Battered by COVID-era inflation, many Americans are understandably concerned about the impact of another war on their finances – but data suggests American bank accounts won’t become casualties.   Energy affects the price of everything, and missiles are flying in a region that produces a third of global oil exports. If supply is constrained, prices will increase, but the current global supply is better positioned than in the past.  Global inventories are currently around 6.5 billion barrels of oil, the highest level this decade. The world consumes only 1.57% of that total each day. Middle Eastern oil production is at one of its low points. During the 1970s energy crisis, the region produced about 55% of the world’s oil. Today, the share is 35%. In 2018, the United States became the world’s largest oil producer, dethroning Russia and Saudi Arabia thanks to the shale revolution of the late 2000s. The revolution was driven by a technological advancement that combined fracking and horizontal drilling, allowing the US to unlock oil that was previously unreachable.  The Daily Wire reviewed data from a leading Wall Street bank that concluded the high inventory and increased oil production from the United States would help offset costs from elevated oil prices. In an analysis of 21 previous air strikes in the region, the bank found that there was typically an initial spike in oil prices that subsided over the following two months.  So far, markets are tracking that historical pattern. This month, Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) are up roughly 15% in the days following Saturday’s strikes. The bank concluded a sustained increase in oil prices would raise headline inflation by 0.2%, a drop in the bucket compared to what consumers experienced from 2022 to 2024.  The bank also predicts that GDP growth will drop by less than a tenth of a percent for the year. Experts attribute the Fall government shutdown to a 0.06 to 0.12 percentage-point loss in GDP.  Beyond oil, the bank’s data also showed promising expectations for the broader market. After eight weeks, gold, the U.S. dollar, and 10-year Treasury bonds posted gains in most instances, and U.S. equities were higher in 20 of the 21 cases. Despite initial declines from the strikes, US large-cap equities are still hovering around all-time highs with earnings beating analyst expectations for the fourth quarter by 6% and high expectations for 2026.   Even JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon, Wall Street’s designated worrier, is expressing calm: “The economy is not often driven by something like that unless it is prolonged.”  What Dimon did warn about back in 2022, however, was cumulative inflation. “Inflation is eroding everything I just said,” said Dimon. “When you’re looking out forward, those things may very well derail the economy and cause a mild or hard recession that people worry about.” A sustained conflict could alter the outlook, though. A fifth of global oil and LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and analysts predict triple-digit oil prices if Gulf production halts. Trump has floated the idea of using the US Navy to accompany ships traveling through the strait to mitigate that risk. Dr. Wayne Winegarden, a senior fellow at the free-market think tank Pacific Research Institute, echoed a measured view in comments to The Daily Wire. “If prices stay around $80 a barrel and supplies don’t get more constrained, over the next two months it could be painful but it would not be a barnburner. However, the severe effect would be prices going up to $90 a barrel and they stay there for a year.” Winegarden explained that a significant loss of Gulf production would force more countries back into the global market for supply, driving prices higher. However, he added that higher prices would also incentivize producers elsewhere to ramp up output, increasing supply over time and helping stabilize the market.

