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The Trump administration subpoenaed records from Maricopa County, Arizona, continuing efforts to revisit the 2020 election despite no evidence of fraud. The move follows a January raid on Fulton County, Georgia election offices where 2020 ballots were seized. Trump has long maintained the conspiracy theory that the election was "rigged" against him. Arizona Senate President Warren Peterson stated he complied with the federal grand jury subpoena for records related to the 2020 audit. Legal experts and commentators responded with alarm on social media. Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General Harry Litman criticized Peterson for handing over records. A GOP-led 2021 audit by Cyber Ninjas actually found Biden won Maricopa County by 360 more votes than originally believed. Critics argue Trump's continued election litigation represents an abuse of federal power to undermine democratic processes.

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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Monday she will not appeal a judge's dismissal of charges against 16 individuals involved in the false electors scheme to overturn the 2020 election. In a sweeping 110-page report, Nessel acknowledged believing the defendants committed crimes but concluded the resource-intensive prosecution was unlikely to succeed. She called continued prosecution "fundamentally unjust," arguing lower-level participants were following Trump's direction. The report explicitly states: "This was indeed Trump's criminal conspiracy." Judge Kristen Simmons dismissed charges in September, citing insufficient evidence of criminal intent. Legal experts note it's rare for an AG to publish such a detailed report declining prosecution. Trump issued federal pardons for dozens involved in 2020 election overturn efforts, though his pardon power doesn't extend to state charges. The case mirrors similar dismissals in Nevada, Wisconsin, and New Mexico.

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Supreme Court Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Brett Kavanaugh engaged in a rare public debate Monday over the court's expanded use of emergency rulings, known as the "shadow docket," to advance Trump administration policies. Jackson criticized the conservative majority's willingness to intervene early in legal challenges, calling the uptick "a real unfortunate problem" that creates "a warped kind of proceeding." She warned the practice signals lower courts how the Supreme Court might ultimately rule and "is not serving the court or this country well," remarks that drew applause from a packed audience including lower court judges. Kavanaugh defended the court's actions, arguing justices must respond to government emergency applications and noting similar requests came from prior administrations. The public exchange marked a rare moment of justices debating internal court business openly, moving beyond written opinion disagreements.

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Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman criticized the Trump administration for failing to anticipate the economic consequences of striking Iran, particularly soaring oil prices. Krugman wrote that decision-makers "should have seen this coming," but evidence suggests they didn't prepare for the resulting crisis. Despite U.S. oil self-sufficiency, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused American gasoline, diesel, and heating oil prices to surge because oil trades on global markets at roughly uniform prices worldwide. Krugman explained that U.S. oil exports and imports don't insulate the economy from Middle East disruptions. He contrasted this with 1970s price controls that temporarily shielded consumers but created shortages. Krugman argued modern political conditions make such protections unlikely, leaving Americans vulnerable to global oil market volatility triggered by geopolitical conflict.

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MAGA influencer Steve Bannon criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on his Monday broadcast for dismissing questions about whether Iran posed an imminent threat during a "60 Minutes" interview. Hegseth told CBS reporter Major Garrett that discussion of an imminent threat was "silly and academic." Bannon, while praising Hegseth's confirmation efforts, said the messaging was problematic and insisted the administration must be "serious" about explaining the threat rationale. Bannon argued Americans won't accept short-term pain without a clear justification and warned that people will "start losing" support. He directly contradicted Hegseth, stating there was "not an imminent threat" before the war began. Bannon called for improved messaging from administration officials, emphasizing the need to convince the public of the war's necessity rather than dismissing their concerns.

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Judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade set firm deadlines for the Trump administration to process refunds for tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court. The administration must provide a refund processing update by Thursday, with full processing due by April 20. Eaton warned that interest is accruing at approximately $650 million monthly, with an estimated $10 billion accumulating by year's end if entries aren't liquidated—a burden American taxpayers will bear. Officials contend the 45-day deadline is insufficient for processing 50 million affected entries, though CBP estimates automated controls will save 4 million labor hours. More than 2,000 companies sued the Trump administration over the tariffs. The judge questioned why the government continued enforcing tariffs after the Supreme Court ruled them illegal under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

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Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime advocate for military intervention, issued an unusual call for restraint Sunday after Israeli attacks on Iranian oil refineries created toxic rain over Tehran, threatening chemical burns and lung damage to residents. Graham urged target selection that preserves Iran's oil economy for future development after the regime collapses. U.S. officials were reportedly dismayed by the scope of Israeli strikes, with one senior official stating they didn't "think it was a good idea." An Israeli official characterized the U.S. response as "WTF." The refineries hit in densely populated Tehran prompted Iran's Red Crescent to urge residents to shelter indoors. Graham, who vocally supported the Trump administration's initial Iran strikes and has consistently backed military action globally, has seen seven U.S. service members killed in the conflict so far.

