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We asked a thousand Americans about the strikes on Iran. Pete Hegseth's staff did not like unflattering photos of him, and scientists said you might need a bigger breakfast. That's some of what we'll get to on the 7 from the Washington Post. I'm Izin Akabawon, in for HannaJul. It's Thursday, March 12th. Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. Number one, a Washington Post poll found less opposition to US Military actions in Iran than when they began. Shortly after strikes on Iran began this month, a Post poll found that 52% of people opposed President Donald Trump's decision. But the new poll published this Morning found that 42% support the campaign, 40% oppose it, and 17% are unsure. The poll also found a clear shift on the percentage of Americans who say the U.S. should continue the military strikes. 34% said strikes should continue, up from 25% earlier this month. A larger 42% say the strikes should stop. Yesterday, the Post published an exclusive story on the strikes. A school building in Iran where scores of children were killed was on a US Target list and may have been mistaken for a military site. You can find more on that story and the full poll results in today's newsletter. As always, just follow the link in our show. Notes. The White House took a first step toward replacing illegal global tariffs. That's number two. Last month, the Supreme Court struck down many of the tariffs that Trump imposed on countries around the world in 2025. At the time, the president vowed to continue his campaign to reshape global trade using other legal authorities. Yesterday, we got a preview of how that will work. Officials announced new investigations of what they allege are unfair trading practices in nations around the world. The investigation will almost certainly result in permanent new taxes on US Imports later this summer. Meanwhile, the American economy is already feeling the effects of conflict in Iran. And it could get worse. We've talked about rising gas prices on the show this week. That price pressure could spread to things like flights and groceries, depending on how long the conflict lasts. Number three is a Post exclusive. The Pentagon barred press photographers over unflattering photos of pete hegseth. On March 2, the defense secretary delivered a press briefing days after the US Began joint strikes on Iran. It was the first time Hegseth had appeared from the briefing room podium since June 26. Last year, several outlets, including the Associated Press, Reuters and Getty Images, sent photographers to the briefing to capture the moment. But after they published photos, members of Hegseth's staff told colleagues that they did not like the way the secretary looked. So the defence secretary's aides decided to shut out photographers from the two subsequent briefings at the Pentagon. It's unclear whether it was one particular photo or several of the day's shots that staff took issue with, Police said. A January 6th plaque is unlawfully hidden from the public at the US Capitol. That's number four. Last weekend, a plaque recognizing the service of officers who defended the Capitol from a pro Trump mob in 2021 finally went on display. It was a long time coming. It has been more than five years since the riot and three years since Congress ignored its own deadline to install the plaque. But there's a problem. Some officers argue that the placement of the plaque violates federal law. The location is not on the public tour route offered through the US Capitol Visitor Center. One officer said the placement is the latest move as part of a years long effort to hide the plaque and the wider history of January 6th. Number 5 AI money is already influencing the midterms, and more is coming big companies like OpenAI and Anthropic have contributed more than $185 million to midterm elections across the country. They're hoping to influence how AI will be regulated. And as they do so, both Democratic and Republican candidates are bracing for how the sheer amount of campaign spending could help shape key elections. Full Disclosure the Post has a content partnership with OpenAI. So far, candidates backed by AI companies have found early successes. Of the 20 candidates in the Texas and North Carolina primaries who received AI funds, just one lost her race. This influx of money comes as polls show the public has become more skeptical about artificial intelligence. A Pew Research survey last year found that 50% of Americans were more concerned than excited about increasing AI use. At number six, weight loss drugs are changing the ways Americans buy medicine. There's no doubt that GLP1 medications are changing the way many people look, but they are also having massive impacts on the way consumers shop for medication. Prices of the drugs are falling, and while Trump has claimed credit for this, other factors such as spotty insurance coverage as stiff competition and patients opting to pay out of pocket are helping to cut costs. While the medicines are generally covered if you have diabetes, insurance companies and employers have been more reluctant to do the same for weight loss. Only about 16 to 43% of employers surveyed last year chose to cover GLP1 drugs. The two main drug companies that sell weight loss drugs are cutting their prices to compete for market share and compounding pharmacies that sell discounted knockoffs are also disrupting the market. That means more patients are comparison shopping online for the medicines in the same way they might go about buying a new pair of shoes. Number 7 A new study could change the way you eat. For most people, breakfast is the smallest meal of the day and we have a bigger dinner. But new research suggests we should actually be doing things the other way round. In a study, two groups did this, one with a high fibre diet and the other with a high protein diet. Both eating plans provided benefits, with participants in the high fiber group losing slightly more weight and those in the high protein group feeling more satiated. If you're looking to reap some of the benefits in your own life, you can start by trying to consume more of your daily calories and earlier in the day. If, like me, you're not normally hungry when you wake up, a light breakfast and a bigger lunch followed by a modest dinner should do the trick. Try to eat three hours before bedtime and fast from food for 12 hours overnight. For tips on getting more fibre or protein into your diet, follow the link to the newsletter. You can find that, as always, in our Show Notes. All right, you're all caught up. I'm Izin Akabao, but before you go, a reminder that if you're a subscriber to the Washington Post, you can get access to our shows ad free in Apple Podcasts. All you have to do is find the Washington Post channel in Apple Podcasts and connect your post subscription. If you're not a subscriber, this is a great time to start. You can sign up at our channel in Apple Podcasts or through the link in our Show Notes. We'll meet you back here tomorrow.
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