Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) announced on Friday that he’s retiring from Congress and endorsing “Supervisor Jim Desmond for Congress – to represent California’s new 48th district.” “This decision has been on my mind for a while and I didn’t make it lightly. First, we built the right campaign infrastructure, support has been overwhelming — including from President Trump — and our polling was unmistakable: We would win this race,” Issa said. “But after a quarter-century in Congress — and before that, a quarter-century in business — it’s the right time for a new chapter and new challenges. Serving in Congress has been the honor of my life, and every day my teams in Washington and California have worked to deliver for our constituents — like most recently gaining the Congressional Medal of Honor for the Secret Soldier of the Korean War, the great Royce Williams,” he continued. “There is still work to be done throughout 2026 both in Washington and my beloved current 48th District – and as many days that remain, I’ll dedicate each one of them to the people I serve and the indispensable nation I have sworn to protect as a soldier in the Army and as a proud and grateful Member of the People’s House of Representatives,” he added. Statement by Congressman Darrell Issa Today I’m announcing my enthusiastic endorsement of Supervisor Jim Desmond for Congress – to represent California’s new 48th district. Jim is not only a personal friend, he’s a true patriot, a Navy veteran, a successful businessman, and has… pic.twitter.com/IqJ5cqzqa0 — Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) March 7, 2026 More from the Associated Press: Issa, a car alarm magnate considered one of the wealthiest members of Congress, had been a chief antagonist for President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton while he served as chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, from 2011 to early 2015. Issa’s abrupt reversal injects more uncertainty in the race for Southern California’s 48th District, which was drastically reshaped in November after voters approved a new U.S. House map for California to favor Democrats. With an incumbent out of the running, it may be harder for Republicans to hold the seat and, by extension, the party’s fragile majority in the House. After redistricting, Issa flirted with the idea of leaving California to run for Congress in Texas. But at the time he decided to stay put in his home state. “I can hold this seat. I’m not quitting on California and neither should anyone else,” Issa, who represents a district anchored in San Diego County, said in a statement at the time. Due to redistricting, several Democrats have made moves to target Issa’s seat. Scoop: Rep. Darrell Issa expected to retire from Congress https://t.co/4Ic8W5Sud5 — Axios (@axios) March 6, 2026 Axios explained further: Several Democrats have been running to unseat Issa, including Ammar Campa-Najjar — Issa’s opponent in 2020 — and San Diego City Council member Marni von Wilpert. Campa-Najjar told Axios that he personally witnessed Jim Desmond, a Republican ally of Issa who had been running to unseat Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.), re-register to run for Issa’s seat instead. He said in a video posted to X that another Republican, State Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, is also expected to file for the seat. Desmond and DeMaio did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Issa’s move comes after the 119th House already broke the record for the most retirements of any Congress in the 21st century, as Axios’ Kate Santaliz and Hans Nichols reported earlier this week. 55 House members — 34 Republicans and 21 Democrats — are leaving the House either to run for another office or retire from political life altogether.

In a press gaggle on Air Force One, a reporter asked President Trump about the possibility of sending American ground troops into Iran. “What are the circumstances you would send in ground troops? How are you thinking about that?” a reporter asked. “I don’t even want to talk about it now. I don’t think it’s an appropriate question. You know I’m not going to answer it. Could there be? Possibly for very good reasons. It would have to be a very good reason,” Trump responded. “And I would say if we ever did that, they would be so decimated that they wouldn’t be able to fight at the ground level,” he continued. Take a listen: Reporter: “What are the circumstances you would send in ground troops [to Iran]?” President Trump: “I don’t even want to talk about it now. I don’t think it’s an appropriate question. You know I’m not going to answer it. Could there be? Possibly for very good reasons. It would… pic.twitter.com/eudy4jkO4e — RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) March 7, 2026 More from the New York Post: Trump also didn’t rule out using such a force to deal with securing Iranian nuclear material. “We haven’t talked about it. But it was a total obliteration. They haven’t been able to get to it. And at some point maybe we will. That would be a great thing.” He called it “something we could do later” if needed. And as for the length of the mission, Trump was firm. “Whatever it takes,” he said. Trump raised the possibility of additional attacks on large numbers of Iranian military personnel – after firing off a cryptic post Saturday morning mentioning the idea of going after additional “areas and groups of people.” “The military is almost non-existent. If you look, we could hit the military itself very hard, but maybe we will, maybe we won’t. We haven’t made that determination.” Previously, NBC News claimed that Trump privately expressed serious interest in deploying U.S. ground troops into Iran. EXCLUSIVE: Trump has privately shown serious interest in U.S. ground troops in Iran. https://t.co/Ptbl4NTa85 — NBC News (@NBCNews) March 6, 2026 However, the White House pushed back on the report. Newsweek explained: Following the strikes, some Republicans made it clear that the U.S. cannot put boots on the ground in Iran: Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina on Sunday said during an appearance on Meet the Press that the U.S. would not do so, but the following day Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated they would not rule out any options. At the moment, the U.S. has focused mostly on aerial attacks, but Trump told the New York Post on Monday: “I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground—like every president says, ‘There will be no boots on the ground.’ I don’t say it. I say, ‘probably don’t need them,’ [or] ‘if they were necessary.’” Trump allegedly discussed this with aides and Republican officials while outlining a vision for postwar Iran, which includes securing the country’s uranium and ensuring a cooperative new government that would partner with the U.S., echoing developments in Venezuela. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the report is based on “assumptions” from anonymous sources who are “not part of the president’s national security team.” “President Trump always, wisely keeps all options open, but anyone trying to insinuate he is in favor of one option or another proves they have no real seat at the table,” Leavitt said in a statement.

