From the desk of Rich Stephens
News for the week ending 3-7-26
Below find the expanded text from tonight’s broadcast. For corrections or additions, contact Rich directly.
World
Summary Of Operations In Iran
We begin in the Middle East, where over the last six days, the United States and Israel have conducted a coordinated military campaign against Iran. On Saturday, March 1, the White House announced Operation Epic Fury, describing it as a U.S. military operation targeting Iran’s missile forces, air defenses, and military infrastructure. The same day, the Israel Defense Forces said Israel had launched Operation Roaring Lion, striking Iranian command centers, missile systems, and air defense networks. In an official briefing, the IDF said its opening strikes killed roughly 40 senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. On Monday, March 2, U.S. Central Command said combat operations were continuing and confirmed six U.S. service members had been killed in action. By March 4, the White House said Iranian ballistic missile launches had fallen 86 percent from the first day of fighting and one-way drone launches had dropped 73 percent. The statement said U.S. and Israeli forces were continuing strikes against missile launch sites and military targets across Iran. On March 6, the IDF chief of staff said Israeli forces had carried out about 2,500 strikes using more than 6,000 munitions since the operation began.
Hegseth / Caine Full Press Conference
CENTCOM On Iranian Navy
Thursday, March 5, Admiral Brad Cooper spoke alongside Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Tampa. The CENTCOM Commander said U.S. forces have sunk or destroyed more than 30 Iranian naval vessels during Operation Epic Fury. Cooper said the total had earlier been 24 ships, a figure referenced by President Donald Trump, but updated operational reporting now places the number “over 30 ships.” He added that U.S. forces struck an Iranian drone carrier roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier, leaving the vessel on fire. The Admiral added U.S. bombers struck nearly 200 targets inside Iran in the previous 72 hours, including ballistic-missile launchers and Iran’s space command infrastructure. He said missile and drone attacks had dropped sharply since the start of the operation. Officials noted the next phase will target Iran’s ballistic-missile production capability.
Lebanon Hezbollah Activity
On Sunday, March 1, Hezbollah launched projectiles from toward northern Israel. The Israel Defense Forces said it responded by striking Hezbollah targets across Lebanon. Lebanon’s cabinet then announced an immediate ban on Hezbollah military activity and ordered its weapons restricted to the Lebanese state. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned the rocket fire and said decisions on war and peace belong to the government. In a public post, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Hezbollah had given Israel an opportunity to test the Iron Beam air defense system.
Kuwaiti Friendly Fire
Sunday, March 1, three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down over Kuwait in what U.S. Central Command described as an apparent friendly-fire incident. CENTCOM says the aircraft were supporting Operation Epic Fury when Kuwaiti air defense systems mistakenly engaged them. All six aircrew members ejected safely, were recovered, and were reported to be in stable condition. CENTCOM says Kuwait acknowledged the incident and is cooperating to investigate the cause.
Current Events
Austin Terror Attack
Moving to Current Events On Sunday, March 1, a man wearing a sweatshirt reading “Property of Allah” opened fire outside a bar on West 6th Street in Austin, Texas. Austin Police say a black Cadillac SUV pulled alongside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden and the driver fired a pistol into the crowd. The suspect then drove down the street, parked, exited the vehicle with a rifle, and fired at a pedestrian while moving back toward the bar area. Officers located the suspect who fired in the direction of officers. Three officers returned fire, struck the suspect, and took him into custody. The shooter was identified as 53 year old Ndiaga Diagne who was pronounced dead at the scene. Austin Police say 19 people sustained injuries in the incident. 21 year old Savitha Shan, and 19 year old Ryder Harrington were pronounced dead at the scene. 30 year old Jorge Pederson, was later pronounced deceased at a hospital. The FBI and Austin Police say the investigation into the attack is ongoing.
Video of the Scene (extremely graphic)
Photo of the Shooter (property of allah)
Jose Garcia Official Statement
Virginia Road Rage Stabbing
On Sunday, March 1 Virginia State Police responded to a road-rage incident on I495 in Fairfax county that led to a stabbing attack. Police say Jared Llamado, 32, of McLean, stabbed four women, killing Michele Adams, 39, and seriously injuring three others and killing a dog. A Virginia State Police trooper shot Llamado, who later succumbed to his wounds at the hospital.
Virginia State Police Facebook Post
Tebow Testifies About Child Sex Abuse Online
Wednesday March 4, Tim Tebow testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism. He spoke to advocate for the Renewed Hope act of 2026, a bill to combat child exploitation. During his testimony, he showed a map of the United States, identifying 6 months worth of known cases of downloading, sharing or distribution of child sex abuse images. The map shows over 330,000 instances in 6 months. I’ve brought this up before when I spoke about Roblox and Minecraft, but Friday the Florida legislature held a hearing about it, earlier in the week 89 people were arrested in Tampa. The Sean Ryan podcast has almost 6 million subscribers on YouTube and he has more than 12 hours of content devoted to protecting kids online. If you are a parent, please take this seriously. Visit the cold take dot com. I built a page that will be a permanent link in the header titled ‘Parental Resources’ and it will have links to information about how to protect your kids, tools to monitor their devices and details about how these sickos groom kids. I have no affiliation with any of these people or tools, I don’t get a penny from it, but I’m a parent and these stories make me sick. So if you’re a parent, go to the website, I have videos, links, and a few of my own thoughts as well.
