Savannah Guthrie opens up about her mother’s disappearance and inside Trump’s daily Iran war video: Morning Rundown
In today’s newsletter: Trump’s daily Iran video conference suggests he is not getting the full picture of the war. Congress wants more answers about Jeffrey Epstein’s death. And Savannah Guthrie reveals the “grief” her family is dealing with after her mother’s disappearance.
Here’s what you need to know today.
Trump showed a daily video about the strikes on Iran amid concerns that he was not getting the full picture of the war
Every day since the war on Iran began, US military officials have been reviewing a video of President Donald Trump showing successful strikes on Iranian targets in the past 48 hours, three current US officials and a former US official said.
The montages run for about two minutes, sometimes longer, officials said. One described the videos as a series of clips of “explosive stuff.”
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Trump is also being updated on the war through conversations with senior advisers, foreign leaders and news reports, officials said. However, the video conference is fueling concerns among some of the president’s allies that he may not be getting the full picture of the war. Officials said the videos fueled Trump’s growing frustration with the media — particularly why his administration can’t better influence the public narrative.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said the idea that Trump is not getting information about the full range of events in the war is “false assurances.”
Current and former U.S. officials said the military could not inform Trump of all the strikes — there are hundreds every day — so the selected video does not show the full conflict. Trump has admitted that he wants information independently. But overall, the information tends to emphasize US success, with little detail compared to Iranian actions.
More about the war updates Trump is getting.
Follow our live news about the war.
Trump could name a new head of the CDC today. ‘We don’t need a TV personality,’ said one expert.
Trump is expected to name the person to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on his Truth Social account.
The director, if confirmed by the Senate, will take over an agency marked by mass layoffs, fatal firings and empty leadership. Insiders say they are worried that the eventual nominee will further undermine the trust of the country’s top health agency, as measles outbreaks escalate and vaccination policies face resistance.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the CDC’s acting director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, have been criticizing the agency for a long time but have never offered ways to support or strengthen it, the staff said. Kennedy instead promoted other health agency initiatives, including efforts to lower drug prices, new dietary guidelines and America’s reliance on highly processed foods.
The White House and the Department of Health have been silent on potential nominees, but whoever is chosen doesn’t have to be a “television junkie,” said Dr. David Margolius, Cleveland’s director of public health. “We need someone who is cooperative and puts the health of the country’s citizens first, not their selfishness.”
Why some at the CDC are concerned about the agency’s direction.
Other political news:
- Senate Republicans they think they have found a way that works reopening the Department of Homeland Security, as long TSA lines continue to create chaos at airports.
- Emily Gregory of the Democratic Alliance turned the seat Republican in the special election of the Florida state House district that includes Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
- California gubernatorial debate has been cancelled hours before it took place after criticism mounted that only whites were eligible for the event.
- Missouri Supreme Court proposed a new congressional map drawn by Republicans designed to gain the GOP a House seat in the midterm elections.
Savannah Guthrie opens up for first interview since her mother disappeared
Savannah Guthrie, a producer on “NOW” opened up about the ongoing search for her mother, describing the “grief” her family is facing more than seven weeks after she disappeared from her home in Arizona.
“Somebody needs to do the right thing. We’re in pain. We’re in pain. It’s unbearable,” Savannah told Hoda Kotb. interview previews today which will be broadcast throughout the week.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing by her family on February 1 from her home near Tucson, Arizona, after failing to attend a church service at a friend’s home, authorities said.
Authorities have described the case as a possible kidnapping or abduction, but leads have been scarce.
“And thinking about what he went through. I wake up every night in the middle of the night, every night,” Savannah said. “And in the dark, I can imagine his panic. And it’s unthinkable, but those thoughts need to be thought. And I won’t hide my face. But he has to go home now.”
More on Savannah’s interview here.
Congress wants to know more about Epstein’s final hours
Less than a week after Jeffrey Epstein’s death in 2019, two medical officials said the convicted sex offender died by hanging himself in his cell. But the findings did not stop conspiracy theories from spreading suggesting that Epstein was murdered because of his connections to high-profile public figures.
Now, members of Congress want to know more. This week, the House Oversight Committee will seek testimony from Tova Noel, a prison guard believed to be the last person to see the disgraced financier alive, as part of a review of past federal investigations.
A House panel questioned Epstein’s accountant, Richard Kahn, and his attorney, Darren Indyke, behind closed doors this month. In their installation videos, released yesterday, both they continued without seeing anything bad.
There are still many questions about his death; from the vague orange blur caught on surveillance video, to how long he had been alone in his cell before he hanged himself. Noel is under further scrutiny because an analysis of his work computer showed a Google search for “recent Epstein in prison.” The House committee also wants to question him about why he deposited $5,000 into his bank account days before Epstein was found dead.
More questions about Epstein’s death.
NBC Select: Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is back – here are the deals you should buy:
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale starts today, which means it’s the perfect time to stock up on household essentials and grab wish list items for less. Everyone (not just Prime members) will have until March 31st to shop for great product deals. Our editor has it all covered best offers available nowincluding a few of us 2026 Wellness Award winners. Want to save more? Here is a complete list of all the spring sales going on right now.
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- Officials are there investigating a third alleged incident of domestic violence featuring “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” stars Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen.
- Oklahoma city council members welcome Google data center. Now they are all facing a recall.
- A 5-year-old boy who caught the attention of many people after appearing on a video call with children’s entertainer Miss Rachel he was released along with his family from the Texas immigration center.
- In an unexpected move, OpenAI has announced its own video production service Sora it will be closed soon as the company is under intense pressure from rival Anthropic.
- MLB is it to establish a new high-tech system challenging and appealing the fraction-of-an-inch calls that separate balls from strikes.
Staff Selection: Doulas can improve health outcomes for women and children. Insurers are taking notice.
Last year, I spoke with a woman who said her doula saved her life by encouraging her to go to the ER with postpartum infection symptoms. She couldn’t afford a doula, but services were covered as part of a pilot program.
Doulas — people who help women go through prenatal visits, support them through labor and continue after birth — remain out of reach for many women because they’re often not covered by insurance.
I was interested in looking at state and national efforts to expand access to doulas, since nearly half of the states require Medicaid to cover them. As the US continues to have high maternal mortality rates, some OB-GYNs (gynecologists) and insurance providers are hoping that doulas can help keep women and babies safe. Another major health insurer is now issuing a benefit to members across the country, marking a major shift in how doulas interact with the health care system and who has access to them. – Marina Kopfassociate producer
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