Loading summary
Transcript8 lines
- [00:00]
A
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
- [00:20]
B
Unidentified drones over an army base in D.C. have sparked security concerns. That's where we're starting the Seven from the Washington Post, I'm Hannah Jewell. It's Thursday, March 19th. Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. Our first story today is a Post exclusive. According to three people briefed on the situation, U.S. officials detected unidentified drones above Fort McNair this month. That's the army base in Washington, D.C. where Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth live. Multiple drones were spotted over it in a single night. At some point in the last 10 days. Officials have not determined where they came from. The military has been monitoring potential threats more closely since the US And Israel launched strikes on Iran late last month. On Tuesday, the State department ordered all U.S. diplomatic posts worldwide to immediately review their security, and several domestic bases have been locked down because of threats since the war began. There are concerns that Iranian retaliation could extend to officials on US Soil. Meanwhile, the Post reported yesterday that the Pentagon is seeking a further $200 billion for the war. Foreign. Tulsi Gabbard told senators the Iranian regime is degraded but still intact. That's number two. Yesterday, the director of national intelligence took questions from lawmakers after almost three weeks of war in the Middle East. It followed the stunning resignation this week of Joe Kent. He was a senior political appointee overseeing the National Counterterrorism center and a top aide to Gabber Gabbard. Kent cast doubt on the administration's case for starting the war by contradicting assertions that Iran posed an imminent threat. Gabbard faced scrutiny during the hearing over the administration's preparation for the conflict and how she advised the president about the risks it posed. Democratic Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff asked Gabbard if the intelligence community had assessed, as the White House claimed, that there was an imminent nuclear threat posed by Iran. Gabbard said that only the president could make that determination.
- [02:52]
C
You're here to be timely, objective and
- [02:55]
B
independent of political considerations. Exactly what I'm doing. No, you're evading a question because to provide a candid response to the committee would contradict a statement from the White House. The hearing marked the first public accounting from the administration's top intelligence officials since the war began. President Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security faced a fiery confirmation hearing yesterday. Earlier this month, Trump said he will replace Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary. The decision came as Noem faced mounting criticism of how she handled the administration's mass deportation agenda. Senator Mark Wayne Mullen of Oklahoma is Trump's pick to replace Noem. Yesterday he pledged to restore confidence in the embattled agency. He vowed to take DHS in a different direction and to reduce tensions with local officers over immigration enforcement operations. But despite those concessions, the hearing was contentious. Republican Senator Rand Paul is the chairman of the committee that questioned him. Paul and Mullen have a long standing feud. Mullen once called Paul a snake and suggested he understood why Paul's neighbor in Kentucky had attacked him in 2017 during a dispute over lawn care. Paul asked how Mullen could support violence.
- [04:30]
C
I did not say I supported it. I said I understood it. There's a difference. By calling you that means you really didn't approve of it. Just completely understand it. What do you think most people would interpret completely understand to be support for or a condemnation of the violence?
- [04:47]
B
The Senate committee is expected to vote today on Mullin's nomination, which would then move to a full Senate vote. Number four. The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady despite Trump's demands for a cut. Fed Chair Jerome Powell told reporters yesterday that higher energy prices from the Iran war could push up in inflation. It followed the announcement that the Fed would leave interest rates unchanged for its second straight meeting. That's despite Trump's pressure for a rate cut, which he wants because it would juice the economy. Strikes on crucial production facilities in the Middle east yesterday and this morning are threatening even higher gas prices for Americans. Powell also said yesterday he would remain at the helm of the Federal Reserve after the expiration of his term in mid May, as long as his successor has not yet been confirmed by the Senate. Trump has been trying to push Powell out, but for the time being, Trump may be stuck with him. President Trump's face could soon appear on a new gold coin. That's our fifth story. A federal arts commission today will weigh whether to approve a 24 carat commemorative coin depicting Trump leaning on a desk with clenched fists. The Commission of Fine Arts, which is composed entirely of Trump appointees, has signaled it supports the coin. It has also supported other Trump projects, like his new White House ballroom. These kinds of gold coins from the US Mint typically sell for several thousand dollars. If you want to get a look at this one, there's a picture in the Sevens newsletter. But the coin is facing some roadblocks. Democrats and members of another federal committee say the idea is deeply inappropriate and potentially illegal. That second bipartisan coin panel would also have to approve the coin and refused last month to consider it. Members said it was unamerican to mint a coin of a sitting president. That panel also refused to consider a different $1 Trump coin. So now the administration argues that coin can be minted. The Treasury Department has not yet specified if or when it will enter circulation. Number six Airfares are spiking, so we asked travel experts how to get the best deals As I have already mentioned this morning, oil prices are soaring. That has left airlines with some of the highest fuel costs in years, and many airlines have decided to pass those costs on to customers. According to a Deutsche bank report released on Monday, fares on JetBlue, Delta and Hawaiian were up. So to get the best deals, our travel experts say you should start looking for flights as soon as possible, even if you don't plan to go away until next winter. Also, it might seem weird, but don't book Basic Economy. That's because if the airlines lower fares in the future, you can earn a credit for the price difference in higher categories. For more advice, follow the link in our newsletter. And at number seven A particular diet could help you lower your risk of dementia. Almost 30 years ago, researchers developed a diet that helped lower blood pressure. It's called the DASH Diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Now a new study shows that following its guidelines could also help to protect your cognitive function. Looking at data from almost 160,000 adults, an international team of researchers found that those who followed the DASH diet most closely had a 41% lower risk of experiencing cognitive decline. The diet focuses on produce, whole grains and lean proteins. If you want to try it, the study's author actually says you shouldn't overhaul your entire diet overnight. You can start by making small changes like swapping a salty pretzel snack for nuts and cutting out sugary drinks. If you follow through with the DASH diet, your future self may thank you. Alright, you're all caught up. Put your superior cognitive function to use today and leave the seven podcast a nice rating or review wherever you are listening. It helps our show grow and we appreciate it so much every time. I'm Hannah Jewell. I'll meet you back here tomorrow.
- [09:56]
A
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
- [10:54]
D
makes progress the Bleacher Report app is your destination for sports right now. The NBA is heating up, March Madness is here, and MLB is almost back. Every day there's a new headline, a new highlight, a new moment you've got to see for yourself. That's why I stay locked in with the Bleacher Report app. For me, it's about staying connected to my sports. I can follow the teams I care about, get real time scores, breaking news and highlights all in one place. Download the Bleacher Report app today so you never miss a moment.