What Americans think of Iran strikes; midterm primaries; muscles and longevity; and more

Summary

Podcast Summary: The 7 (The Washington Post)

Episode: What Americans think of Iran strikes; midterm primaries; muscles and longevity; and more
Host: Hannah Jewell
Date: March 3, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this brisk morning episode, host Hannah Jewell guides listeners through the seven most important and engaging stories of the day. From the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict and Americans’ divided opinions on military action, to revealing Clinton depositions, pivotal primary elections, a major Supreme Court ruling, ICE training controversies, and new science connecting muscle strength to longevity, Jewell distills complex topics into concise, accessible analysis powered by The Washington Post’s reporting.

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1. Escalating U.S. and Israel Strikes on Iran (00:02–02:50)

• War Update:

  • It’s the fourth day of joint U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran, following Iran’s retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.
  • President Trump spoke on the war’s potential duration, suggesting it could “last four to five weeks or longer” ([00:02]).
  • The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports the civilian death toll has hit 787; U.S. casualties currently number six soldiers.

• Leadership Perspectives:

  • Trump rebuffs notions that he seeks a quick exit:

    "I don't get bored. There's nothing boring about this." — President Trump [00:39]

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth does not rule out sending ground troops and insists the intent is not regime change, despite mixed explanations from the administration.

• Public Messaging Issues:

  • The administration’s shifting rationales have included Iranian missiles, nuclear threats, and support for terror groups.
  • Lack of clarity about the war’s goals is causing public confusion and concern.

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2. American Public Opinion on the Iran Strikes (02:50–04:10)

• Flash Poll Results:
  • A Washington Post text poll finds more Americans oppose the strikes than support them (52% opposed vs. 39% supportive).
    • Opposition is more intense: ~40% “strongly oppose” vs. just over 20% “strongly support.”
    • Nearly twice as many want strikes to stop rather than continue.
  • The majority believe the administration has failed to clearly explain the war’s objectives.

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3. Clinton-Epstein Deposition Videos Released (04:10–05:35)

• Historic Testimonies:

  • Bill Clinton became the first ex-president compelled to testify before Congress under subpoena regarding Jeffrey Epstein.
    • Clinton disavowed prior knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and distanced himself from the disgraced financier.
    • On much-discussed pool and hot tub images, Clinton claimed:

      "We went out, I swam around, I sat in the hot tub for five minutes or whatever it was, and I got up and went to bed." — Bill Clinton [04:17]

  • Hillary Clinton denied any meaningful association with Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell.

• Ongoing Inquiry:

  • Congress continues to issue subpoenas, mainly targeting Democrats named in Epstein-related Justice Department documents.

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4. Midterm Primary Elections Kick Off (05:35–06:30)

• Primary Focus States: Texas, North Carolina, and Arkansas.
  • These races set the tone for broader midterms and reflect national political sentiment on Trump’s second term.
• Key Dynamics:
  • Republicans defend a razor-thin House majority. History favors the out-of-power Democrats in midterms.
  • The Texas Senate primaries are nationally significant, with incumbent GOP Senator John Cornyn’s seat at risk.

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5. Supreme Court Blocks California Trans Policy Law (06:30–07:38)

• Case Details:
  • The law banned schools from requiring staff to inform parents about students’ sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • Christian parents sued, citing religious and parental rights.
• Court’s Ruling:
  • The Supreme Court sided with parents, blocking the law’s enforcement during ongoing litigation; the Justices suggested the parental claims are likely to succeed.
  • Ongoing tension between student privacy advocates and parental rights groups.

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6. ICE Training Cuts Exposed (07:38–08:56)

• Whistleblower Testimony:
  • A former ICE instructor told Congress that the agency slashed over 40% of its basic training curriculum—including hands-on and firearms training.
  • Homeland Security denies this, but internal records confirm the cuts, affecting over 900 ICE recruits.
• Concerns:
  • The reduced training has led to underprepared officers and a surge in hires “who weren't suited for or capable of the job,” according to police and ICE sources.

