Our chief economics correspondent, Ben Casselman, breaks down how gasoline prices have responded to the oil crisis in the Persian Gulf, and what is in store for inflation if the price of oil remains above $100 per barrel.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the foreign minister, said Saudi Arabia was prepared to take military action if necessary, after waves of missile and drone attacks.

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Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., the White House pick for homeland security secretary, testifies during Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing, Wednesday, March 18, 2026 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)2026-03-19T14:58:39Z WASHINGTON (AP) Sen. Markwayne Mullin moved a step closer to becoming President Donald Trumps next homeland security secretary after a Senate committee Thursday narrowly advanced his nomination. The 8-7 vote came after a contentious hearing Wednesday and sent the Cabinet nomination to the full Senate, which could act to confirm the Oklahoma Republican next week.That vote included a no from the Republican chairman, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, and a yes from a Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. The approval comes as the parties are fighting bitterly over the policies of the Department of Homeland Security, leading to a funding lapse that is now in its 34th day.During his testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, Mullin tried to make the case that he would be a steady hand after the tumultuous tenure of Kristi Noem, Trumps first DHS secretary. Mullin also signaled support for Trumps immigration priorities, which are central to the funding standoff after the death of at least three American citizens at the hands of federal agents. Mullins hearing was unusually combative and came close to going off the rails as he engaged in heated exchanges with some Democrats as well as Paul. In addition to a lengthy exchange over Mullins failure to disclose what he characterized as a classified congressional trip while a House member, Paul opened the hearing with a fiery statement challenging Mullins fitness to lead DHS. Paul pointed to comments Mullin made after a funding fight, when he called Paul a freaking snake and said he understood why a neighbor had tackled Paul in a lawn care dispute. That incident happened several years ago, and Paul suffered multiple broken ribs and later had surgeries he linked to the attack.I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force? Paul said. Mullin refused to back down.For you to say Im a liar, sir, thats not accurate, Mullin said.Paul later said he would not vote for Mullins confirmation. Fetterman, who has frequently challenged his own party, said his vote was rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nations security.___Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP MEG KINNARD Kinnard covers national politics for The Associated Press. She lives in South Carolina. twitter instagram mailto

A lectern awaits the arrival of House Democrats to speak on the health care funding fight on the steps of the House at the Capitol in Washington, Nov. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)2026-03-19T15:03:47Z NEW YORK (AP) Lately, Priscilla Brown has had to choose between properly managing her Type 2 diabetes and affording other necessities, like gas in her car. Some days, she takes half or a third of her prescribed insulin dose just to stretch it out longer. Sometimes I dont even take my medicine, said the 48-year-old truck dispatcher in Orlando, Florida. Its so much with insurance, its crazy.About 8 in 10 Americans, like Brown, who re-enrolled in Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage say their health care costs are higher this year, including about half who say their costs are a lot higher, according to a new survey from the health care research nonprofit KFF. A main reason for increased costs was the Dec. 31 expiration of enhanced tax credits that had offset premiums for most enrollees.For Brown and others, those spiking costs are having real impacts on daily life. Of the 1,117 Americans surveyed who had ACA marketplace coverage in 2025, including those who dropped coverage or changed plans, about 55% said theyre planning to deal with health care costs by cutting spending on food and other basic household needs. Democrats in Congress last year had fought to keep the COVID-era subsidies but faced pushback from Republican leadership. In January, momentum toward a bipartisan compromise fell apart leaving some 23 million ACA enrollees without relief as they faced higher premiums or made tough decisions to disenroll or downgrade plans. The new poll, which was conducted in February and March and followed up with respondents from a survey conducted last year to learn how theyre grappling with health insurance now, offers a glimpse at how Congress unresolved fight continues to strain regular Americans even as many federal lawmakers have, at least for the moment, turned to other priorities. Many ACA enrollees are anxious about medical costsLast year, Brown paid zero dollars toward her health insurance premiums. This year, her new plan costs $17 a month and has a higher deductible.Brown said she learned this week that her new refill of medicine was going to cost more than $150 and almost passed out. She filled her car with only half the gas she needed, knowing shed need money for the medications.Anxieties about unexpected medical costs are acute, the poll shows. About three-quarters of people who had ACA insurance last year now say they are very or somewhat worried about paying for emergency care or hospitalization, while about half said the same about routine medical visits or prescription drugs. Some enrollees switch to lower-tier plans, while others drop coverage entirelyMost of last years enrollees, about 7 in 10, stayed on ACA health insurance but that includes about 3 in 10 who changed plans within the marketplace. Meanwhile, about 2 in 10 became eligible for coverage through their employer, Medicare or Medicaid or purchased insurance outside of the ACA marketplace, which tends to be less comprehensive.About 1 in 10 of last years enrollees said they dropped coverage altogether and are now uninsured, the poll shows.Eric LeVasseur, a 63-year-old software developer in Seal Beach, California, was part of that group. He said when he saw his mid-tier, silver-level plan was going to nearly triple to $1,200 per month, it was not something my budget could absorb. Many enrollees blame health insurance companies and politiciansAbout 7 in 10 returning ACA enrollees facing higher costs say they blame health insurance companies a lot, while just over half put a lot of blame on Republican lawmakers, President Donald Trump and pharmaceutical companies. About one-third blamed Democrats in Congress or hospitals a lot, while about 1 in 10 placed this level of blame on doctors or employers.Respondents who identified with a political party and saw costs rise overwhelmingly blamed the opposing partys lawmakers a lot.James Mako, an engineer in Boca Raton, Florida, and a political independent, said he blames the Republican Party. His $500-per-month premiums were poised to double this year for his silver-level ACA health plan. So, he downgraded to a bronze-level plan with a higher deductible.Mako said hes not convinced by the ideas Republicans have floated to fix the problem, like funneling money into health savings accounts. I think theyre just sales gimmicks, he said. The subsidies should be back.The KFF poll was conducted Feb. 12-Mar. 2, 2026, among 1,117 U.S. adults who had Marketplace insurance in 2025, using a sample drawn from two probability-based panels. All of the respondents participated in the 2025 KFF Marketplace Survey and were recontacted for the new survey. The margin of sampling error for the full sample is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. ALI SWENSON Swenson covers politics and the information landscape for The Associated Press. She is based in New York. twitter

