31 March 2026 General Brief
In domestic news, read about the landmark 10-2 decision finding Meta and Youtube liable for addictive social media platforms and what Democrat Emily Gregory’s win in Trump’s home Congressional district means for the midterms. In international news, read about the US’s controversial decision to relax oil sanctions on Iran following skyrocketing energy prices, suspected espionage operations within Taiwan, Israel’s latest military push against Hezbollah in war-torn Lebanon, and how the EU and Australia have finally signed a record FTA together.
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The Cost of Hormuz Hits Home
On March 2nd, 2026, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. This week, this supply shortage has hit the US markets, causing the price of gas and other oil products to rocket up to above $4 in some areas.
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Two Donald Trump Executive Orders Struck Down
The ruling effectively reverses a series of motions and executive orders that were responsible for the gutting of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, through which roughly 1.1 billion of federal funding is sent to services.
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European Union-Australia Free Trade Agreement
The European Union and Australia successfully agreed on the final text of a comprehensive free trade agreement in Melbourne. The agreement eliminates over 99% of tariffs on EU exports to Australia while expanding access to critical raw materials.
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Israel Pushes Deeper into Lebanon
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to expand its operations in southern Lebanon, citing continued rocket fire by Hezbollah.
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Taiwan Infiltration Case
Local officials and civilians were accused of passing around sensitive information to people in China. The persistence of these infiltration attempts could mean a shift in Taiwan’s power against its long-standing enemy, China.
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U.S. Signals Plan to Remove Iranian Oil Sanctions
The United States has announced its intention to relax sanctions on oil exports from Iran, which represents a major policy shift in its stance towards Iran. This growing pressure is in an effort to stabilize oil supplies.
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Democrats Flip Seat in Mar-a-Lago District
In a special election last week, Democrat Emily Gregory flipped a state House of Representatives seat in Florida’s 87th district, Palm Beach County.
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The Verdict Against Meta
In a landmark 10-2 decision, a California jury found tech giants Meta and YouTube liable for designing their platforms to be addictive, which harmed plaintiff KGM’s mental health.