The U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway, was hit by an explosion early Sunday morning, causing minor damage. No injuries were reported. Police officers and emergency services responded to the scene. Check it out: Heavily armed police officers and other emergency services seen outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway, following reports of a possible explosion tonight near the Embassy. pic.twitter.com/8lx85QjTVo — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 8, 2026 CBS News shared further: The explosion occurred around 1 a.m. local time, Oslo police said in a statement, adding they had no information about the blast’s cause or who was behind it. “A loud bang/explosion was reported at the scene,” Oslo police said. Public broadcaster NRK quoted police incident commander Michael Delmer saying the blast hit the entrance of the embassy’s consular section. “At around 1 a.m. we received several reports of an explosion. We arrived shortly afterward and confirmed that there had been an explosion that hit the US embassy,” he told NRK. “There is minor damage,” he said. “We are not going to comment on anything related to the type of damage, what it is that has exploded and similar details, beyond the fact that there has been an explosion” because “it is very early in the investigation,” he said. “The police are in dialogue with the embassy and no injuries have been reported,” police said, according to the New York Post. “There is currently no information about exactly what happened or who may be involved,” they added. DEVELOPING: Report of loud bang at the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway. pic.twitter.com/ffTVcaxWIn — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 8, 2026 More from the New York Post: A 16-year-old who lives nearby told TV2 he heard the large blast while watching TV. “My mother and I first thought it came from our house so we looked around a little, but then we saw the flashing lights outside the window and a ton of police,” the teen said. “There were police dogs and drones and police with automatic weapons and helicopters in the air.” There is currently a heavy police presence at the embassy, according to local reports. Images from the scene showed police vehicle and armed officers outside the building.

U.S. forces issued two warnings to an Iranian warship for the crew to abandon the vessel before striking it with a torpedo, according to Iran International. An Iranian sailor allegedly called his father shortly before the strike and told him of the warnings sent by the U.S. The strike against the IRIS Dena was the first time since WWII that a U.S. Navy submarine sunk an enemy vessel by a torpedo strike. Iranian Warship Torpedoed By U.S. Submarine Reportedly Had Departed Naval Exercise In India, U.S. Navy Allegedly Withdrew Its Warship Last Minute “In the Indian Ocean, an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said. “Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death. The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II,” he added. Watch below: For the first time since World War II, a U.S. torpedo has sunk a ship. The Pentagon released footage of a submarine strike on an Iranian warship, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. is “accelerating” its war against Iran — calling it a “quiet death.” pic.twitter.com/fwqhJVL4Xo — TIME (@TIME) March 4, 2026 The IRIS Dena reportedly had just departed Indian waters after participating in a multinational naval exercise hosted by New Delhi. Sri Lanka’s navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 survivors from the incident. Iran International shared further: The Iranian navy warship's commander refused to allow the crew to abandon Dena despite the imminent threat, the source added. The sailor’s father said some crew members argued with the commander, and the 32 crew members who survived were mainly sailors who managed to escape on lifeboats, according to the source. A US submarine torpedoed Dena in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, about 19 nautical miles from the southern Sri Lankan port of Galle, killing dozens of sailors and significantly expanding Washington’s campaign against Iran’s naval forces. The sinking of the Dena — described by US War Secretary Pete Hegseth as a “quiet death” — marked the first time since World War II that the United States had torpedoed an enemy warship, underscoring the widening geographic reach of the conflict with Iran. An internal US State Department cable dated March 6 seen by Reuters said the US urged Sri Lankan authorities not to return the 32 surviving sailors from Dena and the 208 sailors Sri Lanka rescued from naval auxiliary ship IRIS Booshehr. "A distress call from IRIS Dena was received at the MRCC Colombo in the early hours of 04 Mar 2026, as reported by the Sri Lanka Navy. The ship was operating 20 NM west of Galle in the SAR region under Sri Lanka’s responsibility," India's Press Information Bureau stated. "On receipt of the information, the Indian Navy promptly launched its SAR efforts commencing with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft at 1000 hr on 04 March, 2026 to augment the search efforts led by Sri Lanka. Another aircraft with air droppable life rafts was also kept standby for immediate deployment," it added. A distress call from IRIS Dena was received at the MRCC Colombo in the early hours of 04 Mar 2026, as