Top Stories

Iran Names Mojtaba Khamenei as New Supreme Leader Iranian state media reports that Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei has been named Iran's new supreme leader amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran war. Khamenei served in the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s and has close ties with the IRGC. The transition comes as U.S. and Israeli forces continue intensified bombing campaigns. President Trump has not ruled out deploying ground troops. (CBS News)

U.S. "Likely" Responsible for Iranian Girls' School Bombing A preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment suggests the U.S. is "likely" responsible for the bombing of a girls' school in Iran on Feb. 28, where local officials report 168 killed. A newly surfaced video analyzed by experts appears to show a U.S.-made missile striking a building adjacent to the school. (CBS News, ABC News)

Explosive Device Thrown at NYC Mayor's Residence The FBI is investigating after an improvised explosive device containing bolts and screws was thrown into a crowd during a protest that turned violent outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Videos show a man yelling "Allahu Akbar" as the device was thrown during an anti-Islam demonstration. Multiple arrests have been made. (CBS News, ABC News)

Markets Plunge, Oil Soars as War Continues Stocks have fallen sharply and oil prices continue to climb as the U.S.-Iran war rages with no end in sight. Trump's assurances that rising U.S. casualties and soaring energy prices will be temporary are failing to calm investors. California is experiencing the worst gas price spikes in the nation. (CBS News)

Left Perspective

Left-leaning outlets are leading with accountability framing on the Iran conflict. CBS News and ABC News both prominently feature the U.S. intelligence assessment linking American forces to the girls' school bombing, with ABC highlighting forensic video analysis of the missile. CBS frames Trump's war messaging as failing to reassure markets or the public. Coverage of the NTSB firing emphasizes institutional erosion — member Todd Inman, who responded to the D.C. midair crash, was fired by the White House mid-term. The TSA staffing crisis at Houston and New Orleans airports is tied directly to the DHS funding lapse, with wait times exceeding three hours. CBS also highlights the U.S. military killing six men on an alleged drug boat in the Eastern Pacific and joint lethal operations with Ecuador, raising questions about escalating use of military force in drug enforcement.

Right Perspective

No right-leaning sources were provided in today's feed. Coverage from right-leaning outlets would typically be expected to emphasize the national security rationale for Iran operations, the new supreme leader's IRGC ties as justification for continued pressure, and the NYC bombing incident as evidence of domestic extremism threats.

International View

China Bracing for Energy Disruptions — China's leadership is preparing for severe disruption to its energy supplies as the Iran war threatens oil flows through the region. Beijing's contingency planning signals broader global economic anxiety beyond Western markets. (CBS News)

Fears for American Prisoners in Iran — Concern is growing over the treatment of international prisoners held in Iran, including American citizens, as the conflict intensifies and diplomatic channels narrow. (CBS News)

Venezuela's Gold Rush at "Trump Speed" — Venezuela's new administration is rapidly cutting deals, but a $25 million reward for a key figure remains unclaimed, raising questions about the trajectory of U.S.-Venezuela relations. (CBS News)

Underreported

Baby Formula Heavy Metal Contamination — Consumer Reports testing found nearly half of dozens of baby formula brands contain potentially dangerous heavy metals. Despite the direct public health implications for infants, this story is receiving minimal attention amid war coverage. (CBS News)

Children's Dental Crisis — More children are ending up in emergency rooms for tooth pain as rural dental care shortages worsen and fluoride access battles continue post-pandemic. Budget cuts are compounding the problem. (CBS News)

U.S. Drug War Escalation in Latin America — The U.S. military conducted lethal strikes on an alleged drug boat in the Eastern Pacific (killing 6) and carried out joint "lethal kinetic operations" inside Ecuador — a significant expansion of military force in counter-narcotics that has drawn little scrutiny. (CBS News)

Michigan Tornadoes — Four people were killed Friday by tornadoes in Michigan, prompting Governor Whitmer to declare a state of emergency in several counties. (ABC News)

Sources

• CBS News (lean left): 25 articles
• ABC News (lean left): 4 articles
• Right-leaning and center sources: None provided in today's feed

Note: Today's digest draws exclusively from left-leaning sources (CBS News, ABC News). No center, right-leaning, or international outlet articles were included in the feed, which limits the ability to present balanced perspective coverage.