Monday, March 16, 2026

'One Battle' for best picture

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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Mon Mar 16 2026

Nicole Fallert
Newsletter Writer & SEO Editor

Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Start with these stories:

•	Can Congress pass the SAVE Act?
•	The American dream used to mean mobility. Now it means stability.
•	WNBA player negotiations may bleed into the upcoming season.

Nicole Fallert here. The "Bridesmaids" cast are my "Avengers." Monday's news starts with a recap of the 98th Academy Awards. Then, exclusive USA TODAY reporting from a Kurdish base near Iraq's border with Iran. We'll end with two big sports stories.

'One Battle' beats out 'Sinners' for best picture

Paul Thomas Anderson's acclaimed action dramedy "One Battle After Another" won six total honors, including best picture and supporting actor (Sean Penn), on Sunday at the 98th Academy Awards. It was an eventful ceremony hosted by Conan O'Brien with political messages and emotional tributes.

Michael B. Jordan won best actor (and his first Oscar) for "Sinners." The vampire horror film had 16 nominations and took home four Oscars ( leaving some fans disappointed), but a "Sinners" performance fired up the stage featuring Misty Copeland and Shaboozey.

Jessie Buckley got best actress for "Hamnet" and Amy Madigan was named best supporting actress for "Weapons." Autumn Arkapaw became the first woman to win an Oscar for cinematography. But it was a losing night for Timothée Chalamet. Here's every winner and a rundown of the red carpet looks.

What did celebrities do after the show? Party, of course.

More news to know now

•	Kurds want Trump's help for an Iran ground war. As the U.S.-Israel war against Iran barrels forward, some exiled Iranian Kurdish opposition officials and fighters tell USA TODAY they have an invasion plan ready.
•	Are US flights safe right now? President Donald Trump on Sunday urged Transportation Security Administration agents to stay on the job amid a partial shutdown. Americans worry if travel is safe.
•	A nuclear-powered solution to the West's water crisis. A public lands access group has proposed an eye-poppingly ambitious plan to turn ocean water into fresh for farming, and reducing demand on the ailing Colorado River.

World Baseball Classic

Epic USA win vs. Dominican Republic

Roman Anthony celebrates with his teammates after hitting a home run in the fourth inning.

Sam Navarro, Imagn Images

USA's power arms, from Paul Skenes to Mason Miller, dominated the Dominican Republic's vaunted lineup 2-1 on Sunday night in the World Baseball Classic. The Americans now head to the championship game.

March Madness

Let the madness begin

If you didn't know it yet, we love March Madness. Men's and women's NCAA college basketball tournament brackets are set: UConn Huskies were announced as the women's No. 1 overall seed while Duke topped the men's top seed. The First Four will kick things off on the men's side Tuesday, with the women beginning their First Four Wednesday. Print your men's and women's brackets and beware of these sleeper teams.