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7. Muscle Strength Linked to Longevity (08:56–09:50)

• New Study Highlights:

  • Nearly 6,000 women aged 63–99 were studied; strength (not just activity or fitness) emerged as a unique predictor of longer life.
    • Stronger women had a third less risk of early death, regardless of aerobic capacity or other habits.
  • The study’s lead author speculates the benefits extend to older men and younger people, pending future research.

• Takeaway for Listeners:

  • Simple strength tests can be done at home.
  • Jewell adds a motivating sign-off:

    "For more inspiration to get shredded this year, follow the link in today’s newsletter." [09:50]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on war duration:

  "We have capability to go far longer than that... I don't get bored. There's nothing boring about this." ([00:39])

• Bill Clinton distancing from Epstein:

  "I swam around, I sat in the hot tub for five minutes or whatever it was, and I got up and went to bed." ([04:17])

• On muscle and longevity:

  "Strength was a key and singular contributor to longer lives. It reduced the risk of early death by a third or more." ([08:56])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• U.S. and Israel Strikes on Iran: 00:02–02:50
• American Opinion on Strikes: 02:50–04:10
• Clinton Depositions/Epstein: 04:10–05:35
• Midterm Primaries: 05:35–06:30
• Supreme Court & Trans Policy: 06:30–07:38
• ICE Training Cuts: 07:38–08:56
• Muscles & Longevity: 08:56–09:50

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This episode provides a concise, insightful roundup of the day’s most pressing stories, combining data-driven reporting with succinct analysis and useful takeaways for listeners.

Transcript

[A]

President Donald Trump said strikes on Iran could last four to five weeks or longer. That's where we're starting the seven. From the Washington Post, I'm Hannah Jewell. It's Tuesday, March 3rd. Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. It is the fourth day of the US and Israel's attack on Iran and Iran's retaliatory strikes across the Middle East. Yesterday at the White House, President Trump spoke about the possible duration of the war, which began with strikes on Saturday.

[B]

And we have, right from the beginning, we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that. We'll do it. Whatever somebody said today, they said, oh, well, the president wants to do it really quickly. After that he'll get bored. I don't get bored. There's nothing boring about this. Do you agree with that, Pete? I don't think there's anything, Mr. General. I think there's nothing boring about it.

[A]

The Iranian Red Crescent Society says the death toll from ongoing airstrikes by the US and Israel has risen to 787 and six US soldiers have been killed so far, according to the Pentagon. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Kane said yesterday that the US Military expects further casualties before the war is over. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also spoke at a news conference from the Pentagon yesterday. He would not rule out sending ground troops to Iran, and he insisted that this is not a so called regime change war, even though that was part of Trump's original explanation for the attack. Since Saturday, the administration has offered shifting rationales for its decision to launch strikes. Yesterday, Trump referenced Iranian missiles, its nuclear program and its sponsorship of terror groups. And the administration's failure to clearly explain the strikes is a problem for the American public. That brings us to our second story. We asked a thousand Americans about US Strikes in Iran. That's number two. In a texted flash poll on Sunday, the Post asked Americans across the political spectrum whether they support airstrikes against Iran and whether they think the strikes should continue. The poll found that more Americans oppose the strikes than support them. Respondents opposed Trump ordering airstrikes on Iran by 52% to 39%. Opponents were more passionate, with about 4 in 10 strongly opposing the strikes, whereas just over 2 in 10 strongly support them. Perceptions of Trump's goals vary widely, though a majority say his administration has not clearly explained them. And nearly twice as many Americans said the US should stop strikes on Iran rather than continue them. You can find the full results of the poll in today's Newsletter Number three videos of Bill and Hillary Clinton's depositions about Jeffrey Epstein were released yesterday. Last week, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke to a House committee. It was part of an investigation into the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Bill Clinton appeared on Friday, marking the first time a former president has been compelled to testify before Congress under a subpoena. During his deposition, the former president sought to distance himself from Epstein, saying he had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes and stopped associating with him years before his first guilty plea in 2008. He also offered an explanation for much discussed images of himself in a hot tub and pool, which were in the Epstein files. He recalled that the photos were taken on a trip to Brunei. The photos include a person whose identity has been concealed.

