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

I NUMBER OF U.S. TROOPS KILLED IN IRAN WAR RISES TO 13

At least 13 U.S. troops have been killed and another 140 wounded since the U.S. began its attacks on Iran. Over the weekend, the U.S. deployed more than 2,000 Marines to the Middle East, including an amphibious-ready group from the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Strait of Hormuz to give commanders more options for maritime security missions, evacuations, or limited operations without committing large ground forces. The group is being transported on warships that could take roughly two weeks to reach the region. President Trump has said plans are being made for U.S. warships to escort commercial ships through the strategically-important Strait of Hormuz, and has asked allies including Japan, South Korea, and NATO members to contribute military vessels for escort operations. Last week, following a briefing on the conflict, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said the U.S. seems to be “on a path toward deploying American troops on the ground in Iran.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed rumors of a potential draft, saying that while a draft is “not part of the current plan,” President Trump is keeping all options on the table.

>> Dig deeper into how the U.S. draft works here.

I TSA WAIT LINES GROW AS CONGRESS DEBATES DHS SHUTDOWN

TSA checkpoints at U.S. airports are facing wait times of up to two hours because of the DHS government shutdown, and TSA workers began missing their paychecks on Friday. Airline officials are encouraging travelers to arrive three-to-four hours before their flight. An increasing number of travelers have reported missing flights because of TSA wait lines. While airlines are required to refund tickets when a flight is cancelled, changed, or experiencing significant delays, airlines are not required to refund tickets for flights missed due to longer security lines. Last week the Senate rejected the Republican House bill to fully fund the DHS. Republicans have objected to more narrow proposals from Senate Democrats to fund specific agencies, including TSA, the Coast Guard, and FEMA.

>> Explore how DHS funding is tied to calls for ICE reform here. 

I COLON CANCER NOW LEADING CAUSE OF U.S. CANCER DEATHS FOR THOSE UNDER 50

A study from the American Cancer Society has found that colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. for people under 50. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates the U.S. will experience about 108,860 new cases of colon cancer and about 49,990 cases of rectal cancer in 2026. Around three quarters of people under 50 already have advanced colorectal cancer when diagnosed, and the rate of colorectal cancer among people under 50 has increased by 2.9% per year from 2013 to 2022. Experts say a lack of regular colonoscopy screenings contribute to the lack of early detection. The ACS predicts colorectal cancer will cause about 55,230 deaths in 2026.

>> Find out more about the rise in early-onset cancer here.

I U.S. AND CUBA ENGAGE IN TALKS AMID U.S. PRESSURE

The U.S. and Cuba are engaging in talks as President Donald Trump has implied that the Caribbean nation is his next target for regime change, including saying “Maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba” in February. According to Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, the talks are about finding “solutions to the differences that exist between the two countries,” and are not “about Cuba’s internal affairs.” Cuba has faced severe electricity shortages and rising prices since the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, cut off government shipments of Venezuelan oil to Cuba, and threatened tariffs on any country that sells oil to the island nation while issuing permits allowing U.S. businesses to sell fuel to private companies in Cuba.

>> Learn more about how U.S. control of Venezuelan oil has affected the oil market here.

I PRESIDENT TRUMP LIFTS RUSSIAN OIL SANCTIONS

The Trump administration gave Russia a 30-day temporary reprieve from oil sanctions in an effort to help prevent gas prices from continuing to rise. European leaders have criticized the Trump administration for the move, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy all denouncing the decision, arguing it will allow the Kremlin to get the money it needs to continue its ongoing war with Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has asked the EU to lift its energy sanctions on Russia in response to the rising price of oil following the U.S. attack on Iran.

>> Discover how Russia’s war with Ukraine has impacted U.S. relations with both countries here. 

A record number of U.S. households are now considered “rent-burdened”meaning they spend 30% or more of their income on rent. Learn more about what’s causing the rent crisis and what tools policymakers have to alleviate it here. 

Have more questions about the affordability gap? ASP’s Chris Evans, Mark Kassen, along with Reuters Econ World host Carmel Crimmins and other special guests will dig into what’s behind the affordability gap, from housing and wages to policy choices, and explore what comes next. 

🎟️ Tickets are free, but space is limited. Get the details and request yours here.

Find out what happens when getting advice from AI chatbots goes wrong, and how a tragic death prompted AI companies to reevaluate their AI models here. 

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

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