direct correlation between increased enrollment of underserved students and declining math performance.
- Changes in testing methods, such as the abandonment of calculators, contributed to the identification of underprepared students, fueling a media-generated math crisis.
- Misrepresentation of NAEP data and state reading proficiency levels by journalists creates confusion about student achievement, with NAEP "proficient" being above grade level and often misunderstood as grade-level proficiency.
- Stories like the "Mississippi Miracle" and the "Southern Surge" ignore broader data trends, such as grade retention inflating grade 4 scores but showing score declines by grade 8.
- Education journalism's focus on crisis and miracles reveals inadequacies in accurately representing student achievement and instruction quality.
Rubio says he never said what he said. Permanent war itself becomes a political asset, a way to reinforce authority, mute opposition, and extend incumbency. MICHAEL KLONSKY https://michaelklonsky.substack.com/p/rubio-says-he-never-said-what-he
### Key Points
- Rubio initially claimed the U.S. bombed Iran preemptively due to Israel's planned strike and expected Iranian retaliation, but later denied making this connection.
- His Monday comments echoed a narrative pushed by national-security hawks and Israeli officials, framing the U.S. strike as part of a coordinated strategy with Israel.
- Rubio faced criticism from Democrats, right-wing isolationists, and even President Trump, who contradicted Rubio’s explanation for the strike.
- The article argues that perpetual war is used as a political asset by leaders like Trump and Netanyahu to reinforce authority and extend their incumbency.
Calling All Baseball Romance Readers... Guess who has a new spicy book for you, just in time for Spring Training. KELLY REYNOLDS https://authorkellyrey.substack.com/p/calling-all-baseball-romance-readers
### Key Points
- Kelly Reynolds announces her new book *Catch Got Your Tongue*, part of the Rose City Roasters series, and seeks advanced readers for feedback before its launch.
- The book features a romance between a deaf baseball player and his teammate’s neurodivergent, plus-size sister.
- Readers can preorder the book on Amazon, add it to their Goodreads, and look forward to an audiobook version.
- Kelly invites readers to join her Facebook group, "Kelly’s Book Baddies," for discussions, giveaways, and recipes.
- Subscribing to her Substack provides exclusive access to her sapphic novella, *Love is in the Air*.
SPI Announces 2026 Model SARB Recipients - Year 2026 (CA Dept of Education) https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr26/yr26rel10.asp
### Key Points
- 13 School Attendance Review Boards (SARBs) were recognized for reducing absenteeism and improving attendance.
- Model SARBs share best practices, provide resources, and conduct workshops to assist other SARBs, districts, and counties.
- Early intervention and professional development are key strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism, truancy, and suspension.
- Family engagement and community partnerships address barriers to attendance and promote school connectedness.
- The awards will be presented at the California Association of Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance State Conference in March 2026.
- A list of the 2026 Model SARBs and their chairpersons was provided.
TRUMP IN THE NEWS TODAY
Today, March 4, 2026, the news cycle is dominated by major moves from the Trump administration regarding artificial intelligence energy policy and the ongoing military conflict with Iran.
Here are the top stories:
1. The "Ratepayer Protection Pledge" with Big Tech
President Trump held a high-profile signing ceremony in the Indian Treaty Room today, where he was joined by leaders from Google, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, xAI, OpenAI, and Amazon.
The Deal: Under this new pledge, these "hyperscale" tech companies have committed to building or buying their own power generation to fuel their massive AI data centers.
The Goal: The administration aims to ensure that the surging energy demand from AI doesn't drive up electricity bills for average American households.
The Tension: While Trump claims this will protect consumers, environmental groups and some energy experts argue the deal lacks federal enforceability and may lead to a rise in fossil fuel use to meet rapid energy needs.
2. "Operation Epic Fury" in Iran
The Pentagon provided a major update today on the progress of the military campaign against the Iranian regime, which began late last month.
Military Dominance: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine reported that U.S. and allied forces have achieved near-total air superiority. They noted that Iranian ballistic missile capabilities have been "evaporating by the hour," with a reported 86% decrease in launches since the start of the conflict.
Key Hits: The administration confirmed that the leader of the unit linked to past assassination attempts against Trump has been killed.
Additionally, an American submarine reportedly sank an Iranian warship using a torpedo—a rare occurrence in modern naval warfare. Political Fallout: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference today with veterans, accusing the President of failing to make a clear case for war to the American people and criticizing the "regime change" objectives.
3. Immigration and ICE Oversight
A heated House Oversight Committee hearing took place today regarding the administration's immigration enforcement.
The Conflict: Representative Ayanna Pressley and other Democrats slammed the administration’s use of ICE, alleging "violent operations" and trauma to children.
Proposed Legislation: Democrats are pushing for the "Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026," which would allow victims to sue federal law enforcement officers, specifically targeting ICE agents.
Summary of Key Documents Released Today (3-4-26)
| Document Type | Title | Key Takeaway |
| Proclamation | Ratepayer Protection Pledge | Official mandate for tech companies to cover their own infrastructure costs. |
| Fact Sheet | Strengthening the U.S. Electric Grid | Details on saving coal plants and deploying advanced nuclear reactors. |
| Press Release | Operation Epic Fury Update | Reports "crushing dominance" over Iranian military assets. |