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It's time for the 2026 NCAA wrestling championships! This year crowned the first women's tournament champion. Check out how to watch now.

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The post Strait of Hormones appeared first on The Onion.

If youre trying to be more sustainable and conscious of your footprint this spring, youre in good company.So many are also working to make their homes a place where good practices thrive; maybe that means reducing food waste, walking more, or committing to sharing unused items in the neighborhood Buy Nothing group.READ MORE...

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In this photo released by Belarusian presidential press service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, right, and U.S. Presidential envoy John Coale talk during their meeting in Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP)2026-03-19T09:39:48Z TALLINN, Estonia (AP) Belarus authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday ordered the release of 250 political prisoners as part of a deal with Washington that lifted some U.S. sanctions, the latest step in the isolated leaders effort to improve ties with the West.Lukashenko pardoned the prisoners after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trumps special envoy for Belarus, John Coale, in the Belarus capital of Minsk. Coale hailed the release as a significant humanitarian milestone and a testament to Trumps commitment to direct, hard-nosed diplomacy. It marked the largest one-time release of political prisoners in the country. Coale told reporters that the U.S. will lift sanctions from two Belarusian state banks and the countrys Finance Ministry, and that the top Belarusian potash producers have been removed from a sanctions list. Belarus opposition leader-in-exile, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, hailed the prisoners release as a moment of great relief and hope.After years of isolation, people are now free and can finally embrace their loved ones, Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press. There is nothing more powerful than seeing someone who endured unjust imprisonment reunited with their family. She thanked Trump and his officials for their tireless efforts to secure the release of political prisoners, adding that these humanitarian efforts are saving lives. The last time U.S. officials met with Lukashenko, in December, Washington announced the easing of sanctions on Belarus potash sector, and 123 prisoners were released and sent to Ukraine and Lithuania. A close ally of Russia, Minsk has faced isolation for years. Lukashenko has ruled the nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for more than three decades, and the country has been sanctioned repeatedly by Western countries both for its crackdown on human rights and for allowing Moscow to use its territory in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Lukashenkos rule was challenged after a 2020 presidential election, when tens of thousands poured into the streets to protest a vote they viewed as rigged. They were the largest demonstrations since Belarus became independent following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.In an ensuing crackdown, tens of thousands were detained, with many beaten by police. Prominent opposition figures either fled the country or were imprisoned.Five years after the mass demonstrations, Lukashenko won a seventh term last year in an election that the opposition called a farce.More recently, Belarus has freed some political prisoners to try to win favor with the West. Since Trump returned to the White House last year, Lukashenko has released dozens of prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and key dissident figures Siarhei Tsikhanouski, Viktar Babaryka and Maria Kolesnikova. Trump spoke to Lukashenko by phone in August 2025 after one such release and even suggested a face-to-face meeting in what would be a big victory for the Belarusian leader, who has been dubbed Europes Last Dictator. Just before the latest announcement of releases, the prominent Belarus human rights group Viasna had estimated that there were more than 1,100 political prisoners in the country. Tsikhanouskaya emphasized that many people are still behind bars and our goal remains unchanged to free them all and to put a final end to repression, so that every Belarusian can live freely in their own country. YURAS KARMANAU Karmanau is an Associated Press journalist covering Belarus and the CIS countries. He has worked in Belarus and Ukraine, as well as other countries in the region, for more than 20 years. He is part of the team that covers the Russia-Ukraine war. mailto

