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The NewsWorthy
Trump's New War Threat, 3-Minute Heist & Army's Kid Rock Flyby? - Tuesday, March 31, 2026
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Today is Tuesday, March 31st. We'll tell you about President Trump's new threats for Iran that could raise some serious concerns under international law. Also, TSA agents are finally getting paid. And President Trump now says his proposed ballroom is not as important as what's being built beneath it. Plus, the latest museum heist that put three masterpieces of French art in the hands of thieves, the unusual video from Kid Rock that got the US Army's attention, and the two upcoming residencies with tickets on sale soon. Those stories and even more news coming up. Welcome to the Newsworthy. All the day's news in less than 15 minutes. I'm Erica. Mandy, thanks so much for being here. Let's do this. President Trump has once again threatened to significantly escalate the war in Iran. The president says if a deal to end the conflict is not reached shortly, he could blow up Iran's power plants, oil wells and all desalination plants, which could have devastating impacts across the Middle East. Desalination plants convert saltwater into drinkable water and are something people in that region of the world need in order to survive. So it would be a major escalation that experts say could constitute a war crime under international law. The White House insists the US Will always act within the confines of the law, but that Trump will, quote, move forward unabated. Trump also threatened to obliterate the major fuel hub of Kharga Island. And at the same time, Trump said talks between the US and Iran are making great progress. While the US military kept hitting targets, reports say the US hit a large ammunition depot in Iran with 2000 pound bunker buster bombs. Also yesterday, Iranian officials condemned what they claim are American attacks against universities across their country and their warning of possible retaliation against US Universities in the region. NYU has temporarily closed its campus in Abu Dhabi. In response, other schools like Texas A and M University have moved to relocate students from their Mideast campuses. As you know, Iran is already retaliating by striking what it sees as American interests. Just yesterday, an Israeli oil refinery was hit. A tanker fully loaded with crude oil was attacked while anchored off the coast of Dubai. And NATO air defenses shot down a ballistic missile that entered Turkish airspace. Meanwhile, Israel has kept up its campaign against Iranian backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. And yesterday, the Israeli military confirmed it has destroyed more than 100 high rise buildings in the Beirut area since launching strikes there, saying they were being used as Hezbollah command structures. And the United nations says two UN Peacekeepers were killed when their convoy was struck in southern Lebanon. As the death and destruction pile up The US Is now seeing more resistance from certain allies. For example, Spain closed its airspace to American planes involved in the Iran war. It's not clear if any other allies will follow suit. Remember how yesterday we told you about an attack on an air base in Saudi Arabia that left American troops injured and military jets damaged? Well, now photos show that attack destroyed an especially vital aircraft that's used to spot distant threats and direct other combat aircraft. Before the strike, the US had a total of 16 of them, so it is likely to be replaced, but it's a costly loss since each of the planes is worth $300 million. By the way, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told NBC News Russia took satellite images of that airbase three times in the days before Iran attacked the site. And he said there's plenty of evidence that Russia is sharing intelligence with Iran to help target American forces. So far, no comment from the White House about Russia's involvement. But when one lawmaker was asked about it, he said while he can't speak to things that are classified, he wouldn't argue with what Zelenskyy says. TSA officers are getting paid again after more than five weeks without making any money because of the partial government shutdown, most TSA employees received two full retroactive paychecks yesterday. The Homeland Security Department is now working to process the remaining half paycheck owed, which should go out next week. And already the wait times at security checkpoints have eased in some major airports. The estimated times for certain security lines, like at Houston's airports, still stretched past an hour throughout the day yesterday, but that's actually a huge improvement from what they once were. And in other airports, the waits were 10 minutes or less even in some earlier trouble spots. Now it's not clear how long ICE officers will stay at airports since they were supposed to be there only temporarily to relieve bottlenecks. It's also not clear whether TSA officers can rely on their next paychecks. And certain employees and other agencies like FEMA and the Secret Service still have not been paid. Congress is now on a two week recess, so a final agreement to fully fund DHS remains elusive, at least for now. For the first time in seven years, the US has formally reopened its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. Bloomberg cites a State Department memo that says the move will help the US quote, engage directly with Venezuela's interim government, civil society and the private sector. It's considered a significant milestone, especially since some American flights to the country also resumed earlier this month and the US Lowered its travel warning for the country. Americans are still being told to reconsider traveling there since there are risks of crime, but that's a step up from an effective ban on heading to Venezuela that used to be in place. As for the embassy, it's not fully staffed yet, and for now, Americans and Venezuelans still can't go there for passport and visa services. It's also not clear if the embassy reopening could have any impact on immigration to the US since the Trump administration has taken a tough stance on Venezuelan immigrants thus far. But those questions could soon be answered since personnel are expected to be back at the embassy asap. Of course, all of this comes as the Trump administration is still working on Venezuela's turnaround after the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. The White House says it's now well on its way to helping Venezuela's economy recover, and the hope is that could lead to a democratically elected government. Artworks by some of the most influential French painters of all time have been stolen in a brazen heist that took just three minutes. Renoir, Cezanne, and Matisse paintings were taken from a private art museum in northern Italy. The museum described the theft as a highly professional operation involving four masked men. They apparently forced their way through an entry gate, grabbed the paintings, and escaped by climbing a fence, all in just three minutes. And it's believed they would have taken even more if museum security had not arrived. The paintings they did get are valued at more than $10 million. It's just the latest high profile theft, less