WSJ Minute Briefing - Gulf States Call on U.S. to Crush Iran’s Ability to Harm Them

Plus: Amazon is planning a major cut in packages sent through the already cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service. And chips stocks help U.S. futures rise after Nvidia says it has restarted manufacturing H200 processors for China. Luke Vargas hosts.


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WSJ What’s News - Why War Isn’t Spooking Wall Street—Yet

A.M. Edition for Mar. 18. Gulf leaders insist on crippling Iran’s regime before ending the war, marking a major pivot from a region that once courted Tehran. Plus, as fighting drags on, Barclays’ Emmanuel Cau discusses why the mood in U.S. equity markets has remained largely upbeat. And bad news for the struggling U.S. Postal Service, as Amazon plans to take its business elsewhere. Luke Vargas hosts.


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Headlines From The Times - U.S. National Counterterrorism Center Director Resigns Over Iran War and Uber Co-Founder Leaves California

The SAVE America Act, a controversial election bill backed by President Trump, is headed for a Senate showdown. It would be one of the largest revisions to voting rights in U.S. history. Meanwhile, National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent is resigning, writing on X that he "cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran," which has left over 1,400 Iranians dead. And, Southern California is bracing for what climate scientist Daniel Swain is calling a "full on summer heat wave in March," with temperatures expected to peak Tuesday through Friday, reaching the 80s on the coast, and inland, possibly over 100 degrees. In business, Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick has confirmed his relocation to Texas, joining a growing list of billionaires leaving California ahead of a proposed 5% wealth tax, and Downtown Los Angeles advocates are pushing for the adoption of San Francisco’s "Vacant to Vibrant" program to fill retail vacancies. Read more at https://LATimes.com.

Up First from NPR - Life Inside Iran, Trump and Cuba, Fed Interest Rates

Iran is retaliating for the killing of its top security chief with strikes across the region overnight, and Iranian are crossing into Iraq just to buy food they can no longer afford at home.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Cuba needs new people in charge, raising questions about what the Trump administration is actually planning for the island.
And the Federal Reserve meets today facing a scrambled economic outlook with energy prices are soaring because of the war and the job market is weakening.

Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Hannah Block, Rebekah Metzler, Rafael Nam, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

Our director is Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

Our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:55) Life Inside Iran
(06:15) Trump and Cuba
(10:10) Fed Interest Rates

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The Daily - Inside the Government’s Crackdown on TV

This past weekend, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission threatened to revoke broadcasters’ licenses over their coverage of the war in Iran.

Last month, Stephen Colbert said he had to drop an interview with a Senate candidate because of F.C.C. guidance that targeted political interviews on late-night shows.

Jim Rutenberg, a writer at large for The New York Times, explains how the Trump administration is trying to shape media coverage to fit its agenda.

Guest: Jim Rutenberg, a writer at large for The New York Times and The New York Times Magazine.

Background reading: 

Photo: Tierney L. Cross for The New York Times

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.


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Everything Is Fake - 2. Kayfabe Country

In episode two, Jamie ventures into the strange world of 1980s WWF wrestling - where performers and fans share an unspoken agreement to treat the whole spectacle as real. A shared illusion where everyone knows it's fake, but plays along because it feels true. It sounds like harmless fun. And for a while, it was. But Jamie soon wonders: what happens when an idea like that escapes the ring and changes the world?

Credits: Presenter: Jamie Bartlett Series Producer: Tom Pooley Sound Design: Rob Speight Production Coordinator: Neena Abdullah Original music: Coach Conrad Editor: Craig Templeton Smith

A Tempo+Talker production for BBC Radio 4.

Money Girl - Save Too Much? Fix Excess Retirement Contributions Penalty-Free

1004. This week, Laura explains how to identify and fix overcontributions to your 401(k), IRA, and HSA. You’ll learn the specific deadlines for 2026 to remove excess funds penalty-free and how to handle the tricky tax paperwork that follows.

In This Episode:

  • The Cost of Mistakes: Why IRAs and HSAs carry a 6% annual penalty for excess funds, and how 401(k) errors can lead to double taxation.
  • 2026 Contribution Limits: The max limits for workplace plans ($24,500), IRAs ($7,500), and HSAs ($4,400–$8,750), including catch-up rules for those over 50 and 60.
  • Common Pitfalls: How switching jobs, receiving year-end bonuses, or earning too much for a Roth IRA can trigger an accidental overcontribution.
  • The Correction Timeline: Why April 15 is a hard deadline for workplace plans, while IRAs and HSAs offer flexibility until October 15 with an extension.
  • New 2026 Rules: What high earners (making over $150k) need to know about the new mandatory Roth catch-up contributions.

Step-by-Step Fixes: How to work with your account custodian to calculate earnings (or losses) and file the correct tax forms (1099-R, 1099-SA).

The Daily Detail - The Daily Detail for 3.18.26

Alabama

  • Sen. Tuberville not backing down on comments made re: radical Islam
  • House committee passes bill to close primary elections for both parties
  • AL House passes bill requiring utility rate reviews every 3 years by PSC
  • A Macon County jury deliberates in case against Ibrahim Yazeed
  • ALDOT to open up new bridge to Gulf Shores on Memorial Day
  • Governor Ivey orders flags lowered to honor 3 US service members

National

  • President Trump says NATO made foolish decision in not helping US with Strait of Hormuz
  • Director of Counterterrorism resigns, says Trump deceived by Israel to take on Iran
  • The Save America Act is being debated in US senate but doomed to failure bc  GOP leaders are compromised cowards
  • House Oversight committee subpoenas Pam Bondi over handling of Epstein doc release
  • CIA docs show how far back weather modification programs have been going on, unknown to Americans, but all paid for by their hard earned dollars

Getting Hammered® - Oscars, Iran, and Ordering the Surf & Turf

In this episode , Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus cover the Oscars, the bright spots and the political commentary, Iran strikes and "taking Cuba", jihadist attacks in the U.S., one of which exemplifies the uselessness of gun control laws, and the continuing leftward lurch of the state of Virginia under alleged moderate Abigail Spanberger. Plus, Paul Ehrlich critique!

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