Iran Security Chief, Vaccine Plan, & an $87K Cheeto

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Adam Rogers
March 18, 2026

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Israel assassinated Iranian national security chief Ali Larijani and Basij paramilitary commander Gholamreza Soleimani in separate strikes yesterday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed. Larijani had served as Iran's de facto leader for the first ten days of the war after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in Israel's opening strike. Israeli officials said Soleimani was targeted to enable a popular uprising against the regime.
Larijani had been leading a faction pushing for peace talks with the United States. His elimination leaves the opposing camp — led by supporters of Mojtaba Khamenei who are pushing to continue the war — without a counterweight. Last week, Larijani warned Trump on social media to "be careful not to get eliminated yourself."
Netanyahu said the strikes aimed to destabilize the Iranian regime, while Katz vowed to keep "cutting the head of the octopus." Iran did not confirm either killing.

A federal judge in Massachusetts blocked Health Secretary RFK Jr.'s overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule, siding with the American Academy of Pediatrics, which argued Kennedy's changes violated federal law.
In January, Kennedy reduced the number of recommended vaccinations from 18 to 11, dropping protection against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, RSV, dengue, and two types of bacterial meningitis. The judge also froze Kennedy's appointments to the CDC's vaccine advisory committee since June and stayed all votes the panel has taken, including one to drop the hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for newborns.
More than 200 medical groups, including the American Medical Association, had already announced they would disregard Kennedy's changes. HHS confirmed it will appeal.

The largest-ever review of medicinal cannabis safety and efficacy, published in Lancet Psychiatry, found no evidence that cannabis treats anxiety, depression, or PTSD — three of the most common reasons people seek it. About 27% of Americans and Canadians aged 16-65 have used cannabis for medical purposes, with roughly half using it to manage their mental health.
Researchers warn routine use for mental health could do more harm than good, increasing the risk of psychotic symptoms, cannabis use disorder, and delayed access to effective treatments. The study also found that medicinal cannabis increases cocaine cravings in people being treated for cocaine-use disorder — meaning it may worsen dependence rather than help it.
Cannabis does show promise in some areas. Lead author Dr. Jack Wilson of the University of Sydney said it may help reduce seizures in epilepsy, ease spasticity in multiple sclerosis, and manage certain pain.

The head of the National Counterterrorism Center quit, saying Iran posed no imminent threat and the US entered the war due to Israeli pressure. (More)

A Utah jury convicted Kouri Richins of murder Monday for poisoning her husband with fentanyl in 2022, motivated by debt and secret life insurance policies worth $2 million. (More)

A meteor likely caused a loud boom over Cleveland on Tuesday that shook houses and was heard as far as New York and Pennsylvania, the National Weather Service said. (More)

Sri Lanka shifted to a four-day workweek and ordered work-from-home to stretch its six remaining weeks of fuel reserves. (More)

Iran warned Argentina it crossed an "unforgivable red line" after President Milei called Iran an enemy and cited the 1994 AMIA bombing — which killed 85 people — as justification. (More)

Pakistan airstrikes on Kabul killed over 400 people, Afghan Taliban officials said, though Pakistan denied hitting civilians and claimed it targeted terrorist infrastructure and ammunition depots. (More)

US stock markets closed higher on Tuesday (S&P +0.25%, Nasdaq +0.47%, Dow +0.10%) as stocks built on momentum from yesterday’s session. (More)

US diesel prices topped $5 a gallon for the first time in three years, up 34% since the US-Israel airstrikes on Iran began. (More)

Tesla struck a $4.3 billion deal with South Korea's LG Energy Solution to supply battery cells for its fast-growing energy storage business at a Michigan plant GM abandoned. (More)

Venezuela beat the US 3-2 Tuesday to win the World Baseball Classic, rallying after Bryce Harper's tying homer in the eighth to score the winning run in the ninth. (More)

ABC is reportedly weighing whether to pull its upcoming Bachelorette season after star Taylor Frankie Paul was accused of domestic assault and sponsor Cinnabon dropped its promotional deal. (More)

Warner Bros. released the first teaser for Dune: Part Three, the final film in the trilogy, starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya and set 17 years after Part Two. (More)

New guidelines say any amount of resistance training — barbells, bands, or bodyweight — meaningfully boosts strength and muscle, and consistency matters far more than finding the perfect workout plan. (More)

Scientists found all five DNA building blocks in samples from the asteroid Ryugu, strengthening the theory that asteroids may have delivered life's key ingredients to early Earth. (More)

A meteor likely caused a loud boom over Cleveland on Tuesday that shook houses and was heard as far as New York and Pennsylvania, the National Weather Service said. (More)

Pokémon-shaped Cheeto sells for $87K.

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