Trump says he wants Iran’s oil and travelers frustrated with Congress over shutdown: Morning Rundown

In today’s newsletter: Trump says he wants to take Iranian oil as war drives up world prices. Travelers express frustration with Congress as TSA workers caught in crossfire during shutdown. And a stunning March Madness finish seals the men’s Final Four.

Here’s what you need to know today.

Trump says he wants Iranian oil, could seize Kharg Island

President Donald Trump said yesterday that he would like to “take Iran’s oil” and is considering taking over Iran’s export hub. Kharg Island.

“To be honest with you, my favorite thing is to take the oil from Iran, but stupid people in the United States say, ‘Why are you doing that?’ But they are stupid people,” the president said in an interview with the Financial Times.

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The interview marks some of Trump’s most direct comments on his thoughts on what to do with Iranian oil and comes as world prices are rising. Brent crude oil jumped 3% to more than $116 a barrel last night, its highest level since the start of the conflict. Average gasoline prices in the United States have reached $3.98 per gallon, according to AAA.

Thousands of US troops arrived in the Middle East this weekendBut Trump and his administration continue to appear optimistic about their 15-point proposal to end the war. Iran has accused Washington of secretly planning an assault while seeking to negotiate.

The United States “is unaware that our men are waiting for American soldiers to enter the field so that they can burn them down and punish their regional partners forever,” declared the speaker of the Iranian parliament. Mohamed Bagher Ghalibafaccording to state media.

Read the full story here.

Follow the latest news on our liveblog.

Read more about the war in Iran:

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s military expand its land campaign in the south of Lebanon.
• Russia took satellite images of a US airbase days before Iran attacked the site and injured Americans, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NBC News.

Travelers frustrated with Washington as DHS shutdown continues

Amid long lines and delays at airports, travelers across the country say they feel deep sympathy for airline workers caught up in the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.

TSA workers are “suffering enough,” said one woman at San Diego International Airport. “We don’t want another September 11th. (…) I would like these people to be funded.”

After an order from Trump, TSA workers are expected to receive the bulk of their back pay starting today, according to an email shared by an agency official.

Travelers who spoke to NBC News also expressed frustration with the inability of Congress and the federal government to work together.

“I blame them all. It’s their job to solve this problem and they’re not doing it,” a Florida resident said at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. “I blame Democrats more if I had to pick a side. Withholding TSA money is irrelevant to the issue they are protesting.”

Here’s what other travelers have said.

March Madness nears the finish line as teams advance to the Final Four

The Final Four of the NCAA men’s tournament is set: The No. 1 Arizona Wildcats will face the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines, and the No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini will face the No. 2 Connecticut Huskies on Saturday in Indianapolis.

UConn secured its spot after a victory coming from behind against the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils in the final game of the men’s Elite Eight yesterday. Huskies freshman Braylon Mullins scored a three-pointer with 0.3 seconds left to win.

On the women’s side, UConn became the first to earn a spot in the Final Four after beat Notre Dame 70-52. UCLA also advanced with a 70-58 victory over Duke. The final two spots will be determined tonight as Michigan takes on Texas and TCU takes on South Carolina.

Read the full story here.

Democrats push Trump administration to crack down on insider trading in booming prediction markets

More than 40 Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate today signed a letter to top administration regulators and ethics officials calling for government-wide training on insider trading in prediction markets.

The letter highlights concerns that federal employees may have used inside information to profit hundreds of thousands of dollars from transactions related to the capture of Nicolás Maduro, the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the length of White House press conferences.

The law prohibits federal employees from entering into future contracts or engaging in transactions using nonpublic information they obtain from their work. The letter, organized by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, calls on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Office of Government Ethics to issue guidance on regulation.

Read our full exclusive report here.

Read all about it

• Staying sedentary may increase the risk of dementia, but these brain exercises could be a defense.

• Video of Taylor Frankie Paul Attacking Ex-Boyfriend Revived feverish online speech around domestic violence and reactive abuse.

• Trump says he has ‘no problem’ with Russian tanker off Cuba bring relief to Cuba amid a US oil blockade.

• The murder of a real estate agent has shaken the sector. After a recent arrest in the long-dormant case, some officers say the barrage of threats persists — and we are not doing enough to protect them.

Staff choice: NASA’s decisive moon photo

The countdown is on for NASA’s first launch to the Moon in more than 50 years. As a space journalist, I know all too well the twists and turns, fits and starts (and often long delays) that accompany coverage of major NASA programs, like the agency’s efforts to return to the Moon. The road to the next Artemis II mission is certainly no exception.

NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to build a base on the Moon and establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface, is years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget. But an upcoming April 1 launch — the first time astronauts will board NASA’s Space Launch System moon rocket and Orion capsule — could assuage critics of the program. The astronauts won’t land on the Moon this time, but a successful flight could provide a much-needed boost to the agency’s efforts to one day return astronauts there.

My story examines the high stakes of the upcoming Artemis II launchand describes the dramatic story that brought a 322-foot-tall moon rocket back to the launch pad.

— Denise Chow, science journalist

NBC Select: We tested 5 pairs of Hokas over 3 months to find the best walking shoe

A favorite of podiatrists and athletes, our editors wanted to find out the best pair of Hoka shoes for walking. After three months of intense testing, here’s what they found. More of a runner? Our editors also spoke with outdoor experts to find the best trail running shoes And the best running shoes for your arch type – because there’s a good chance you’re wearing the wrong ones.

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