From the desk of Rich Stephens
News for the week ending 3-14-26
Below find the expanded text from tonight’s broadcast. For corrections or additions, contact Rich directly.
Terrorism
NYC Terror Attack
We begin in New York City. On Saturday, March 7, a protest was held outside Mayor Zohran Mandani’s residence. The protest was called “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer”. They were met by a counter-protest called “Run Nazis Out of New York City”. Around 12:15 PM, 18 year old Emir Balat and 19 year old Ibrahim Kayumi lit an improvised explosive device and threw it at the anti-Islam protesters. They then lit a second device and dropped it near NYPD officers before attempting to flee. Both were caught and pledged allegiance to ISIS before being federally charged under terrorism statutes and each faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The devices did not detonate and no one was injured.
US Embassy In Canada Attacked
Royal Canadian Mounted Police responded to shots fired at the US consulate in Toronto on Tuesday March 10. They found shell casings and damage to the exterior of the building. RCMP said they believe a white Honda CRV stopped in front of the building, that two people got out, shot at the building with a hand gun and then drove away. Their press release says they increased security around embassies and are treating the investigation as a national security incident. The United States government has not issued a statement that we could find.
Michigan Synagogue Attack
On Thursday, March 12, Ayman Mohamad Ghazali drove into Temple Israel in Oakland County, Michigan. Private security at the synagogue engaged the driver and ended his life before he could exit his vehicle. There were no additional fatalities. Information was provided by US Immigration, the mayor of Dearborn Heights, and the Lebanese Government. Ghazali was a Lebanese immigrant granted citizenship in 2016. He lost family members this month in the conflict between Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon and Israel. The government of Lebanon condemned the attack amid their ongoing efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
Dearborn Heights Mayor Statement
Old Dominion University Terror Attack
Around 10:45 Thursday morning, March 12, Old Dominion University Police received calls of an active shooter inside the school. Officers arrived within 4 minutes and found the active assailant deceased. Three victims were taken to the hospital where one succumbed to his wounds. The FBI identified the shooter as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, who was arrested and pled guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS in 2016. He was in prison from 2017 until 2024. He shouted Allahu Akbar before opening fire, and according to the FBI, students responded and “rendered him no longer alive”. They noted that he was not shot.
Politics
Partial Federal Government Shutdown
The partial federal government shutdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security continued this week as Democrats and Republicans traded blame in official statements. On Wednesday, March 11, Senator Todd Young said the shutdown began after Democrats demanded changes to immigration enforcement before approving DHS funding. He called the lapse in funding a national security risk. On Thursday, March 12, Senator Alex Padilla said he voted against additional funding for ICE and CBP, stating the agencies “don’t need another blank check, they need accountability.” House Appropriations Democrats, said Republicans are blocking funding for parts of the department, while House Appropriations Republicans said Senate Democrats caused the shutdown by refusing to pass a full-year DHS funding bill approved by the House. There is no end in sight for this dispute.
House Appropriations Statements
World
Iran Conflict
In World News, Secretary of war Pete Hegseth spoke Friday morning, March 13 about the conflict in Iran. He asserted that the US and Israel have destroyed over 15,000 targets and maintain complete control of the airspace over Iran. Hegseth maintains that Iran has no air defenses, air force, or navy and that their missile volume is down 90% and one way attack drones 95%.
He emphasized that every company that builds components for ballistic missiles in Iran has been destroyed and pointed out that Iranian leadership has gone underground. The Secretary of War pushed back on headlines that the war is widening and that the US has no plan to control and protect the Strait of Hormuz, saying instead that what is widening is the US advantage and Iran’s strategy to disrupt the strait has been in place for decades. He called the claims unserious.
Iranian Women’s Soccer in Australia
7 members of the Iranian women’s national soccer team have been granted asylum in Australia. The team did not sing the Islamic Republic anthem at their match and after some prompting by president Trump, the Australian government offered asylum visas to the team. 7 members accepted the offer, but one later withdrew her request and returned to Iran. The other 6 remained in Australia where police are housing them in a safe location until they can be provided services to complete immigration. Trump was initially critical of Australia’s response, but after speaking to PM Anthony Albanese he praised the leader saying he “is doing a very good job having to do with this rather delicate situation”.
