The Hound | Mar. 2

Hi there,

It’s Monday. What a weekend — we’re now at war with Iran the United States and Israel striking dozens of sites and killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader. The justification for this war is incredibly thin and incoherent from the White House, and nobody really knows what happens next. Congress is back in town and they’ve pledged to vote on a war powers resolution, though it’s mostly symbolic at this point.

Donald Trump and his administration have escalated tensions with Iran, including repeated threats of military action, without presenting a clear, evidence-based justification to the public. Independent analysis has highlighted that the administration has provided little to no public explanation for why a major act of war is necessary now—especially after claiming previous strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capacity and without demonstrating an imminent threat to the U.S. or its allies. Coverage often recycles administration claims about threats without scrutinizing them, missing how little evidence has been shared to support the case for war or how Congress has been sidelined in the decision-making process.

🖊️ Add your name to call on major news organizations to cover Trump’s approach to Iran with depth and skepticism—fact-checking official claims, contextualizing the absence of clear justification, and explaining the constitutional and human stakes of potential military action. The public deserves reporting that separates rhetoric from reality and holds power accountable when war is on the table.

Read about this, and more, with today’s stories:

The Dangerous Incoherence of Trump’s War With Iran (The New Republic)

Trump's Iran Attack Was Illegal, Former U.S. Military Officials Allege (The Intercept)

3 American troops killed, and Trump says more 'likely,' in war against Iran (NPR)

Iran state media confirms killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after US-Israeli missile strikes (The Guardian)

Gaza’s ceasefire had some momentum. Now, some fear a new war will distract the world (AP News)

Trump Officials Attended a Summit of Election Deniers Who Want the President to Take Over the Midterms (ProPublica)

Opposition leader Machado says she will return to Venezuela in the coming weeks (PBS News)

States Can Block the Paramount-Warner Deal (The American Prospect)

‘I’m heartbroken’: Trans Kansans struggle with reality as driver’s licenses are invalidated (The 19th News)

As Texas Restricts Cashless Bail, More People Will Be Jailed for Months Based on an Accusation (The Marshall Project)

Until next time,

Harry from The Hound

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