A Democrat Senate candidate, looking to court the votes of working and middle-class families in Iowa, held a campaign event at a Leftist bookstore that once promoted a 14-year-old “drag queen” and routinely stocks sexually explicit books parents don’t want their kids to access at school.  Zach Wahls, running for the seat currently held by Senator Joni Ernst, hosted an event at the Ames-based Dog-Eared Books, a bookstore that remains a haven for leftist ideology. The bookstore has promoted “Drag Queen Story Hour” for children and called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  At the event, Wahls and his wife, romance novelist Chloe Angyal, discussed “the art of storytelling, the demands of public service, and the intersection of writing and advocacy.” They also discussed how their “parallel careers as authors have shaped their approach to politics, family, and the urgent work of building a better Iowa.”  While Wahls has portrayed himself as a moderate seeking to work across partisan lines, Dog-Eared Books was a fitting venue for the Senate hopeful. Wahls has a documented history of advocating for leftist politics, though he pledges to “always put Iowa families first, no matter what.” In September 2021, Dog-Eared Books promoted a teenage boy “drag performer” who goes by the stage name Lonika LaBelle Knight. “Lonika is a 14 years old drag queen with almost three years of experience under her belt. She nabbed the title of Miss Mason City Youth Pride and performs regularly at Lefty’s Live Music and The Garden Nightclub,” the bookstore posted on Instagram. “She can dance, twirl and capture the attention of everyone in a room with sass and class!” That same performer returned in June 2023 for “a drag storytime” aimed at children. The bookstore posted on Instagram that the event would “feature movement activities alongside a picture book reading so kids can engage both their minds and bodies.” Dog-Eared Books/Instagram. Dog-Eared Books has hosted a “Tattoos for Palestine” fundraiser, maintains a “Books for Fighting Fascism” list that includes a book by leftist Senator Bernie Sanders, called for ICE to be abolished, and has a “You Can’t Read That At School” book selection. That section includes books like “Let’s Talk About It,” a graphic novel that contains explicit depictions of sex.  The bookstore also released a statement slamming Iowa Republicans when they voted to pass a law shielding kids from transgender procedures. It also raised over $3,000 for the Iowa Trans Mutual Fund, a group that provides grants to Iowans seeking “gender-affirming care.”  As a state senator, Wahls has vehemently opposed laws aimed at protecting kids from transgender surgeries and cross-sex hormonal procedures. He claimed that there was “blood on the hands” of Iowa Republicans who supported the law. His opposition was based on questionable evidence that claimed children would be more likely to commit suicide if they weren’t given transgender procedures.  Wahls, who rose to prominence after discussing his experience of being raised by a lesbian couple, has close connections to One Iowa, an activist group “rooted in intersectional advocacy for LGBTQ Iowans.” Wahls toured with the group to promote gay marriage back in 2012 and even presented an award to them. One Iowa offers to help gender-confused kids access cross-sex hormones from out-of-state providers and schedule surgeries outside of Iowa. The group pushes girls to find breast binders to compress their chest so that it looks more masculine and other gender-confused kids to pursue “voice therapy.” The radical organization praised Wahls for opposing male participation in female sports.  Despite his links to the far-Left, Wahls’ campaign website portrays him as a moderate focused on cutting costs and combatting political corruption. Wahls claims to support securing the border by hiring thousands more Border Patrol agents and immigration judges, and wants to ensure “secure” elections. He also says he wants to “restore abortion access,” pass paid family and medical leave, and a path to “legal status” for illegal aliens “who’ve been here for years, are working, and haven’t committed crimes.”

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he planned to replace current Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) — and while the impact of that shake-up will certainly be felt across the administration and the Senate, it also marks a clear departure from the frequent personnel shakeups of Trump’s first term. By this point in Trump’s first administration, more than half a dozen major players had already been summarily dismissed — from an adviser and a deputy chief of staff to Health and Human Services Secretary and even Secretary of State. And although a few of those who got the presidential boot were holdovers from former President Barack Obama’s administration, a fair few were people Trump had believed were the right fit for his administration — until they weren’t. It was no surprise, for example, that Trump would fire Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates — an Obama appointee — in the first ten days of his administration. General Michael Flynn lasted three weeks before he was fired as National Security Advisor. Obama’s Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, resigned by mid-April, and in early May, Trump fired FBI Director James Comey. But by mid-July, the president was already on his second White House Press Secretary after Sean Spicer resigned, and by the end of the month, the tenure of other staffers was being measured in “Scaramuccis” after Anthony Scaramucci only lasted ten days as White House Communications Director. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus was also fired before the end of July, and advisors Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka were gone before the end of August. The first cabinet member to go was Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, who resigned from his post in late September. And by the end of March 2018, two more cabinet members were out — Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin — along with a laundry list of lower-level staffers. Trump almost constantly faced attacks and leaks from staff on their way out the door. Omarosa Manigault Newman, for example, was fired in December of 2017 — and within a year, she’d released a tell-all book and made a slew of accusations against the man who first made her a star on NBC’s “The Apprentice.” Scaramucci also turned on Trump after he was fired, referring to his former boss — and former friend — as an “orange wrecking ball,” and said in 2019 that Trump was suffering from “early stage fascism.” Tillerson was slightly more measured in his criticisms of the president, calling him “undisciplined” and claiming that he “disregards briefing reports.” After screening more strictly for loyalty his second time around, Trump’s staff retention has been markedly higher. Noem is just the second big name in the second Trump administration to be removed from her post — the first being former National Security Adviser Michael Waltz — and neither of the two have been asked or ordered to leave the administration entirely. Waltz has since been appointed to serve as Ambassador to the United Nations, and Noem will become Trump’s Special Envoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” a western hemisphere security initiative that is set to be unveiled in the coming days.