Team Doesn’t Sing (video)
Current Events
Yamaha To Move US Headquarters
February 26, Yamaha Motor Company announced they will relocate their US headquarters from California to Kennesaw, GA. The company indicated that the move aims to improve profitability in the US market. They will sell a 25 acre facility in Cypress, CA after operating there since 1979. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed gratitude saying “After many years of great partnership, we are honored and proud to welcome Yamaha’s American headquarters to the No. 1 state for business”.
Charlie Kirk Assassination Trial
Friday morning March 13, Judge Tony Graph, presiding over the trial of the accused Charlie Kirk assassin held another pretrial hearing. This hearing was to address media coverage and related issues. After hearing arguments from both the defense and prosecution, the judge ruled that “In balance, the defendant has not provided a sufficient basis for the court to find that the interests favoring closure outweigh the interest favoring an open proceeding and the presumptive right to access.” also noting “Moreover, as a Utah Supreme Court recognized, even in highly publicized cases, a defendant’s right to a fair trial can be protected through the regular time-honored process for selecting jurors, like enlarging the voir dire of potential jurors, utilizing a detailed juror questionnaire and conducting a thorough voir dire of potential jurors.” The next hearing will be April 17 and will address the defense’s motion to exclude all cameras from the courtroom.
Florida Authorizes Death Penalty For Child Rape
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier spoke Monday March 9 about the state’s efforts to combat child predators. He announced a sentence for Michael Ambrosio of 25 years for CSAM including toddlers and babies. He also announced the passing of House Bill 1297, a new Florida law that allows capital charges for sexual battery of a minor under 12 years old. Existing Florida law places limitations on the death penalty, so the jury must find at least two aggravating factors before determining a sentence of life in prison or death. This new law is in conflict with a 2008 US Supreme Court ruling in Kennedy v. Louisiana which held that the 8th amendment disallows the death penalty in cases where the victim survived. The state expects challenges on these grounds but is prepared to argue their case.
Florida Death Penalty Statutes
Markets
Markets slid for a third straight week with the Dow Jones dropping 2%, a 943 point loss with a closing of 46,558. NASDAQ lost 281 points, finishing down one and a quarter percent at 22,105. The S&P 500 lost more than 1.5%, dropping 108 points and closing at 6632. Even gold continued to drop, closing at $5023 / ounce. The $135 loss erased more than 2.5% of value.
Sports
Freedom 250 IndyCar Grand Prix
And in Sports, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spoke at a press conference to announce the Freedom 250 Indycar Grand Prix in Washington DC. The 1.7 mile circuit will run down Pennsylvania Ave and include 7 turns. Cars will pass the National Archives, the Washington Monument and the National Mall. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser thanked secretaries Duffy and Burgum and expressed her excitement for this event, saying that DC is the sports capital of the country, and “wherever you’re coming from in America, remember this. We have won a world series, a Stanley Cup, a WNBA Championship, an NSWL Championship, all while I’ve been Mayor”. It was nice to see officials set aside political posturing and just celebrate sports and America’s 250th birthday. The race will take place August 23.
F1 News
Formula 1 announced the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix. Yes that’s how you say it, no it does not feel good in your mouth. Amid the ongoing middle east conflict, Formula 1 cleared the April Calendar, giving teams 5 weeks off between Japan and Miami. In China this weekend, Russel took sprint pole ahead of his teammate Antonelli. Russel finished first, with Antonelli 5th after a 10 second penalty for a collision. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished the podium for Ferrari. In qualifying for the main event, Antonelli became the youngest pole sitter in the history of F1. He brought the car home in first, becoming the second youngest driver to win a Grand Prix.
MLB
MLB spring training is underway, along with the world baseball classic. The United States will face Dominican Republic tonight for the first of two semi final games. Tomorrow night will feature Venezuela and Italy. The winners will play the final on Tuesday night at 8 eastern.
NCAAM / March Madness
This week is conference tournament week for mens’s college basketball. Miami of Ohio was handed their first loss of the season by UMass in the MAC tournament, but the MAC will likely see two teams into the tournament this year. Vanderbilt ended a 12 game winning streak for the defending national championship Florida Gators yesterday. The commodores will now face Arkansas for the SEC tournament championship. 13th ranked St. John’s beat 6th ranked UCONN to take the Big East title. Top ranked duke beat UVA for the ACC championship and Michigan will play Purdue today to decide the Big 10. The tournament committee will announce bids and seeding for the 2026 ncaa men’s basketball tournament tonight.
Rich Stephens
The Cold Take