There's the War — and There's the Messaging War

International

There's the War — and There's the Messaging War

What’s going on: Yesterday, President Donald Trump warned that the “worst outcome” of the war in Iran would be a successor “as bad” as the current regime. That comment revived questions about whether toppling Iran’s leadership has been the goal all along. If there is regime change, Mojtaba Khamenei is a front-runner. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader killed over the weekend. While there’s not much information on him yet, CNN reports he shares his father’s views — which means little could change — and Iran’s government was built to survive attacks against its leaders. And now, the conflict is widening: At least five US allies in the Persian Gulf reported drone or missile attacks, and the US closed embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Lebanon. Here in the US, oil prices shot up, and stock markets slid as Trump again warned the war could “go far longer” than his initial four-to-five-week timeline.

Communications quagmire: Trump swears the war was pre-emptive — arguing Iran was about to attack Israel and its neighbors — though the letter he sent to Congress justifying the move doesn’t outline an imminent threat. The president waited more than 48 hours after the strikes to address Americans live and has mostly used Truth Social and reporter interviews. By leaning into this strategy, the narrative has become less centralized and harder to fact-check. It also leaves Americans piecing together policy from secondhand summaries and, sometimes, misinformation. Even Republican officials seem to be struggling to keep up and stay on-message. Critics, including former Obama official Rahm Emanuel, say the absence of a sustained address creates confusion. Politically, though, the approach fits Trump’s style. The open question: Will that formula work as well during a military conflict as it did on the campaign trail?

The News in 5

🗞️ The Texas Senate Democratic primary was almost too close to call, but Rep. James Talarico beat Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the end. Texas Republicans Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will go to a runoff.

🗞️ Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced a fiery Capitol Hill hearing, with one Republican senator labeling her immigration enforcement efforts a "disaster."

🗞️ A Georgia father who gave his son the rifle used in a mass shooting has been convicted of murder.

🗞️ A new Consumer Reports investigation found heavy metals in more than half of baby formulas tested, despite the FDA’s plan to improve oversight.

🗞️ Hillary Clinton had quite the comeback when Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) claimed Epstein called the former first lady “much prettier in person.”

Tech

How OpenAI Got the Pentagon's Final Rose

What’s going on: Shortly after the Pentagon publicly dumped Anthropic on Friday, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced it struck a deal with OpenAI. The move followed a public feud over how the government could use its AI. Anthropic wanted guarantees that its tech wouldn’t be used for domestic surveillance or to build autonomous weapons — something the Pentagon said it doesn’t plan to do. But hours after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled Anthropic a “supply-chain risk,” OpenAI agreed to let the DOD use its AI “for all lawful purposes” — language required by the Pentagon. But that phrasing is tricky because, as Vox notes, the law hasn’t caught up to AI. The government can legally purchase troves of private data and now use AI to analyze it at scale — creating what many critics would call mass surveillance, even if it’s technically lawful.

Tell me more: There was also confusion about how OpenAI locked in the Pentagon’s business so quickly and whether it disregarded the safety concerns Anthropic raised. Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admitted it all “looked opportunistic and sloppy.” In response, OpenAI said it amended its agreement with the federal government earlier this week to guarantee that its technology is not “intentionally used for domestic surveillance.” The company also said it will build in guardrails to uphold its safety principles. As for why Anthropic couldn’t get the same agreement, a former defense official told The Wall Street Journal that it comes down to a difference in “vibes.” Still, all of this leaves one question: Who gets to decide how AI is used in conflicts as the tech continues to evolve?

Related: The Government Used Anthropic AI To Strike Iran (CBS)

Health

Is It Time To Start "Eating" Your Skincare?

What's going on: Now that you finally committed to wearing that horror film-looking red-light mask to turn back the hands of time, TikTok is recycling the “eating your skin care” trend to achieve a youthful glow. Wellness influencers on TikTok claim loading up on fatty fish like tinned sardines, salmon, and mackerel is like “nature’s Botox.” Sardines are packed with nutrients that may support the skin barrier and reduce inflammation — they may even help with weight loss. Some people are trying “sardine fasts” consuming nothing but briny fish for three days (pause for gagging). Others — including actress Jessica Alba — are opting for viral raw carrot ribbon salads that, packed with beta-carotene, promise to make skin glow from within. Gives new meaning to “you are what you eat.”

The takeaway: Sardines are certainly overachieving when it comes to offering a plethora of nutrients in a small (albeit adorable tin) package. But experts say they’re not a miracle food. “You cannot ‘detox,’ reset hormones, or dramatically transform skin from one food in a few days,” one dietitian said. Plus, the tiny fish can also be high in sodium and may trigger migraines or cause acid reflux in some people (raises hand). Doctors encourage them as part of a healthy diet, but not the whole diet.

Core Memory

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ Holi begins. The Hindu Festival of Colors kicks off, marking the start of spring and celebrating the triumph of good over evil.

🗓️ Young Sherlock drops on Prime Video. The Guy Ritchie–produced series follows a teenage Holmes (played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin) on his first case.

🗓️ Southern Hospitality Season 4 premieres. The Republic crew clocks in at 9 pm ET on Bravo — with two new faces and zero chance things stay calm.

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

Winter Weather Dependables

The East Coast just got hit with a major snowstorm after Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, and while all of this feels like one major cruel joke, we are adding a few items to our cart that will help us endure a longer, colder winter:

These waterproof Chelsea boots
A cardi with an impressive discount
A cashmere henley for her and him
Lots of winter coats at all price points

Tell Us

The Wall Street Journal shared which corporate jargon they hate most. Which makes you want to slam your laptop shut?

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Molly Longman, Stephanie Gallman, Mallory Simon and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.

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