[B]

We went out, I swam around, I sat in the hot tub for five minutes or whatever it was, and I got up and went to bed.

[A]

In Hillary Clinton's deposition, as I talked about last week, she said she had no recollection of meeting Epstein and had known his associate Ghislaine Maxwell only as an acquaintance. House Republicans have issued subpoenas to several people, mostly Democrats, mentioned in the millions of files related to Epstein that have been released by the Justice Department. Number four Midterm election season begins today, with primaries in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas. Voters heading to the polls today will get the chance to set the tone for the midterm elections later this year. How do they feel about Trump's second term so far? And what should the direction be for the Democratic Party? Republicans will be defending a razor thin majority in the House of Representatives in November, but Democrats have history on their side. The party that's out of the White House typically has an edge in midterm elections. As I talked about yesterday, the US Senate primaries in Texas will capture national attention. Volatile contests on both sides there will shape Democratic hopes of flipping the red state blue. And the incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn, is at risk of losing his primary. Check back in with the Post this evening for a first glimpse at results. The Supreme Court sided with Christian parents in a battle over school trans policies. That's our fifth story. A law in California prohibits school policies that require employees to report students, state sexual orientation and gender identity to parents. Parents who said it violated their freedom of religion and parental rights, sued the state in 2023. Yesterday, justices took their side and blocked that law's enforcement. For now, the case is playing out in lower courts, and justices argued the parents were likely to succeed on their constitutional claims. This is the latest clash over transgender issues to reach the high court. Proponents of the law say it protected students safety and privacy while allowing them time to broach a sensitive subject with their families. Critics say it forced educators to exclude parents from information about their child's upbringing. Records show that training for ICE agents was drastically cut last year. Last week, a former ICE instructor testified in Congress that the agency had removed essential courses from its training program, leading to unprepared cadets amid a hiring spree. The Department of Homeland Security denied it, but records obtained by the Post back up the whistleblower's claim. The records show that ICE last year removed about 240 hours from its basic training program. That's more than 40% of instructional time. The cuts include hours dedicated to hands on instruction and practice scenarios, including firearms training. As of January 1, records show, more than 900 ICE officers had completed a shortened version of basic training. According to one police expert and former ICE instructor, ICE's hiring spree has pulled in more than the usual number of recruits who weren't suited for or capable of the job. If you want a longer life, consider building your muscle. That's number seven. There's plenty of science showing that strength contributes to improved longevity, but most of that research doesn't distinguish between the benefits of being strong versus being active or fit. A new study, though, seems to have found a clearer link. Scientists analyzed the strength of nearly 6,000 women aged 63 to 99. They found that strength was a key and singular contributor to longer lives. It reduced the risk of early death by a third or more. That was true even when researchers took factors such as aerobic fitness, health, age and exercise habits into account. The study's lead author thinks it's likely the results would apply to older men and younger people too, but that would have to be tested. In the meantime, you can test your strength at home to find out how. And for more inspiration to get shredded this year, follow the link in today's newsletter. Alright, you're all caught up. If you haven't done it yet, sign up for that newsletter I keep telling you about. It's totally free and it has links to all the stories I talk about here on the podcast and more. Find a link to sign up in our show notes or just Google the seven Morning Briefing from the Washington Post. I'm Hannah Jewell. I'll meet you back here tomorrow. With VRBoCare. Help is always ready before, during and after your stay. We've planned for the plot twists, so support is always available because a great trip starts with peace of mind.