Nature, Published online: 19 March 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00712-8Mongolias capital is among the worlds most toxic cities. One aspirational ex-physicist is clearing the air.

Nature, Published online: 19 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10397-8Editorial Expression of Concern: A FADD-dependent innate immune mechanism in mammalian cells

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A few things on the end of Horizon Worlds, the metaverse that Mark Zuckerberg believed in so much that he renamed his company:1) Its very sad that many of the people who worked on it have been unceremoniously laid off because their leaders appear to have no idea what theyre doing2) lol3) lmao, evenWho could have possibly predicted this?When Zuckerberg announced Horizon Worlds not really all that long ago at a batshit livestream in October 2021, I wrote an article called Zuckerberg Announces Fantasy World Where Facebook Is Not a Horrible Company. During that livestream Zuckerberg said, I believe technology can make our lives better. The future will be built by those willing to stand up and say this is the future we want. The future Zuckerberg wanted, at that time, was not a future anyone else wanted. But he was bold enough to systematically light roughly $80 billion on fire, not because he was willing to stand up and paint a vision of the future, but because Facebook was mired in various horrendous scandals and because he needed to rebrand his company and needed something shiny to point at to keep Facebooks stock price up. It is bad when actual economists say that money was thrown into the toilet.Lets check what I wrote then: The future Zuckerberg went on to pitch was a delusional fever dream cribbed most obviously from dystopian science fiction and misleading or outright fabricated virtual reality product pitches from the last decade. In the metaversean embodied internet where we are, basically, inside the computer via a headset or other reality-modifying technology of some sortrather than hang out with people in real life you could meet up with them as Casper-the-friendly-ghost-style holograms to do historically fun and stimulating activities such as attend concerts or play basketball.Zuckerbergs bold vision of the metaverse was a place where T-Pain would sell NFTs of imaginary sneakers at concerts attended by people sitting silently in their living rooms with computers strapped to their face, where Wendys could do integrated brand deals in which human-shaped avatars without legs could throw baconators at basketball hoops, and where Zuckerberg could pretend to know how to surf. Even on these pitiful metrics, the metaverse failed. Whatever the metaverse does look like, it is virtually guaranteed to not look or feel anything like what Facebook showed us on Thursday, I wrote at the time.Over the last few years, Zuckerberg has found another thing he can ruin via his trademark process of pouring kerosene on huge piles of money and throwing matches at it (perhaps a fun metaverse game?). Zuckerbergs current bold vision for the future is one in which social media is not social media at all but is instead a bunch of highly customized AI-generated ads delivered to you via an increasingly creepy algorithm. Alongside this, it is a future in which Reality Labsthe division of Meta that created Horizon Worldsmakes AI camera glasses whose main use appears to be harassing women, traumatizing the underpaid content moderators who watch the footage in developing countries, and fashion statements for federal officials whose current mission is kidnapping undocumented immigrants.The complete and utter failure of the metaverse is a reminder not just of the fact that the future Silicon Valley is force feeding us is not inevitable, but that quite often these oligarchs quite simply cannot relate to real people, dont know how or why people use their products, and very often have no idea what theyre doing.I remember the metaverse, crypto, web3 Venn diagram of hype very wellin fact, I remember sitting in meetings where VICE executives proposed renting land in the crypto-focused Decentraland metaverse to build a virtual VICE headquarters (where we all worked before 404 Media). I noted at the time that Decentraland was stupid, and that far fewer people were on Decentraland at any given time than were reading even a failed blog post on the website of our failing company. It didn't matter. The people willing to stand up and say this is the future we want wanted a virtual building in a virtual dead mall, and they got it. Was it because they were so brave and forward looking? Or was it because they were rich and powerful and could say this is the future we, the business people, the business knowers, want?