The Cold Take Parental Resources
Tampa Child Exploitation Sting Operation
In Tampa, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced March 3 that 89 people were arrested in an undercover operation targeting people seeking to sexually exploit children and purchase sex. The operation ran during the first five weeks of 2026 and resulted in 1,217 felony charges. The operation rescued two minors, including a 2-year-old child recovered from an exploitation case and a missing 17-year-old girl who investigators say was being commercially sexually exploited. Authorities arrested Peter Torres, 42, in connection with the toddler’s case, and Armani Hopkins, 23, in connection with the case involving the missing teenager.
Hillsorough County Sheriff Statement
Supreme Court Ruling About Child Gender
In December 2025, a federal district court in California issued a permanent injunction in Mirabelli v. Bonta, blocking enforcement of policies that allow schools to withhold information from parents when a student adopts a different gender identity at school. The State of California appealed, and in January 2026 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted a stay, pausing the district court’s injunction while the appeal proceeds. The court wrote the state had shown “a substantial case for relief on the merits.” The plaintiffs then filed an emergency application with the U.S. Supreme Court citing the Fourteenth Amendment. On March 2, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the Ninth Circuit stay as it applies to the parent plaintiffs, which allows the district court injunction to take effect for them while the case continues. California’s Department of Justice asserted that under state law schools are not required to disclose a student’s gender identity to parents and that guidance is intended to protect student privacy and safety. The Ninth Circuit appeal is still pending, and the case could return to the Supreme Court for a final ruling.
Emergency Application to Supreme Court
Supreme Court Asylum Case Ruling
On Tuesday, March 4, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Urias-Orellana v. Bondi involving an asylum claim. The Court held that federal appellate courts reviewing asylum denials must defer to the factual findings of immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals unless the evidence compels a different conclusion. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stated that under federal immigration law, “the agency’s findings of fact are conclusive unless any reasonable adjudicator would be compelled to conclude to the contrary.” The ruling affirms that immigration courts, not federal appellate courts, are the primary fact-finders in asylum cases.
New York Redistricting Supreme Court Ruling
Sticking with the Supreme Court, but moving into more Political stories, In New York, a state trial court ordered the state to redraw the boundaries of the 11th Congressional District, which covers Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. The judge ruled the district diluted the voting power of Black and Hispanic voters and directed the state to create a new map before the next election. The district’s current representative, Republican Nicole Malliotakis, and other plaintiffs appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing the ruling would force the state to redraw the district using race as a primary factor. On March 2, the Supreme Court issued an emergency order blocking the redraw for now, allowing the current district map to remain in place while the case continues through the appeals process. For the moment, New York cannot change the district lines. The underlying case will now continue in the lower courts, where judges will determine whether the state’s redistricting order complies with federal constitutional standards.
Kristi Noem Reassigned Away From DHS
On Wednesday, March 5, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he was removing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and nominating Senator Markwayne Mullin to lead DHS. Trump wrote that Noem “has served us well” and said she would move to a new role as Special Envoy for the “Shield of the Americas.” Two days earlier, Noem testified before Congress during a hearing on DHS operations. Following the testimony, lawmakers from both parties publicly criticized the department and its leadership. Senator John Fetterman wrote that DHS was in crisis and called for changes to leadership. Representative Maxwell Frost wrote that Noem “will go down in history as a bigot,” while also stating that removing her would not solve the broader problems at DHS. Homeland Committee Republicans focused on the funding dispute, posting that democrats continue to block a DHS funding bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson also posted that Democrats were “keeping the Department of Homeland Security closed” during the ongoing funding standoff. The partial government shutdown enters day 14 with no end in sight.
Clintons Testify
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both testified before Congress this week as part of the House Oversight Committee’s investigation related to Jeffrey Epstein. The committee released the recordings of the depositions, totaling roughly nine hours of testimony between the two sessions. There is no official public transcript available yet, but we will put out a special edition once we’ve reviewed the complete testimony. Smash that follow button to get notified when that video is available.
House Oversight Posting of Videos
Bus Stop Stabbing and DHS Complaint
On Sunday, February 23, Fairfax County Police say 32-year-old Abdul Jalloh fatally stabbed 41-year-old Stephanie Minter at a bus stop in Fairfax County. Police say officers first arrested Jalloh on February 24 in connection with a petit larceny before identifying him as the last person seen with Minter. He was then charged with second degree murder and is being held without bond. Weeks before the killing, Governor Abigail Spanberger rescinded a prior executive order that had directed Virginia law enforcement to assist with federal civil immigration enforcement. Her order directs state and local resources to focus on enforcing Virginia law rather than federal immigration law. On February 4, she also directed several state agencies to terminate all Section 287(g) agreements with ICE, while saying Virginia officers may still act when presented with a valid judicial warrant. In response, the Department of Homeland Security said Jalloh is an illegal alien with more than 30 prior arrests and urged Virginia authorities not to release him. DHS said ICE uses immigration detainers to request notification or transfer of custody, but judicial warrants cannot be obtained without federal charges.