than six months after a gang of thieves broke into the Louvre in Paris and stole some of the museum's crown jewels. Experts say such heists have increased in recent years, especially as technological advancements and cryptocurrencies have made it easier to launder the treasures. The latest one is now under investigation. More news ahead in just a moment, but first, thanks to our sponsor, Gainbridge, we spend a lot of time thinking about what's happening right now in the news. But when it comes to money, one of the most powerful things you can do is think a little further ahead. And that's where Gainbridge can help. Gainbridge is a digital platform designed to make savings simpler and more predictable. Instead of guessing what the market might do, gainbridge offers financial products with a guaranteed rate for a term you choose, so you know exactly what you're getting from the start. No hidden fees, no commissions. Just a straightforward way to grow your money over time. There are options designed for different goals, so you can save for something like a home, travel or another big milestone or plan ahead for retirement. In fact, if you choose Gainbridge Save Retirement, you can roll over Your Roth or 401k penalty free. You choose how much to deposit and for how long and from there it's a set it and forget it approach. If you're looking for a simpler, more transparent way to think about long term savings, you can learn more@gainbridge.com gainbridge let your money work for you. Now back to the news. It's already been an especially dry year for the western US and with historically low seasonal snowpack on top of persistent record breaking temperatures, drought is only being made worse. Now there are fears of water shortages to come this summer. One area of concern is the second largest reservoir in the U.S. lake Powell. There, water managers believe water levels could drop to their lowest since the 1960s. But that's not the only area of concern, and already many water restrictions have started rolling out in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. For example, in Denver, people have been told to hold off watering their lawns until late May, and restaurants are only allowed to serve water to people who specifically request it. Experts warn that restrictions are likely to expand in multiple states as the year goes on. President Trump is showing off the latest plans for his proposed White House ballroom. He told reporters it includes Corinthian columns, bulletproof windows and a drone proof roof. And the president confirmed the military is building what he says will be a massive complex underneath it, with few other details. Again, Trump emphasized the whole project will be privately funded. The National Capital Planning Commission is actually set to vote on the ballroom plans later this week. An earlier vote was postponed after the commission received more than 32,000 comments from the public, overwhelmingly negative. But the new renderings Trump showed reporters this week looked different, so it's not clear if there will have to be another public comment period. Either way, construction is already underway. It seems like Palm Beach International Airport will soon be named Donald J. Trump International Airport. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill yesterday to rename the airport that's roughly four miles from the president's Mar A Lago Club. News outlets say the name change will cost taxpayers up to $5.5 million. The FAA still has to sign off, but assuming it does, the new name will take effect on July 1. Since President Trump returned to office, he and his administration have added his name to a slew of buildings and programs, including the Kennedy center, the U.S. institute of Peace, the the Trump RX prescription drug platform. Trump accounts that parents can open for their children, and his signature is being added to American currency while his image will be on a $1 coin. President Trump has also floated the idea of renaming New York's Penn Station and Washington's Dulles Airport after himself. Musician Kid Rock posted some unusual videos that are now under review by the US Army. They show a pair of Apache helicopters hovering close to the country rock artist's home in Nashville over the weekend as he waves and salutes. Kid Rock posted one of the videos to social media with a caption that called California governor Gavin Newsom a derogatory name, while saying Newsom doesn't know the level of respect shown in the video. Newsom's spokesperson responded by calling out, quote, waste, fraud and abuse. Well, now the army says it's looking into the incident to make sure the pilots followed strict safety standards and professionalism. It's still not clear why they would be at Kid Rock's house, but the army confirmed helicopters were flying nearby for training purposes. Two very different artists have announced highly anticipated residency. One of them is Celine Dion. She is returning to the stage for 10 concerts in Paris this fall. She's rarely performed since announcing she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome in 2022. The neurological disorder causes muscle spasms, including constrictions on the vocal cords. But Dion says she's doing great and managing her health, so now she's ready and excited to perform. Tickets go on sale next month. Then there's blackpink's Lisa. This week she became the first K pop artist to announce a Las Vegas residency. Lisa will be performing at Caesar's palace for two weekends in November. Fans can sign up for the presale starting tomorrow. That's it for the main news today. So now it's time for Trivia Tuesday, when we ask a different trivia question every week. But first, thanks to our sponsor. As we wrap up the month of March, which is Sleep Awareness Month, it's worth talking about the importance of sleep. I'm sure we've all felt the impact of sleep, or lack thereof, since sleep restores and repairs our bodies, strengthens memory and learning, and regulates our mental health and emotions. And the mattress we sleep on can make a big difference. 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That's birchliving.com newsworthy to get 27% off site wide birchliving.com newsworthy okay, now back to Trivia Tuesday and today's trivia question is what is the most stolen artwork of all time? Listen again next Tuesday for the answer and explanation. As for last week's trivia question, which president had two grizzly bears? The answer is Thomas Jefferson. The bear cubs were given to him as a gift and they actually lived at the White House briefly until Jefferson decided they were too dangerous and troublesome. So the bears eventually went off to live in a museum. They weren't the only unusual White House residents, though. Teddy Roosevelt had a black bear, Calvin Coolidge also had a black bear and a pygmy hippopotamus. Both Herbert Hoover and John Quincy Adams had alligators, and John F. Kennedy's daughter Caroline would ride her part Shetland pony around the White House grounds. Almost all US Presidents have kept some kind of pet. In fact, only three haven't James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson, and Donald Trump. Thanks so much for joining us to get caught up on the news today and every day. We'll be back tomorrow with the latest. Until then, have a great day.