The strikes could last into mid-April. Israel launched a new round of airstrikes on Iran and Lebanon this week, bringing its total to over 7,000 since the conflict began late last month, as the US also continues its offensive.

The operation, which involves ongoing airstrikes and military actions against Iranian targets, is intended to weaken Iran’s military capabilities and reduce the threat of missile attacks against Israel, according to the IDF.

The developments come after the US military struck Iran’s Kharg Island, a critical hub for the country’s oil industry, though both Washington and Tehran said the strikes did not damage Iran’s oil infrastructure.

US President Donald Trump warned that the US could take further action if Iran continues blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane that carries about 20% of the world’s oil (watch short explainer).

The blockage has already had a lasting effect on energy prices and comes as Americans are seeing the cost of gas rise:

While officials say it will end in three weeks… some experts and analysts have warned the conflict could become a much longer, open-ended war of attrition and last months beyond initial timelines.

🌎 How else does this impact you? Disruptions in the global oil supply don’t just hit gas prices, though many Americans have already seen prices at the pump spike; they also affect prices for everyday goods, airline and travel costs, and overall inflation, driving up the general cost of living.

All those queries are adding up. While AI tools have been shown to significantly increase productivity, they can also lead to cognitive fatigue that makes it harder to focus and make decisions, according to new research cited by Harvard Business Review.

The study, conducted by Boston Consulting Group, calls that mental fog “AI brain fry,” which happens when workers have to constantly monitor, evaluate, and refine AI outputs rather than do tasks themselves.

Why is that? Much like caring for a group of needy children, employees say the mental effort required to oversee multiple AI-generated responses overwhelms their attention and decision-making ability.

Who’s affected the most? The study found that workers in marketing, HR, operations, engineering, finance, and IT were the most likely to report experiencing AI-related mental fatigue.

ActivTrak, a firm that monitors workplace productivity, says AI is creating some unexpected side effects on the job. Per the Wall Street Journal, once employees began using AI tools:

What’s the fix? Research suggests limiting unnecessary tool switching, clarifying when employees should rely on AI versus their own judgment, and applying a foundation that focuses on high-value decisions.

🌎 Why does this matter? The link between AI tools and mental exhaustion comes at a time when companies are increasingly pushing for AI adoption, which could force employers to rethink how AI is used on the job. This may change expectations around productivity, workloads, and how many tools workers are expected to manage at once.

The talks could lead to a historic economic pact. Cuba confirmed it is actively in talks with the US after weeks of media reports that the two nations were exploring a possible arrangement to ease the island’s oil crisis.

The discussions come as Cuba faces one of its worst economic crises in decades, compounded by fuel shortages, widespread blackouts, limited essential services, disruptions to oil imports, and a US oil blockade.

The upheaval has put increasing pressure on the government to stabilize the economy, though the US president may give it a lifeline:

That being said… He also indicated that US priorities are currently focused on Iran, saying “we’re going to do Iran before Cuba,” and that despite renewed contact, major disagreements persist between the two countries (see 101).

Will a deal get done? US officials have signaled that any easing of pressure would likely depend on political and economic concessions from Cuba, while Cuban leaders emphasize maintaining sovereignty in negotiations.

🌎 Why is this important? The two nations easing their long-strained relationship could ease sanctions, making travel and trade more accessible for Americans and Cubans. It could also reduce migration pressure at the border, potentially easing enforcement demands and stabilizing communities that are affected by sudden influxes of migrants.

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Who doesn’t love getting to the airport five hours early? Travelers across the US are facing longer wait times at airports after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers missed their first full paycheck amid the ongoing partial government shutdown.

In mid-February, lawmakers failed to pass a funding agreement for the Department of Homeland Security, leading to a partial government shutdown. The disagreement centers on federal agents:

Unlike a normal shutdown… over 90% of DHS staff (including TSA) are considered essential and must work, most without pay, until funding is restored. See other affected agencies here.

As the shutdown lingers, staffing shortages are beginning to pile up. Roughly 50,000 TSA officers are required to continue working without pay, prompting more agents to call out sick and take other jobs:

The absences come as travel demand remains strong and airlines expect the busiest spring-break travel season on record, meaning fewer security officers are screening a lot more passengers.

That, of course, means much longer lines… especially at major travel hubs, like Houston and Atlanta, which have reported security wait times up to three hours long. See how to check wait times here.

Looking forward: Because airport screeners must undergo several months of training, replacing TSA officers can take time, raising concerns that staffing problems could persist even after funding resumes.

We just can’t stop talking about oil and gas. The White House is looking to scrap a centuries-old shipping law to help curb soaring gas prices caused by the Iran war, which is squeezing global oil and fertilizer supplies.

The Trump administration plans to temporarily waive the Jones Act, a law that requires goods moved between US ports travel on American-built, owned, flagged, and crewed ships.

The rule, created in 1920, was meant to protect US shipbuilding and maritime businesses from foreign competition. However, today…

Some experts have claimed for years that the Jones Act drives up domestic shipping prices for various products, hitting islands like Puerto Rico and Hawaii especially hard.

By suspending the rule, the administration would allow foreign tankers to move oil and fuel throughout the US, potentially increasing supply and lowering transportation costs.

But would it work? Letting foreign ships move oil within the US could ease import reliance, but JPMorgan estimates it would only lower gas prices about 10 cents per-gallon, despite a 60-cent surge this month.

🌎 Why should you care? The Trump administrations push to elimitate the Jones Act could lower gas prices (but by how much is yet to be seen), and also lower transportation and shipping costs across the economy, potentially easing pressure on things like groceries, shipping fees, and airline costs that Americans feel beyond just gas prices.

> After decades of speculation, a Reuters investigation says the mysterious street artist Banksy may actually be Robin Gunningham, tracing travel records, interviews, and old police documents that point to the Bristol native behind the pseudonym.

> Scientists have built a palm-sized superconducting magnet capable of generating magnetic fields around 42 tesla, rivaling some of the world’s largest research magnets while using far less power.

> After an iconic Oregon waterfall unexpectedly appeared for sale online, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the state quickly approved $2.1 million to buy the falls and their surrounding land, preserving public access to the site.

> Scientists say a newly analyzed 74-million-year-old dinosaur fossil may rewrite the early story of Tyrannosaurus rex, suggesting they evolved from much smaller, highly intelligent predators.

> A German tourist sued a popular Times Square taqueria claiming its salsa was dangerously spicy and lacked warning labels, but a judge dismissed the case, ruling that heat is simply part of salsa.