Welcome to the March Friday 13th New Newsletter!
This newsletter is free, but if you’d like, please buy Jalon some coffee. She can’t do these newsletters without it! (Seriously).
Our Main Story: They Don’t Have A Plan. They Have A Pla
Trump Team Spirals Over Damning Report on Bungled Iran War Planning
Iran’s new supreme leader vows continued retaliation across Gulf and oil routes
Iran’s new supreme leader ‘wounded and likely disfigured,’ Hegseth claims1
Iran War: US Refueling Aircraft Lost During Operation
War Stirs Mixed Feelings for the Only Iranian American Democrat in Congress
Trump suggests high oil prices are a positive after bragging about low gas prices last month
Trump Isn’t Even Trying to Sell This War
French soldier killed, several wounded in Iraq attack, Macron confirms
Israeli strikes killed over 100 Lebanese children since the start of the war
Israel’s military drops prosecution of reservists who allegedly raped Palestinian detainee2
Could Iranian Drones Attack California? State, Local Officials Downplay Threat
Dubai’s Army of Influencers Gets Back in Line
Echoes of the ’70s in What’s Now the Largest Oil Shock Ever3
‘We want to use it for everything’: How Project Maven became central to America’s AI-powered warfare
As Iran regime change hopes fade, Netanyahu faces political test
Trump is ‘wrong’: Europeans slam US decision to ease Russia oil sanctions4
Trump admits that Putin could be helping Iran despite what his envoy claimed
Vance was ‘skeptical’ voice in White House on Iran strikes5
Hegseth Vows to Reopen Key Strait as U.S. Measures Fail to Calm Oil Market6
All 6 airmen on a US refueling plane that crashed in Iraq are dead, US military says
We’re Still Not Stopping Talking About Them Files
First image appearing to show Andrew, Mandelson and Epstein together emerges
How a top DC strategist courted Jeffrey Epstein
New Mexico Senator speaks out after viewing unredacted Epstein Files
A Statue of Trump and Epstein Re-enacting ‘Titanic’ Pose Appears on National Mall
This Week’s Links
What to Know About the Shooting at Old Dominion University
WA ‘millionaires tax’ sparks longest Olympia debate in recent memory
Starbucks founder leaves Washington state with millionaire tax rattling the rich
TSA workers set to miss first paycheck with no end to shutdown in sight
Army sergeant wants to plead guilty in Georgia base shootings that injured 5
His Harvard Lab Was Thriving. Then Came the Cuts.
The Pentagon’s Lawyers Are Now Under Review
‘Joy, sunshine, and beauty embodied.’ Family remembers Mass. woman killed while hiking in Utah.
U.S. economy expands slowly at 0.7% in fourth quarter, downgrading from initial government estimate
Pete Hegseth Says ‘the Sooner David Ellison’ Buys CNN, ‘the Better’
It’s Friday the 13th again. Yes, another one is coming in 2026.
Misty Copeland, ballerina who promoted ‘Marty Supreme,’ reacts to Timothée Chalamet comments
Election 2026
2026 Primary Election Calendar
Democratic Voters Don’t Want Vanilla Centrism
Georgia House Special Results 2026
Democrats are trouncing Republicans in state elections since Trump took office
Nebraska U.S. Senate Election 2026: Latest Polls
Blindspot Stories
2 Ohio pastors emerge as faithful allies for Haitian migrants during Trump’s crackdown
France returns a sacred drum looted during the colonial era to Ivory Coast
Wall Street Bankers Offered Lucrative Access to Join the Pentagon
US defends Israel against South Africa’s allegation of genocide filed to top UN court
Under Reported Stories
John Solly Is the DOGE Operative Accused of Planning to Take Social Security Data to His New Job
Sheriff in Nancy Guthrie case believes they know kidnapper’s motive
The Great American Condo Crisis
Want Something to Feel Hopeful About? It Just Happened in Nepal.
Trump Seems to Be Selling National Security Briefing Details to Fans7
Democratic Wake Up Calls / Wins
South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn will run for an 18th term
The Republican Party Continues Eating Its Own
The local special election sparking intrigue in Donald Trump’s backyard
Can Democrats actually flip this red Kentucky district?
There's a new wedge issue playing out in Senate Dem primaries
Congressional Democrats say Trump tariffs will cost US households more than $2,500 this year
AI / Tech News
Inside the Dirty, Dystopian World of AI Data Centers
Lawyers deliver closing arguments in landmark social media addiction trial
Chinese embassy mocks “Shield of the Americas” in AI video
How young Australian actors are making a career in a tough industry
The Unlikely Red State Trying to Buck Trump and Big Tech
Palantir Demos Show How the Military Could Use AI Chatbots to Generate War Plans
Also, we all need to see these videos. DOGE — and this might shock you — was ran by dumb barely post-pubescent uneducated incels. And I’m not exaggerating.
Texas News
Texas governor race heats up with Abbott, Hinojosa campaigns
Democrats set a turnout record in Texas, so is this the year it turns blue?
A plan to get more electricity to West Texas may come undone
I Know Ball News
Trump discourages Iranian soccer team from attending the World Cup, citing safety concerns
‘Everyone is pissed’: Congresspeople write to FIFA with ticket price, funding concerns
Hockey player who lost family in Rhode Island shooting scores winning goal in OT
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander passes Wilt Chamberlain with 127th straight 20-point game
WNBA and its players’ union meet for a 3rd straight day as they seek new labor deal
The Maxx Crosby trade fiasco, the Ravens’ motivations and how the NFL world reacted
Bam Adebayo’s 83-point night was one to remember. But not everyone was pleased
Your Moment of Zen
I def cried throughout this whole speech.
That’s it for this week! Like, share, and subscribe if you haven’t yet. We are quite literally all in this together. xo, Jalon
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GPL Presents: Daily Briefs with Jalon Nichols
Everyday, Jalon reads you the headlines of the day — just to keep you in the know. Think NPR at the top of each hour, with a lot of shade some jokes.
“Khamenei has not been seen since his selection on Sunday, and his first comments came in a statement read out by a television presenter on Thursday.” So, how he know?
This was in our Thursday News Brief, but I cannot stop screaming about this. SO here it is again. Cause we cannot let this slide by.
I just realized that his hey day and probably what Trump thinks was the best of his life were the 70s….and now look. Fuel shortages, a war in Iran…….and talks of a draft. My God.
Oooo Baby. If I had a nickel every time he was wrong…I would be RICH AF.
Keep your eye on stories like this going forward. They are trying to keep just enough separation between Trump and Vance so when he runs for President and can say he was against some of this stuff. They are not slick, but they hope your memory is short.
He was a Major in the Minnesota National Guard. Not an amazing strategic mind. Not a war battled 4 Star General. A Major in the Minnesota National Guard and weekend Fox personality. I just….
At this point, the list of non impeachable actions will be shorter.
So we learned nothing from Avengers: Age of Ultron, huh?