The Fighting in the Middle East Shows No Sign of Letting Up

Iran War

The Fighting in the Middle East Shows No Sign of Letting Up

What’s going on: Iranian state media said Tehran launched its “most intense operation since the beginning of the war” yesterday. Meanwhile, the US and Israel continued their coordinated attacks across Iran and the Middle East. As the fighting enters its 13th day, this is the latest:

The death toll: In total, seven American service members have been killed in the region, and at least 140 others are injured. Iran’s UN ambassador says more than 1,300 civilians have died, accusing the US of targeting civilian infrastructure. A preliminary inquiry found that the US is responsible for a strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed approximately 175 people, primarily children, despite President Donald Trump saying Iran is at fault. As for Lebanon, the country’s health ministry says Israeli fire has killed more than 600 people. Iranian attacks have also killed dozens of others across the Gulf states and Israel.

Oil supplies: The International Energy Agency (IEA) said 32 countries, including the US, agreed to release a record 400 million barrels to stabilize prices — about a third of the group’s emergency reserves. Still, the price per barrel jumped again after the announcement. According to ABC News, Iran targeted at least two cargo ships and allegedly placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz to further disrupt the popular shipping route and raise the economic cost of the war. Trump said the US took most of the explosives out.

When could it end? That’s the million-dollar question — give or take $11.3 billion, which is what the first week of the war cost taxpayers — and no one has an answer. Trump told Axios yesterday the war with Iran will end “soon” and there is “practically nothing left to target.” However, the president has given varied timelines since the beginning of the conflict, and Iran hasn’t signaled it’s ready to come to the table.

The News in 5

🗞️ While inflation was steady last month, one economist says “February data is already completely inconsequential” due to the Iran war.

🗞️ Apparently, the Pentagon banned press photographers from briefings after “unflattering” photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were taken. Bet he misses that Fox News lighting now.

🗞️ A new investigation found that 40% of nonorganic produce from the nation’s largest supplier contains traces of forever chemicals. So much for enjoying a simple peach.

🗞️ The partial government shutdown has lengthened TSA lines, but the Trump administration restarted the Global Entry program yesterday. Will that speed things up?

🗞️ President Donald Trump is endorsing this familiar manosphere influencer before he even runs for Congress. Your toxic ex loved him.

Reproductive Rights

The Price of the Post-Roe Migration

What's going on: New research backs up what reproductive-health experts predicted after Roe v. Wade fell: People are voting with their feet, aka leaving or avoiding moves to states with abortion bans. A new paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research examined housing markets in those states. It found that between July 2022 — the first full month after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision ended the federal right to abortion — and June 2025, rents in those states fell by about 2.2%. Vacancies also ticked up, rising an average of 1.1% compared with states where abortion remained legal.

What it means: Of course, other factors also influenced moving decisions (cost and proximity to Trader Joe’s matter). But the authors found abortion bans had an “economically meaningful and statistically significant” effect on housing markets. These laws can deter people who could become pregnant — and their loved ones. Even couples who want children may steer clear if they fear inadequate care for pregnancy complications (as the women in these harrowing ProPublica investigations experienced). And surveys of med students show aspiring OB-GYNs are also less likely to choose residencies in ban states, just a piece of the larger “brain drain” that some companies try to offset with abortion travel benefits. Add it all up, and this phenomenon affects not just housing but the general economy of those states.

Money

America's Scam Surge

What’s going on: The Nigerian prince email scam is so well known that it’s basically internet folklore. But online scams themselves are no joke. Americans lose an estimated $119 billion a year, according to a new estimate from the Consumer Federation of America. Investment schemes, especially so-called “pig-butchering” fraud (seriously, who named this?), account for the largest share of losses. In 2024, the public reported $16.6 billion in losses from online scams to the FBI, but experts say the real figure is likely closer to $46.6 billion because many victims never reported what happened. The new analysis also found Washington, DC, Wyoming, and Nevada suffered the highest per-capita losses.

The takeaway: The odds that someone will try to swindle you online are pretty high. Consumer advocates say part of the problem is the data broker industry, which packages and sells personal information that can easily land in the wrong hands. They want stricter regulation. In the meantime, your best defense is a little skepticism. Pig-butchering scams often start with a friendly “wrong number” text. The scammer showers you with attention, avoids meeting in person, and eventually pitches a “can’t miss” investment. Never share your personal or financial data online, and the age-old phrase applies: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Related: Trump Guts the Consumer Protection Bureau (The New Yorker)

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ SXSW kicks off in Austin. Movies debut, bands break out, and the future is showcased between taco bites.

🗓️ Virgin River season seven begins on Netflix. Mel and Jack are married and settling in — but you know this town doesn’t let anyone relax for too long.

🗓️ The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives returns for season four on Hulu. More secrets. More side-eye confessionals. Same question: Can #MomTok survive?

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

Know It All

Which microwave popcorn brand did The Washington Post crown the best in a taste test? We'll still be doctoring ours, of course.

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Stephanie Gallman, Molly Longman, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.

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