Thursday, March 5, 2026

Iran wants 'blood'

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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Thu Mar 5 2026

Nicole Fallert
Newsletter Writer & SEO Editor

Hope you're doing OK. Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here's what's breaking this morning:

•	Angry public comments could delay the new White House ballroom.
•	Here's what DNA was on gloves found near Nancy Guthrie's home.
•	A "Dancing with the Stars" pro was hospitalized while on tour.

Nicole Fallert here, bringing you the news to know on Thursday, from the latest on war in Iran and a missing Trump endorsement in a Texas GOP primary. Plus, women's college basketball is heating up.

Iran wants 'blood,' experts say

Experts told USA TODAY Iran's leadership has determined that — despite a vast imbalance in military power — it must cause serious political and economic pain to the U.S. and Israel before agreeing to a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the Senate on March 4 failed to advance a war powers resolution to halt military hostilities against Iran and end American involvement in the escalating regional war. As civilian and U.S. service member casualties climb, other countries are getting involved in the crisis and religion is a big factor fueling a wider threat. And the war is polling badly for Republicans as Americans back home fret over rising gas prices and fears over travel.

More news to know now

•	Who is Trump backing in Texas? Not clear yet. President Donald Trump notably has yet to endorse a candidate in the Texas Republican primary for U.S. Senate, which now heads to a heated (and expensive) May runoff.
•	Texas ICE detention center under quarantine. A large immigration detention center in West Texas is under quarantine and has been closed to visitors and attorneys due to a measles outbreak , multiple sources told the El Paso Times, part of the USA TODAY Network.
•	This state could lose dozens of pharmacies. CVS said it would close all 134 of its pharmacy locations in Tennessee if the state enacts legislation that takes aim at the pharmacy giant's business model.

Remembrance

The Gospel of Lou

Notre Dame Irish head coach Lou Holtz is carried off the field following their victory over Colorado at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 1990 in Miami.

Imagn Images

Lou Holtz, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to its last national title in 1988, died on Wednesday, March 4. He was 89. He was known for his life lessons, such as "Everybody wants to win. I always used to ask my players, 'Can you live with losing? Can you live with failure?' That's life's motivator."

College basketball

The women getting ready for the madness

The countdown to women college basketball's 2026 NCAA Tournament is officially on. Before March Madness begins March 18, conference tournaments kick off around the nation. USA TODAY Sports is following along with No. 11 Alabama facing No. 6 Tennessee at 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday. And here are the men's games set for Thursday.