The briefing for Saturday, March 14.

President Donald Trump confirmed Friday that U.S. forces 'obliterated' military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, home to the country's primary oil export terminal. The strikes mark a major escalation in the two-week-old conflict, as Trump warned he would reconsider his decision not to 'wipe out the Oil Infrastructure' if Iran or anyone else continues to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The island handles most of Iran's oil exports and has been described by analysts as a lifeline for the Iranian economy.

The attacks followed warnings from Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf that strikes on Iran's southern maritime islands would cause Tehran to 'abandon all restraint.' Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency reported at least 15 explosions on Kharg Island, targeting air defense facilities, a naval base, the airport control tower, and an offshore oil company's helicopter hangar. Iranian officials maintained that no oil infrastructure was damaged in the assault, though the U.S. confirmed it deliberately avoided those facilities for now.

Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's traded oil passes, while continuing widespread missile and drone attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf states. The conflict has driven oil prices up more than 40 percent since fighting began on February 28. In Baghdad, a missile struck a helipad inside the U.S. Embassy compound Saturday morning, with Iraqi security officials reporting at least one person killed in a separate airstrike in the capital's Karrada district. The U.S. Embassy had renewed its Level 4 security alert for Iraq, warning that Iran-aligned militia groups may continue targeting American citizens and interests.

The Pentagon is sending 2,500 additional Marines and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli to the Middle East, officials confirmed to CBS News, as the conflict with Iran shows no signs of abating. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Japan, was spotted by commercial satellites near Taiwan earlier this week, putting it more than a week away from reaching Iranian waters. The unit specializes in embassy security, civilian evacuations, and disaster relief, though it can also conduct amphibious landings.

The deployment follows President Trump's statement that the war would continue until he feels 'it in my bones' that it should end, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's promise to show 'no mercy for our enemies.' When the USS Tripoli joins the 12 ships already operating in the Arabian Sea, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and eight destroyers, it will form the second-largest U.S. naval presence in the region. The request for reinforcements came from U.S. Central Command and was approved by Hegseth, according to reports.

Iran's new supreme leader, 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed in his first public address Thursday to continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz and to 'avenge the blood' of Iranians killed in the fighting. He also warned neighboring countries to stop hosting U.S. bases. The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon has deepened, with nearly 800 people killed and 850,000 displaced as Israel launched waves of strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. Trump said earlier this week that Iran would be hit 'very hard' over the next week and indicated the Navy would soon begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

President Trump's efforts to replace tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court will cost American households an average of $2,512 in 2026, up 44 percent from $1,745 last year, according to a study released Friday by congressional Democrats. The Joint Economic Committee analysis comes as the administration scrambles to restore revenue after the Supreme Court ruled February 20 that Trump lacked authority to impose tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, forcing the government to issue approximately $175 billion in refunds to importers.

The administration has moved quickly to impose replacement levies. Trump announced a 10 percent tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which may be raised to 15 percent, though those tariffs can only last 150 days without Congressional approval and face court challenges. On Wednesday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer launched a sweeping Section 301 investigation into whether 16 trading partners, including China and the European Union, are overproducing goods and flooding global markets. Trade lawyer Ryan Majerus called the probe 'way more sprawling than anyone expected,' noting it targets numerous countries on broad grounds of excess industrial capacity.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the new levies 'will result in virtually unchanged tariff revenue in 2026,' though critics argue they will hit consumers already struggling with high costs and rising energy prices from the Iran war. Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire said Trump 'refuses to provide relief for families' despite the Supreme Court ruling that 'much of Trump's tariff agenda is illegal.' The White House dismissed the Democratic study as 'phony,' with spokesman Kush Desai stating Trump 'will continue using tariffs to renegotiate broken trade deals, lower drug prices, and secure trillions in investments for the American people.' Additional Section 301 investigations are expected to cover digital services taxes, pharmaceutical pricing, and ocean pollution.

A federal judge blocked the Justice Department's investigation into the Federal Reserve Friday, ruling that prosecutor Jeanine Pirro presented 'no evidence' to justify her demands for information from the central bank. Judge James Boasberg agreed with Fed Chairman Jerome Powell that the probe was a pretext to pressure the Fed into lowering interest rates, delivering a victory for Powell amid a White House campaign against him. Pirro, a Trump ally appointed as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia last year, said she would appeal the decision and called it 'outrageous' that prosecutors must produce evidence at this stage.