reported by the Sri Lanka Navy. The ship was operating 20 NM west of Galle in the SAR region under Sri Lanka’s responsibility On receipt of the information, the Indian Navy… — PIB India (@PIB_India) March 6, 2026 NewsNation noted: It said “Sri Lankan authorities should minimize Iranian attempts to use the detainees for propaganda.” The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Representatives for Dissanayake’s office and Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry were not immediately available for comment. The cable said Howell also told the Israeli ambassador to India and Sri Lanka there was no plan to repatriate the crew to Iran. The envoy asked Howell whether there was any engagement with the crew to encourage “defection”, the cable said. A representative for the Israeli embassy in New Delhi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a press gaggle on Air Force One, a reporter asked President Trump if the U.S. bombed an Iranian desalination plant. Desalination plants are critical in parts of the Middle East, particularly in the Gulf region, for providing drinking water. These plants provide the majority of drinking water in some countries, such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The U.S. faces accusations of attacking a desalination plant in the Persian Gulf. “Iran, today, accused the U.S. of hitting a desalination plant in Iran. They said it might open the door to other strikes on non-military infrastructure,” a reporter said. “Can you respond to that allegation?” the reporter asked. “They are among the most evil people ever on earth, they cut babies’ heads off, they chop women in half, what they did, take a look at October 7th,” Trump said. “Take a look at what they’ve done over the last 47 years, so I know nothing about a desalination plant other than to say if they’re complaining about a desalination plant, we complain about the fact that they shouldn’t be chopping babies’ heads off, okay?” he continued. Take a listen: NEW – Trump when asked if U.S. bombed an Iranian desalination plant: "They are among the most evil people ever on earth, they cut babies' heads off, they chop women in half, what they did, take a look at October 7th… I know nothing about a desalination plant other than to say… pic.twitter.com/aZGVSgDfkI — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 7, 2026 Here’s video of the exchange: Asked if the US attacked a desalination plant in Iran, Pres. Trump says Iranians are "among the most evil people ever on earth." "They cut babies' heads off—they chop women in half…" "I know nothing about a desalinization plant, other than to say, if they're complaining about… pic.twitter.com/dnbqWEfDQO — Chris Menahan (@infolibnews) March 8, 2026 Middle East Eye shared more about desalination plants in the region: Gulf countries are shutting down oil and gas production as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran, but it’s not just their energy infrastructure that is currently held hostage to Iran’s retaliatory missiles and drones: food and water are, too. Over 400 water desalination plants line the Persian Gulf. They are used to keep the industry running, keep golf courses green, and, most importantly, quench the thirst of the region’s residents. “It would be absolutely devastating if Iran started attacking those facilities. That infrastructure is a huge vulnerability spread out along the coast,” Mohammed Mahmoud, Middle East lead at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, told Middle East Eye. Some Gulf countries, like Saudi Arabia, had large volumes of fresh water underground, but it was depleted as their economies transitioned from Bedouin and small trading societies into major global economies and expatriate destinations. Desalination plants started springing up in large numbers in the 1960s and 1970s, and have since mushroomed. The Gulf accounts for some 60 percent of global water desalination capacity, but the numbers are even starker when states are examined individually. In the UAE, 42 percent of drinking water comes from desalination plants; in Kuwait, it is 90 percent; in Oman, 86 percent; and in Saudi Arabia, 70 percent. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. on Saturday of striking a desalination plant on Qeshm Island. “The U.S. committed a blatant and desperate crime by attacking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Water supply in 30 villages has been impacted,” Araghchi said. “Attacking Iran’s infrastructure is a dangerous move with grave consequences. The U.S. set this precedent, not Iran,” he added. The U.S. committed a blatant and desperate crime by attacking a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island. Water supply in 30 villages has been impacted. Attacking Iran's infrastructure is a dangerous move with grave consequences. The U.S. set this precedent, not Iran. — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 7, 2026 The Times of Israel shared further: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps says it struck the United States’ Juffair base in Bahrain, adding that it had been used to attack an Iranian desalination plant earlier in the day. “In response to the aggression of American terrorists from the Juffair base against the Qeshm desalination plant, this American base was immediately struck by precision-guided solid-fuel and liquid-fuel missiles of the IRGC,” the Guards says on their website.