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CHICAGOSources confirmed Thursday that more than two dozen employees of logistics company LQR Freight had reluctantly agreed to participate in their offices March Madness pool, thus marking their single annual interaction with one another. Mike was in the kitchen handing everyone printouts, and it was the first time wed spoken since I told him I think Dukes going all the way this time last year, LQR project manager Lee Zander said as he hastily filled out a bracket and venmoed $2 for Bball to a person named Zach Dunn, whom Zander assumed must be employed somewhere in the company. Couldnt tell you what he does or even what department hes in, but my emails on the form, so he should be able to find me if I win. I think Id get a $50 Amazon gift card or something. By press time, nearly every employee at the company had reportedly muted the newly created Slack channel titled Madness 26.The post Office NCAA Bracket Marks Yearly Interaction With Coworkers appeared first on The Onion.

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A student looks toward a plywood box covering a statue of Csar Chavez at California State University, Fresno in Fresno, Calif., Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vsquez)2026-03-19T17:57:33Z Within hours of explosive sexual abuse allegations against the revered labor leader Csar Chavez, officials at a California university took swift action: First, a black cloth over a campus statue of Chavez, later followed by a plywood box hiding it from public view. Soon, officials said, it will be taken down.The statue at California State University, Fresno, is just one of scores of monuments, city streets and elementary schools that honor Chavez s name and his labor movement legacy across the nation. The Associated Press identified more than 130 locations or objects in at least 19 states named after Chavez, including libraries, streets, community centers and public parks.Suddenly the name has become more of a stain. Some of the institutions and local governments overseeing sites across the country bearing the Chavez name have already started the process of erasing it. Besides buildings and street signs, they also want to take steps to rename Csar Chavez Day, a federally proclaimed holiday that falls on his March 31 birthday. The allegations that Chavez sexually abused girls and women, including fellow movement leader Dolores Huerta, call for our full attention and moral reckoning by removing his statute from our campus, said Sal Jimnez-Sandoval, president of the California State University, Fresno. Its not clear how long that will take. Its also not clear what will happen to the Csar E. Chavez National Monument in Keene, California, which includes the office where some of the reported abuse took place. In Phoenix, city council members said they will meet next week to vote on whether to rename the holiday as well as any buildings and streets that bear Chavezs name. The New York Times first reported Wednesday that it found credible evidence that Chavez groomed and sexually abused young girls who worked in the movement. One of his victims, in fact, partly felt compelled to come forward after a proposal to name a street near her home after Chavez. Huerta, who was a labor legend in her own right and co-founded in 1962 with Chavez the National Farm Workers Association which became the United Farm Workers of America revealed to the newspaper that she was a victim of abuse by him in her 30s.Some are calling for Chavezs namesake places to be renamed for Huerta instead. Among the locations and objects bearing his name is a U.S. Navy cargo ship commemorating Chavezs service during World War II and a national monument established in 2012 by then-President Barack Obama on a 187-acre site where Chavez once lived and worked.Most of the locations are in California but they includes sites in at least 19 states, from New York and Maryland to Oklahoma, the Great Lakes Region and Washington state.More than half are schools with most of them located in California. In Pueblo, Colorado, Chavez shares the name of a school with Huerta.Altering a national monument, such as changing a name, needs an act of Congress or action by the president. MATTHEW BROWN Brown is based in Billings, Montana. He covers breaking news, the environment, politics, energy, crime and more. TERRY TANG Tang reports on race and ethnicity issues, including Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, for The Associated Press. She is based in Phoenix and previously covered breaking news in the Southwest. twitter mailto

Kentucky men's basketball coach Mark Pope had a lot of things to say about Yaxel Lendeborg's comments that he received a multimillion dollar offer to play for the Wildcats -- except for saying the Michigan star was wrong.

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