Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Resigning over the Iran war

Joe Kent, a high-ranking intelligence official, stepped down in protest over the Iran war. What he said was behind his decision. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Short List

Tue Mar 17 2026

 

Phaedra Trethan National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Hi there! I'm Phaedra Trethan , wearing green and thinking of my Irish grandmother on this St. Paddy's Day. ☘️ ☘️ ☘️

In Tuesday's news:

A top U.S. intelligence official resigned in protest over the Iran war, alleging President Donald Trump was duped by a "misinformation campaign."
Kouri Richins, a Utah mother who'd written a book about grief for children after her husband's death, was found guilty of murdering him.
Team USA faces off against Venezuela tonight in the World Baseball Classic final. ⚾️

But first: I keep telling my teenager that boredom can be a good thing. Some of her peers apparently agree. 💭

Resigning over Iran

Joe Kent, the head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center and a decorated former Army Ranger and CIA paramilitary officer, resigned Tuesday , saying he "cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran." Kent, a staunch Trump supporter and top aide to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, is the first top Trump administration to quit over the war.

Watch: Joe Kent resigns.
Who is Joe Kent? What we know.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was hit by Iranian drones.
Updates: The latest developments in the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
Analysis: Three weeks in, Trump faces stark choices on Iran.
Can the FCC punish broadcasters for critical coverage of the war? What First Amendment experts say. 📜

Rally In Support Of Defendants Being Prosecuted In The January 6 Attack On The Capitol In Washington

Joe Kent rallies for defendants being prosecuted in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, in Washington, DC, Sept. 18, 2021. Kent resigned as director of the U.S. Counterterrorism Center on March 17, 2026, in protest against the U.S. war in Iran.

ELIZABETH FRANTZ, REUTERS

'A wife becoming a black widow'

A Utah mother of three was found guilty of fatally poisoning her husband with a fentanyl-laced cocktail, a crime that drew national attention when the woman wrote a children's book about grief and the loss of a loved one.

Jurors deliberated just over three hours before announcing their unanimous verdicts: Kouri Darden Richens was guilty of first-degree aggravated murder, forgery, insurance fraud and other charges in the 2022 death of her 39-year-old husband Eric. Prosecutors said Richins was in dire financial straits and having an extramarital affair, leading her to forge life insurance documents and to eventually kill her husband.

Real quick

Senate Republicans are once again debating the SAVE Act. How it affects voting rights and what you need to know (and have) if it passes. 🗳️
Amid an ongoing partial government shutdown, TSA workers are missing paychecks and potential airport shutdowns are looming. ✈️
An Afghan refugee who'd served with American forces during the war on terror died in ICE custody. Advocates are demanding answers.
President Trump has his sights set on Cuba. What he said about the island nation.

USA vs. Venezuela ⚾️

It all comes down to this: The World Baseball Classic has thrilled fans with all-star worthy lineups, surprise successes (Italy? Baseball? Madonna mia!) and exciting late-inning comebacks. But tonight, Team USA squares off against Venezuela to see which team gets global bragging rights. Here are our baseball experts' predictions.

Both teams' bullpens could prove pivotal. Who's available, and who's not.
Venezuela has been in the news for a lot of non-baseball reasons. Can a WBC help the nation heal?
How to watch the game. 📺

Baseball World Baseball Classic Semifinal Venezuela At Italy

Venezuela pitcher José Buttó (70) celebrates with his country's flag after defeating Italy in a semifinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Sam Navarro, Imagn Images

It IS easy being green, at least today! ☘️

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all the Irish, Irish Americans and people who just love the Irish (which is everybody, right?)! According to the U.S. Census, more than 32 million Americans, including this one, claim Irish ancestry and they're spread out all over the country.

The Big (Green) Apple: Photos from New York City's St. Patrick's Day parade. 🍏
How America has celebrated St. Paddy's Day through the years.
The meaning of St. Patrick's Day in Ireland, America and beyond.
Looking to save some green? Where you can find St. Paddy's Day deals. 🤑
Watch: Chicago turns a river green.
Repeat after me: "Paddy" is for Patrick and "Patty" is for Patricia. 🗣️

Stpatricks Day New York

A person attends the 265th St. Patrick's Day Parade on 5th Avenue in New York City, March 17, 2026.

Eduardo Munoz, REUTERS

A break from the news

What was I like in the '90s? One word: Feral. 😬
The Roots Picnic has a new home (don't worry, it's still in Philly because The Roots!) and a new headliner. 🎤 🎶
Writing is hard. Writing a book is really hard. Our Clare Mulroy followed a best-selling author for a year. What she learned. 📚

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. She'd love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and who you think will win the WBC final tonight. Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrives to testify at a Senate hearing in Washington, DC, on Sept. 4, 2025.

A federal judge blocked parts of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's vaccine policy, siding with medical groups.

Brian Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia is accused of planting two pipe bombs at the Capitol the day before the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection in Washington D.C.
 

Trump pardons protect man accused of planting DC pipe bombs, defense says

Brian Cole, the man accused of planting pipe bombs on Capitol Hill on Jan. 5, 2021, should be set free based on Trump's other Jan. 6 pardons, his defense argued.

A young female patient sits casually with her doctor as they discuss her health.
 

30 or older? Major heart orgs now recommend you get this screening test

New guidelines aim to lower LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, even younger than before.

Left to Right, Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL); Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton
 

Illinois Democrats push anti-Trump, ICE boundaries in Senate race

An aggressive style has helped Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton surge in the polls, which have recently swung between her and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) participates in a public forum on the violent use of force by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on Feb. 3, 2026 in Washington, DC. The forum, hosted by Democratic lawmakers, is hearing testimony from Brent and Luke Granger, whose sister Renee Good, was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis and Marimar Martinez, who survived after being shot by CBP agents in Chicago.
 

Man who worked security for Rep. Jasmine Crockett killed by police

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, confirmed that a member of her security team was shot and killed in a standoff with Dallas police.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) during a business meeting of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in Washington, D.C, on March 13, 2025.
 

What to know as Markwayne Mullin faces DHS confirmation

Sen. Markwayne Mullin faces a confirmation hearing for DHS secretary amid controversies over immigration, a partial shutdown, and disaster relief.

Muslims attend Eid al-Fitr prayers to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan at Quirino Grandstand, in Manila, Philippines, on March 31, 2025.
 

Eid al-Fitr, end of Ramadan is coming up. What to know

Eid al-Fitr and the end of Ramadan depends on the sight of the moon. Here's what to know about the Muslim holiday.

President Donald Trump, next to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, arrives to deliver the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 24, 2026.
 

Amid Trump attacks, Chief Justice Roberts says stop being hostile to judges

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said the idea that he and other justices are on the court to carry out a president's agenda is "absurd."

U.S. President Donald Trump looks at a model of a B‑2 bomber commemorating "Operation Midnight Hammer" during an event to sign an executive order creating an anti‑fraud task force headed by U.S. Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 16, 2026.
 

Trump said Newsom shouldn't be president due to a learning disability

President Donald Trump has said repeatedly that California Gov. Gavin Newsom shouldn't be president because of his learning disability, dyslexia.

Millions in the dark as Cuba's power grid collapses amid a U.S.-imposed oil blockade.
 

Why did Cuba's power grid fail? We explain its impact.

Cuba's power system suffers a major collapse, leaving nearly 10 million residents without electricity.

Play Your Way to a Relaxing Break

Unwind with crosswords and challenges that recharge you. 

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