This week’s guide to government and politics in under 10 minutes

I U.S. RAMPS UP ASSAULTS TO CLEAR STRAIT OF HORMUZ

U.S. warplanes and attack helicopters are increasing missions against Iranian drones and naval vessels in an effort to make the Strait of Hormuz safe. The strait is a strategic waterway, with about 20% of the world’s oil supply passing through the strait prior to the U.S. attack on Iran. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says that the plans to secure the strait include using low-flying A-10 Warthog ground-attack planes and Apache helicopter gunships. The U.S. is also sending about 2,200 Marines on three warships to the region, where they could be used to help clear the strait or seize Kharg Island, Iran’s oil hub in the northern part of the Persian Gulf. As part of its effort to bring down oil prices, the U.S. has lifted sanctions on Russian oil sales, released oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and waived requirements that only U.S.-owned craft be allowed to move oil between U.S. ports. It is also considering lifting sanctions on Iranian oil to help increase supply.

>> Discover how U.S. actions in Venezuela and Iran have affected the price of oil here. 

I PENTAGON ASKS FOR $200 BILLION FOR IRAN WAR

The Pentagon will ask Congress to approve an additional $200 billion in funding for the war in Iran. Last week, Pentagon officials told lawmakers that the first six days of the war against Iran had cost more than $11.3 billion. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said that the $200 billion number “could move” and that “obviously, it takes money to kill bad guys” when asked about the funding request. 

I CUBA PUSHES BACK ON U.S. DEMANDS IN NEGOTIATIONS

The U.S. and Cuba are in negotiations for relief from the trade restrictions that President Donald Trump has imposed on the island nation in exchange for concessions from the Cuban government. The U.S. is seeking to remove Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel from power as part of the negotiations. Diaz-Canel has two years remaining of his five-year term. Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Fernandez de Cossio, who has led the country’s office on U.S. relations, has said there are topics of mutual interest in the negotiations, including trade between the two countries, but said that he can “categorically confirm that…the political system of Cuba is not up for negotiation,” and that "neither the president nor the position of any official in Cuba is subject to negotiation with the United States.” In addition to disagreements about political leadership in Cuba, both countries are seeking economic compensation from each other. Cuba has claims against the U.S. for damages from the embargo, and there are 5,913 claims from Americans whose properties were nationalized in Cuba after the 1959 revolution against the Cuban government.

I SENATE TO CONFIRM NEW DHS CHIEF AMID SHUTDOWN

The Senate will vote to confirm Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as the next Secretary of Homeland Security today. President Trump nominated Mullin to the post on March 5 after removing then-Secretary Kristi Noem from the role. Mullin’s nomination advanced out of the Homeland Security Committee on an 8-7 vote, with Democratic Senator John Fetterman (PA) joining seven Republicans to advance Mullin’s nomination. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) voted against Mullin, citing concerns over Mullin’s “anger issues.” If confirmed, Mullin will take over a department during a partial government shutdown, overseeing agencies including FEMA and the TSA. 

>> We asked a lawmaker if air travel is safe with the TSA staffing shortages. Watch here.

I SCRUTINY OF “FULL-SELF DRIVING” RAMPS UP

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is intensifying its investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology. The agency is looking at nine crashes, one of which was fatal, in which Tesla’s software failed to detect poor driving conditions and alert drivers quickly enough for them to respond. The probe is one of two into Tesla’s Full-Self Driving software. The NHTSA is also looking into more than 80 instances in which Tesla’s software violated basic traffic safety laws, including running red lights. 

>> Hear more about what Congress wants to see to ensure self-driving technology is safe here.. 

Now joining the conversation: White House Council of Economic Advisers member Dr. Aaron Hedlund, NYC City Councilmember Chi Ossé, Prof G Markets Podcast Co-Host Ed Elson, and Reuters White House Correspondent Bo Erickson.

They’ll be on stage with Chris Evans, Mark Kassen, and Carmel Crimmins from Reuters on March 26 in NYC for a live event breaking down the affordability gap facing Gen Z.

🎟️ Join the live event waitlist today. If you can’t make it, don’t worry. Stay tuned to watch the conversation when it drops on ASP’s website. 

AI can be a helpful tool for writing emails and boosting productivity, but what happens when scammers start using it?

Reuters wanted to find out by testing popular AI models like ChatGPT to see whether they could be used to orchestrate complex email scams, and the results were troubling.

Reuters investigates it, and ASP recaps it, in our new series on social media. Watch more here.

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