In today’s newsletter: The U.S. and Iran trade attacks in the latest escalation since agreeing to a ceasefire. Democratic incumbents are at risk of losing their seats as they face strong challengers. And why shoppers paying in cash are bearing the brunt of credit card fees.
Here’s what to know today.
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The U.S. military said it carried out what it called self-defense strikes on Iranian radar and drone control sites over the weekend, while Tehran said it targeted an air base used in the U.S. attack.
U.S. Central Command said last night that the strikes had been carried out “in response to aggressive Iranian actions,” saying the country had shot down an American drone that was operating over international waters.
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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said today that its aerospace force had targeted the source of what it called a U.S. attack on a telecommunications tower. The IRGC said that if American attacks continued, its response would be “completely different” and Washington would be responsible for the consequences.
Meanwhile, a U.S. official said yesterday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as part of ongoing diplomatic negotiations.
Tennessee’s failure to execute a man by lethal injection last month after no one could locate a suitable vein led to a rare unmasking. Not only was a practicing physician identified as a participant in the death chamber, but witnesses say he played a direct role in botching the execution.
Dr. Mark Walton Fowler failed to set up a central venous line, an ordeal that left the prisoner, Tony Carruthers, crying out in pain after being punctured more than a dozen times, his lawyers said.
While questions remain about what went wrong, Fowler’s involvement has also reignited a larger ethical debate within the medical profession: Should doctors, whose job is to heal, play a part in executions?
Incumbent members of Congress are notoriously difficult to defeat. But just a few months into primary season, four in the House have already lost re-election bids — and about a dozen more are facing legitimate threats.
The heaviest upcoming action will be on the Democratic side. In California’s primary tomorrow, incumbents such as Reps. Mike Thompson and Brad Sherman are up against energetic challengers arguing that voters want a fresh face, part of a national slate of candidates focused on generational change.
And other incumbents in states such as Colorado and Massachusetts face challenges from their party’s left flank, part of a running battle between progressives and the establishment.
Read more about the incumbents at risk and how their races are playing out.
▶️ Tune in to Here’s the Scoop’s special Supreme Court Edition, where Senior Legal Correspondent Laura Jarrett goes deep on major cases.
At a gas station in Virginia, managers expect to pay more in fees to credit card companies this year than they will on rent.
“It’s tougher for us to stay afloat,” said Maurice Lamarche, vice president of retail operations at Tiger Fuel Co. “It makes it harder for us to keep our prices low.”
As merchants are forced to pay more in credit card fees, which largely go toward funding rewards programs, the cost is often passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. But the pain of those costs isn’t being felt equally.
For those paying with credit cards that offer rewards, higher prices are offset by things like cash back or points. Meanwhile, customers using cash or debit cards with no perks bear the brunt of costs — without receiving any benefits. The result is a $30 billion wealth transfer, a Harvard study estimated.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said today that Democrats would try to kill President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, forcing Republicans to vote to preserve the compensation money.
“This week, Senate Democrats will launch a coordinated effort to kill the slush fund before one cent goes out the door,” Schumer said in a letter.
It’s unlikely that Democrats will be able to stop the fund in the Senate. They can, however, force Republicans to record their votes, offering a line of attack for Democrats in the upcoming midterms.
Additionally, Sens. Adam Schiff, Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin introduced a “Drain the Slush Fund Act,” which they said would “prevent taxpayer dollars” from being paid to Trump and his allies, including former Jan. 6 defendants.
From the release of YouTuber Markiplier’s “Iron Lung” in February to Kane Parsons’ “Backrooms” last Friday, Hollywood appears to be increasingly turning to online creators with built-in fan bases to help boost the box office.
Horror historically has been a great launching pad for first-time filmmakers with tiny budgets. One recent example is Curry Baker’s “Obsession,” which was made for $750,000 and hit theaters earlier this month. The movie manages to make viewers feel every single cringey moment his main character goes through — kind of like watching your friend on the world’s worst (and most terrifying) date. That intimacy between viewer and creator is a through line in both horror movies and on platforms such as YouTube. It’s a natural fit.
Plus, newbie directors are a lot less risky if they’re coming with their own online following. One studio exec told me it “would be crazy” if Hollywood doesn’t pursue more projects like this, saying she’d already seen at least 20 spec scripts in this vein.
— Lauren Wilson, entertainment and media producer
Foot care isn’t talked about enough, and it leaves us with lots of questions, like: Does the perfect pair of comfortable sandals really exist? Is there a way to get rid of calluses at home? And, perhaps most importantly, are there insoles that actually help ease foot pain? Do you have more pressing questions about footwear or foot care? Check out our in-depth coverage at NBC Select.
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