What’s in a name? Over the last century, certain names have dominated the American landscape, showing incredible staying power across generations. This data reflects over 350 million births—approximately 179 million males and 173 million females—to identify the most frequent names used from 1925 through 2024. The All-Time Leaders While naming trends shift with every decade, two names stand at the summit of the century-long list. James is the most popular male name, with over 4.5 million occurrences. For females, Mary holds the top spot with nearly 3 million. It is important to note that these rankings are cumulative. While James and Mary have the highest total counts, they aren’t always #1 in any given year. For instance, James has ranked as low as #19 in a single year, and Mary has dipped as low as #134 as newer trends take hold. The Male Top 10 The most popular male names of the last century are dominated by traditional, often biblical, choices. Following James at the top are: Michael (#2) and John (#3), both with over 4.2 million occurrences. Robert (#4), David (#5), and William (#6), which all exceed 3.4 million. The top ten is rounded out by Richard, Joseph, Thomas, and Christopher. The Female Top 10 The female list shows a different distribution, with the #1 name having a significantly higher count than those below it. Following Mary are: Patricia (#2) and Jennifer (#3), both representing massive spikes in popularity during the mid-to-late 20th century. Linda (#4), Elizabeth (#5), and Barbara (#6), each with over 1.3 million occurrences. The top ten concludes with Susan, Jessica, Karen, and Sarah. Shifting Generations The full list of 100 names captures a fascinating blend of “vintage” and “modern” favorites. Mid-Century Classics: Names like Donald (#17), Ronald (#25), Gary (#33), Betty (#17 on the female list), and Dorothy (#33) highlight the naming boom of the 1930s through the 1950s. Modern Powerhouses: Newer favorites have climbed the 100-year rankings despite having less “time” on the charts. This includes Noah (#60), Liam (#88), Olivia (#45), and Madison (#69). The “Evergreens”: Names like Elizabeth, William, Daniel, and Katherine have remained remarkably consistent, appearing frequently in almost every decade of the last century. Sources: The Trump Administration’s 2025 Changes to Immigration Law … The First 100 Days of the Second Trump Administration The Anti-Immigrant Policies in Trump’s Final “Big Beautiful Bill …

If you like it hot, then we’ve got good news for you. Chick-fil-A plans to debut its new spring menu on March 9, which includes a Jalapeno Ranch Club Chicken Sandwich. But this sandwich has a bit of an unexpected twist: you can order it three ways. That’s right, the new sandwich is available with original, grilled, or spicy chicken patties. Don’t worry, Chick-fil-A also has some new beverages on the menu that will cool you down if the spice gets too hot. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Snackolator (@snackolator) Chick-fil-A’s New Jalapeno Ranch Club Chicken SandwichLooks So Good Instagrammer Snackolator shared images of Chick-fil-A’s new Jalapeno Ranch Club Chicken Sandwich and Strawberry Hibiscus Sprite drinks. They all look perfect for a crisp spring day. “Jalapeno Ranch Club Chicken Sandwich, which features a buttermilk ranch bun, caramelized onion flavored candied bacon, pepper jack cheese, pickled jalapenos, and a side of creamy jalapeno ranch sauce. You can get this in original, grilled, and spicy,” Snackolator shared. “Then they have a new Strawberry Hibiscus drink menu that will be available in Lemonade, Frosted Lemonade, Sunjoy, and mixed with Sprite!” The news came as a pleasant surprise to Chick-fil-A fans eager to try the Jalapeno Ranch Club Chicken Sandwich. “Omg can’t wait to tear this up,” someone wrote. “omggg yess finally!!! I can’t wait to get my hands on this,” another person added. Just hearing the description of the new sandwich got people excited. “That sounds absolutely delicious ngl,” a fan wrote. But it’s not just the sandwich that sounds good to fans. Many are ready to try the Strawberry Hibiscus Sprite drinks, too. “I can’t wait to try the frosted lemonade!!” a fan shared. Which are you most looking forward to trying? This story’s featured image is by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.

Getting over his socialist skis

TRUMP REPLACES KRISTI NOEM WITH MARKWAYNE MULLIN AT DHS... DONALD TRUMP: I am pleased to announce that the Highly Respected United States Senator from the Great State of Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin, will become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), effective March 31, 2026. The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida. I thank Kristi for her service at “Homeland.”

'International leader in consular protection'

'Unprecedented volume of refunds'

'Fall down like in a cartoon'