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Military experts and U.S. defense officials directly contradicted President Donald Trump's claim that Iran attacked the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, killing at least 175 people. A government official reviewing satellite imagery stated Trump was "lying," and the strike was clearly not an Iranian failed rocket. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stopped short of agreeing with Trump, saying the incident is under investigation. Video analysis by former Special Operations controller Wes Bryant identified the munition as exclusively U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, indicating a precise American strike operation targeting the compound. Another former Pentagon official specializing in civilian harm confirmed the precision targeting, noting entry holes suggesting perpendicular strikes from above rather than short-range ballistic missiles. Evidence indicates the U.S. likely misidentified the target location.

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Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) criticized the Pentagon for wasteful "impulse purchases" totaling $93 billion in September, the highest monthly spending since 2008, as the military risks depleting munitions amid Trump's Iran war. Government watchdog Open The Books detailed extravagant expenditures including $225 million on furniture alone, with $12,000 spent on fruit basket stands and $60,000 on premium Herman Miller chairs. The Pentagon purchased $2 million in Alaskan king crab and $1.8 million in musical instruments, including a $98,329 Steinway grand piano, $26,000 violin, and $21,750 handmade Japanese flute. Foreign purchases reached $6.6 billion, over $1 billion above the previous record. Ernst accused "binge-buying bureaucrats" of burning through billions on frivolous items while taxpayers fund $1.5 trillion in defense spending. Open The Books CEO urged Secretary Hegseth to refocus on warfighting priorities.

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An NBC News poll released Monday shows Democrats holding a commanding 6-point lead in congressional preferences, positioning them to retake the House and Senate as President Trump's approval ratings hit record lows. Conducted February 27-March 3 among 1,000 registered voters, the poll found Trump underwater on nearly every issue except border security, where he managed 53% approval. On foreign policy, Trump scored 43%—down two points from a year ago. On inflation and cost of living, he dropped six points to 36%. Overall direction sentiment worsened, with 34% saying Trump's policies represent "wrong kind of change," up four points yearly, while those approving "right kind of change" fell from 46% to 41%. Sen. Joni Ernst acknowledged the GOP is "underwater" with voters on immigration, though she blamed Democratic obstruction rather than Trump's unpopularity.

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CBS News justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane announced Monday he is leaving the network, marking another high-profile departure following Anderson Cooper's exit. MacFarlane, who has covered justice issues for CBS since 2021, said in a statement to colleagues that his work will "soon no longer appear on CBS News," describing the decision as his own while crediting CBS leadership for understanding his choice. He expressed pride in his time as a CBS correspondent and emphasized his commitment to continuing journalism. MacFarlane, a Washington D.C.-based reporter with more than 20 years of experience, joins Cooper in departing after conservative commentator Bari Weiss was named editor-in-chief by network chief David Ellison following Paramount Skydance's takeover. MacFarlane indicated he is seeking independence and new platforms aligned with his career goals.

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ICE has stockpiled hundreds of marked pickup trucks and SUVs that agents refuse to use, representing millions of dollars in wasted funding ordered by former deputy director Madison Sheahan. The marked vehicles contradict ICE protocol, as agents operate unmarked vehicles to avoid detection during immigration enforcement operations. Sheahan, a 28-year-old Ohio State graduate with minimal credentials, approved the purchase without consulting career ICE officials who would have rejected it. The $2.25 million contract for 25 Chevrolet Tahoes went to GOP donor Rick Hendrick's Hendrick Motorsports, with additional costs of $174,000-$230,000 for vehicle wrapping. Noem and Corey Lewandowski approved the order. ICE agents describe the marked vehicles as operationally counterproductive, stating they cannot use them for enforcement. Sheahan left ICE in January to run for Congress in Ohio.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt refused to rule out mandatory conscription for the Iran military campaign during a Fox News interview Sunday, igniting immediate backlash. When asked about ground troop plans, Leavitt stated President Donald Trump, "wisely does not remove options off the table" and will, "continue to assess" the military operation's success. Though she insisted a draft is "not part of the current plan," her refusal to exclude it alarmed critics and activists. Progressive organization Call to Activism warned followers that the administration won't "promise your kids aren't next." Geopolitical commentator Mats Nilsson warned a draft would devastate GOP midterm prospects, particularly if children of Congressional and Ivy League families were conscripted. Political observers characterized the admission as a significant escalation signal, with critics interpreting the refusal to rule out conscription as indication that ground troops may be imminent.

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