The investigation began after Pirro's office issued subpoenas in January seeking information about cost overruns at Fed office renovations and Powell's congressional testimony on the subject. Powell responded with an unusually public video accusing the Trump administration of launching the probe to force him to comply with Trump's demands for lower interest rates. In his ruling, Boasberg wrote that there was 'abundant evidence that the subpoenas' dominant (if not sole) purpose is to harass and pressure Powell either to yield to the President or to resign.' He noted that key Republican senators, including those who held hearings on the renovation overruns, said they did not think further investigation was warranted.

The decision complicates White House efforts to install a new Fed chair when Powell's term ends in May. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has vowed to block confirmation of Trump's nominee, Kevin Warsh, until the investigation is resolved. In a statement Friday, Tillis said the decision confirmed 'just how weak and frivolous the criminal investigation' was and urged the Justice Department not to appeal. At a fiery press conference, Pirro dismissed concerns about the nomination, saying 'I don't know and I don't care. I am in a legal lane.' She criticized Boasberg as an 'activist judge' and said the ruling had 'bathed' Powell 'in immunity.'

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed Friday that his government has held recent talks with the United States, marking the first time Cuba has acknowledged such negotiations. Díaz-Canel said the discussions 'were aimed at finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences between our two nations,' though he did not elaborate on what 'international factors' facilitated the exchanges. The talks come as Cuba faces a severe humanitarian crisis after no petroleum shipments have arrived on the island in the past three months, which Díaz-Canel blamed on a U.S. energy blockade.

Cuba's western region was hit by a massive blackout last week, leaving millions without power. Díaz-Canel said the lack of fuel has affected communications, education, and transportation, forcing the government to postpone surgeries for tens of thousands of people. While Cuba produces 40 percent of its own petroleum, it hasn't been sufficient to meet demand, and the country's electrical grid has become increasingly 'unstable.' Critical oil shipments from Venezuela were halted after the U.S. attacked the South American country and arrested its leader, Nicolás Maduro, in early January. Venezuela had been sending around 35,000 barrels of oil daily to Cuba, providing about half the island's oil needs.

President Trump said Monday that Cuba was in 'deep trouble' and threatened a 'friendly takeover,' while also threatening tariffs on goods imported from any country that gives Cuba oil. The White House confirmed talks are ongoing, stating Trump believes a deal 'would be very easily made.' Díaz-Canel emphasized the talks must proceed 'on the basis of equality and respect' for both countries' political systems and Cuba's 'sovereignty and self-determination.' Separately, Cuba announced it will release 51 prisoners in the coming days as a demonstration of 'goodwill' following talks with the Vatican, though it did not specify whether political prisoners were included.

The antitrust trial against Live Nation and Ticketmaster will resume Monday after negotiations failed to produce more than seven states joining the Justice Department's tentative settlement. Arkansas, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and South Dakota—all with Republican attorneys general—agreed to join the federal settlement, but 32 states and the District of Columbia plan to continue trying to convince a jury that Live Nation is squelching competition and driving up prices through anticompetitive tactics. The Justice Department had announced a settlement earlier this week that would let competitors into some ticket markets where they are currently excluded.

Many states criticized the federal deal, saying the government failed to secure sufficient concessions from the company. The settlement requires Live Nation to allow up to 50 percent of tickets sold at amphitheaters it owns to be sold through any ticketing marketplace, cap service fees at 15 percent, divest 13 amphitheaters, and create a $280 million settlement fund. However, none of that money will be paid if no states settle. At a hearing Tuesday, Live Nation attorney Dan Wall told Judge Arun Subramanian that the chance all states would settle by Friday was 'about zero,' citing differences in what various states want and the complexity of having 'too many parties.'

The trial had already begun with jury testimony when the Justice Department announced its deal. States argue Live Nation and Ticketmaster control virtually every aspect of the live music industry through threats and retaliation against competitors. The companies counter that artists, sports teams, and venues set prices and decide how tickets are sold. Judge Subramanian ruled against Live Nation's objection to trial exhibits showing company employees calling customers 'so stupid' for paying 'outrageous' VIP fees. The judge said the overall fan experience is relevant to the relationship between performers and customers, comparing it to how high concession prices at movie theaters might harm the film industry.