Monday, March 23rd
A relatively quiet weekend may be a sign of a busy week to come.
Headlines
Trump declares a 48 hour ultimatum to Iran; Iran responds with threats to the gulf countries. President Trump has demanded the opening of the Strait of Hormuz by 6:45 p.m. Monday, threatening to target Iran’s civilian infrastructure if his demands are not met. Iran has responded that it would retaliate by delivering in-kind strikes on civilian infrastructure in the Gulf countries and completely closing the Strait of Hormuz.
Interesting conversation on Iran’s leadership here.
Cuba braces for potential U.S. invasion or offensive; International aid reaches the island nation. Despite the strain of potentially opening another front, the U.S. attorney’s office in South Florida is preparing indictments against Cuba’s political and military leadership. This move is similar to the one used to justify the extrajudicial abduction of Nicholas Maduro, the former President of Venezuela.
It is not clear what move, if any, the U.S. plans in the near-term, but the Cuban military says it is preparing for the threat of invasion. It is also not clear what the overall goal of an invasion of Cuba would be. National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has frequently said that the objective of the U.S. would be regime change, whereas President Trump’s position has more frequently focused on the ability of American corporations to invest in Cuba.
Any action would further disrupt Cuba’s domestic economy, which has been under strain since an oil blockade was imposed on the island in January. Just 70 miles from Florida, the island nation is home to over 10 million residents with an economy that is estimated to be 40-70% controlled by the military. This kind of systemic collapse could lead to a migration crisis and would almost certainly cause a humanitarian crisis.
The potential for U.S. action comes as relief finally began to reach the island on Friday. A convoy of ships, led by international aid groups, has delivered tons of aid to Cuba primarily solar panels, food, and medicine. Brazil announced it would send 20,000 tons of food, primarily rice, beans and powdered milk. A group of Chilean parliamentarians also arrived with aid on Thursday, and China reported through its embassy that a ship carrying 60,000 tons of rice set sail for Cuba. Mexican President Sheinbaum also announced that her country seeks to resume fuel shipments to Cuba.
With more than one million Lebanese people displaced, Israel is escalating the war. Authorities in Beirut have not been providing assistance, according to displaced people seeking shelter in the city’s streets. Many displaced people are refugees fleeing from the conflict in Syria.
The Israeli offensive, which is the cause of this displacement, is escalating. Israel has been targeting bridges on the Litani river, a river that runs laterally across Lebanon’s southern region. Israel has also authorized IDF soldiers to assassinate any Hezbollah leaders, and destroy homes in Lebanon to prevent the return of displaced people and create what they classify as a buffer zone.
Quick Hits
- Heavy rain in Hawaii lead to the worst flooding in 20 years. Evacuation orders were in place on Sunday for Oahu’s North Shore and Waialua.
- Socialist Emmanuel Gregoire has been elected as the next mayor of Paris.
- U.S. has issued a worldwide travel alert to all of its citizens abroad.
- An Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia on Sunday. A number of injuries have been reported.
- Trump to send immigration agents to airports as DHS shutdown continues.
- The U.S. Senate will vote Monday to confirm Sen. Markwayne Mullin's nomination to be the next director of DHS.
- Former FBI Director Robert Mueller died at the age of 81 on Monday. Trump celebrated his passing.
- Settler violence continues in the West Bank with reports of dozens of Israelis torching homes and vehicles.
- A sonic boom was heard in Houston after what NASA believes was a small meteorite hit a suburban home in the area.
- U.S. registers domain “aliens.gov”
- U.S. child labor violations have risen at least 5-fold in the last ten years as Republican states continue to push for rollbacks of protections.
- As some medical providers raise concerns over GLP-1’s and other peptides, DHHS Secretary, Robert Kennedy Jr., has signaled his strong support for the mini-proteins.
R.I. Stories
Overdose spike alert extended by RIDOH. Still, overdose deaths near a 50% reduction since 2023.
A fight at a house party in Providence early Sunday sent four people to Rhode Island Hospital. Three people remain in critical condition.
Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island has awarded Women & Infants Hospital its first People4Equity designation, a new honor the insurer gives in recognition of accessible care.
Local mutual aid continues to develop. Local group, Lasagna Love, offers to deliver food to people in need of a meal.
Sports
Celtics win one and lose one over the weekend. A win Friday over the Grizzlies, 117-112, and a loss Saturday to the Timberwolves, 102-92. Celtics are only a half-game ahead of the Knicks in the east. They will play the Thunder, who just clinched the West, on Wednesday at 7:30.
Bruins won over the Red Wings on Saturday, 4-2. More comfortably in the wild card spot now. The next game is Tuesday against the Leafs at 7:00.
17-year-old American, Cooper Lutkenhaus, became the youngest person ever to win an indoor track world title. Lutkenhaus won the 800m by 0.14 seconds.
URI women’s basketball ended their season in the first round of the NCAA tournament with a loss to Alabama.
Providence College men’s hockey will face Quinnipiac on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The school also hired Bryan Hodgson as their next head coach.
