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Deloitte brings together multidisciplinary teams that specialize in AI data, cloud and cyber so you can act with confidence right when it matters. Deloitte Together makes progress visit deloitte.com Together makes progress
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Trump is facing a dilemma on Iran. Ozempic may have surprising benefits for the body, and we'll hear from a very clever pig. That's some of what we'll get to on the 7 from the Washington Post, I'm Izin Akabawon in for Hannah jaw. It's Friday, March 27th. Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. President Donald Trump extended his deadline for Iran to open a critical waterway. Trump had threatened Iran with strikes on energy facilities if it didn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz by today. The strait is a vital conduit for global energy supplies that has been effectively shut by the war in Iran. But yesterday, Trump said he'll give Iran 10 additional days to reopen it. He cited progress in negotiations with Tehran to end the war. Trump's pursuit of a settlement comes as the conflict approaches the one month mark, and financial markets seem rattled. He faces a dilemma. Polling has consistently shown that Americans oppose the war and disapprove of how Trump has handled it. But if Trump ends the fighting, some officials fear what Iran may do next. US Allies among the Arab states lining the Persian Gulf were skeptical about the war in the first place. And now they're concerned that a wounded Iran run by hardline leaders endangers their populations. The Senate passed a bill to reopen much of the Department of Homeland Security. That's number two. For more than five weeks, a partial government shutdown has left TSA officers working without pay. That's triggered long lines at airports and other disruptions as millions of Americans travel for spring break. But overnight, there was a breakthrough. The Senate passed a measure that would fund TSA and other parts of Homeland Security, excluding ICE and Border Patrol. In the end, neither Republicans nor Democrats got what they wanted. Republicans wanted the bill to fund the entirety of dhs, while Democrats wanted new restrictions on federal immigration agents. But lawmakers felt increasing pressure to strike a deal. The House still needs to pass the bill before Trump can sign it into law. Number three. A judge blocked a Pentagon order branding Anthropic a national security risk. The AI company Anthropic and the Pentagon have been locked in a bitter feud for months now. It stemmed from a disagreement over how Anthropic's technology could be used in warfare. Defense officials pushed for the technology to be used for any lawful purpose. But Anthropic wanted a bar on it being used in mass domestic surveillance and to power fully autonomous weapons. After the dispute spilled into public view, the Pentagon ended talks with the company and issued orders labeling it a supply chain risk. The extraordinary move group Anthropic, a leading American AI company, alongside tech firms with links to hostile foreign governments. But yesterday, a judge intervened to block the Pentagon's order. The judge said officials had likely violated the law and retaliated against the firm for speaking out about how it wanted its technology to be used. Number four the Kennedy Centre began laying off staff earlier this month, the Kennedy Center's board approved Trump's plans to shut down the D.C. arts institution for two years of renovations. Yesterday, staff started feeling the impacts as the first wave of anticipated job cuts got underway. Multiple departments were affected and the number of staff cuts appears to be in the double digits. Among those cut were Nick Mead and Rick Lockery. Both were installed in top roles by the centre's former president, Richard Grenell. He is a Trump loyalist who was appointed to lead the centre's transformation, but his departure was announced earlier this month. More layoffs and potential furloughs are expected as the centre prepares for its two year closure. At number five, GLP1s may benefit the body in surprising ways GLP1s are widely known as weight loss medications, but they are also approved by the FDA to treat other conditions such as heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease and sleep apnea. On top of that, smaller clinical trials and bodies of research suggest GLP1s may also help with other conditions, though there isn't enough evidence to make it an approved medicine. It's possible that GLP1s could help people suffering from arthritis or inflammation. A 2024 study found that patients treated with semaglutides had a decrease in pain from knee osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disorder, and some doctors are already prescribing GLP1s off label to treat patients with addiction issues. Some studies have shown promising results, and a large one is in the works. Of course, promising study results don't mean that GLP1s are FDA approved to treat medical conditions, but for a detailed look at the scientific research around GLP1s and other conditions such as PCOS and cancer, follow the link to our newsletter. You can find that in our show Notes. Number six. You can still find a cheaper summer holiday vacation if you want a good holiday deal. It's usually best to book far in advance, but if you've been procrastinating, there's still hope. We asked travel experts which locations offer good value for money, even if you're booking now. One of the places they recommended was the Dominican Republic. There you can find affordable, all inclusive deals that are also good quality. According to Jose Antonio Cruz, from Snow and planned vacations, flights could be under $500 for a round trip. If you don't need warm weather, this year might be the time to book a cruise through Alaska. Thanks to a lot of ships in the region, costs in June can be as low as $88 per person per day. That's based on two people sharing in Europe. Our experts suggested Portugal and Estonia as destinations where your money goes further than in neighbouring countries, and Panama as well as northwest Arkansas came up too. Enjoy your trip if you do go. I have currently put myself on a ban from even thinking about holidays for the rest of this year. And at number seven, a talking pig has become a record breaking Internet sensation. Four year old Merlin the pig lives in Sacramento with his owner Olali. He has an impressive 1.1 million followers and that has earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as Instagram's most followed pig. Fans like to watch him communicate with his owner using buttons. Merlin has a purple button that says I'm mad which he will use to express his anger after being denied a treat. Here you can hear him negotiate with his owner, Alali.
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Good morning toy Merlin.
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You're not going to get your toy right now.
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Yes.
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No.
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Yes.
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No. You haven't gotten any exercise. You're on a diet buddy. I'm mad. Alali has described the miniature Vietnamese pot bellied pig as just like a toddler, adorable and headstrong. Unlike the other toddlers I know. However, Merlin is also a certified therapy pick and sometimes visits assisted living homes. That's the show for this week. The staff writers of the Seven are Jamie Ross, Hannah Jawell and me. Special thanks to Rena Flores and Ted Muldoon for producing. John Taylor is our editor. Copy editing by Rebecca Branford, Kendra Nichols and Victoria Craw. Mixing and sound design is by Jim Briggs and Justin Gerrish. Our theme music is by Edith Mudge. I'm Izin Akabao. Thanks for listening and have a great weekend. We'll meet you back here on Monday.
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Better decisions start long before you make them. That's why Deloitte brings together the right technology with the right teams to understand what's connected, what could change and what could break. Every decision starts with data points, constraints and risks across supply chains, finance operations and customer touchpoints. But with AI and data, Deloitte spots patterns sooner to test scenarios and help you turn insight into action. With cloud, organizations can modernize platforms, scale what works, and help you move from idea to shipment faster. And because Deloitte brings together teams with deep experience and diverse perspectives, blindspots come into focus sooner so you can align faster and move forward with more confidence. Because better decisions start when it all comes together. Deloitte Together makes progress visit deloitte.com Together
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makes progress Spring is here and it's the perfect time to clear the clutter and keep the facts right. Now you can get the Washington post for just 50 cents a week for the first six months. Yep, that's right, 50 cents a week for six months of our award winning journalism. After the intro offer, your subscription renews at $14 every four weeks. Don't miss this opportunity to spring clean your newsfeed. Learn more@washingtonpost.com subscribe.