Spanberger Statement To Law Enforcement
Kansas Revokes Driver License for Transgender People
In Kansas, a new law affecting state identification documents took effect last week. The legislation is House Substitute for Senate Bill 244. According to the official bill text, the law defines gender in Kansas as biological sex assigned at birth and directs the state’s Division of Vehicles and Office of Vital Statistics to invalidate and reissue driver’s licenses and birth certificates when the sex designation does not match that definition. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the bill February 13, saying in her veto message that the legislation would have “numerous and significant consequences.” The Legislature then overrode the veto and the statute took effect February 26. That same day two Kansas residents filed a lawsuit in Douglas County District Court seeking to block enforcement of the law, arguing it violates protections in the Kansas Constitution including equal protection and due process. The case is currently pending and no ruling has been issued.
Florida Gun Registry Fight
On Sunday, March 2, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced his office is reviewing whether the City of Jacksonville violated Florida law by maintaining a firearm registry. In a letter to Melissa Nelson, Uthmeier said Jacksonville kept logbooks recording the names and firearm information of people entering city buildings while armed. Nelson’s office investigated the logs and declined criminal charges, concluding the conduct did not meet the statute’s requirement that violations be “knowing and willful.” Uthmeier rejected that conclusion and directed his office to obtain the investigative evidence and evaluate whether to pursue civil enforcement under Florida Statute 790.335, which bans government firearm registries. The statute allows civil penalties of up to $5 million if a court finds a local government knowingly maintained a registry of privately owned firearms or firearm owners.
Florida Gun Registration Statute
Finance
Markets
Markets turned red this week. The Dow Jones dropped 1,476 points, a 3% loss, closing at 47,501. This erases 15 weeks of gain, going back to late November. NASDAQ lost 282 points and closed at 22,386. The S&P 500 lost 2%, a drop of 138 points and finished the week at 6740. Gold futures also fell this week, ending trading at $5,158 per ounce, a 2.6% drop. Meanwhile, Crude oil futures rose by 28%, gaining nearly $20 and closing ten cents shy of $100.
Sports
Lou Holtz Death
Moving over to Sports, On Wednesday, March 4, Louis Leo Holtz, who went by Lou passed away in his home in Orlando Florida. Born in West Virginia in 1937, Lou attended Kent State where he played football and trained in the Army Reserve Officer’s training corps. After earning a bachelor’s degree in history, Holtz got his masters at University of Iowa. From there, Holtz’ focus was football. His coaching career included William and Mary, NC State, The New York Jets, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame and South Carolina. He led the Fighting Irish to a national championship in 1988 and was later awarded an honorary doctorate from Notre Dame. Holtz was elected to the college football hall of fame, the Arkansas sports hall of fame, the Cotton Bowl hall of fame and in 2020 President trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Lou Holtz was 89 years old.
Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix
In the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, the opening race of the 2026 season, local hero Oscar Piastri crashed on the formation lap and didn’t even start the race. Leclerc took the lead in turn one from 4th on the grid. The Red Bull of Isaac Hadjar suffered a failure that saw him retired the car after just 11 laps. Mercedes and Ferrari split strategies and traded places in the front throughout the race with the Mercedes of George Russel eventually coming home in first. Max Verstappen finished 6th behind defending world champion Lando Norris.
NCAA Men’s College Basketball
In College Basketball, Sunday, March 1, unranked Ohio State beat 8th ranked Purdue 82-74. On Tuesday unranked UCLA beat 9th ranked Nebraska 72-52. Other unranked winners were Arizona State over number 14 Kansas and Georgia over number 16 Alabama. The 5th ranked national championship defending Florida Gators sealed the SEC regular season championship with a 108-74 win over Mississippi State and Miami of Ohio beat Toledo 74-72 to stay perfect at 30-0. They needed overtime Friday against Ohio to cap a perfect 31-0 regular season in a 110-108 win. Congratulations to that squad. Saturday March 7, number 4 UConn fell to unranked Marquette 68-62. Unranked Wisconsin beat 15th ranked Purdue 97-93. Florida went into Rupp Arena and beat Kentucky 84-77. The Gators are the number 1 seed in the SEC tournament and with UConn’s loss, bracketologists have them now at a 1 seed in the big tournament as well.
Stranded Hot Air Balloon
And finally, Saturday, February 28, a Cameron Z-77 hot air balloon struck the guidewire of a radio tower around 8:40 a.m. with two people on board, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The balloon became entangled near the top of the tower more than 900 feet above the ground. Longview Fire Department crews conducted a high-angle rescue and lowered both occupants to the ground. Both were transported to a hospital as a precaution. The FAA is investigating the incident. I have wanted to become a balloon pilot for years but I never even considered the possibility of being stuck at the top of a radio tower. I’m also super curious how they got the basket down.
Rich Stephens
The Cold Take