The 7 from The Washington Post

PUBLISHED BY

Jamie Ross and Hannah Jewell">

Good morning. It’s Monday, March 30, and TSA lines are so out of control that travelers are hiring line-sitters. Let’s catch up from the weekend.

How? Thousands of U.S. soldiers and Marines are arriving in the Middle East for what could be a dangerous new phase of the war, if President Donald Trump decides to escalate.
In Iran: The nation’s missile infrastructure has been badly damaged by U.S.-Israeli strikes, these satellite images show. One mission has fallen to Israel alone — killing top Iranians.

Late last night: Trump said he won’t enforce his effective blockade against fuel supplies to the island as the ship approaches. He said it won’t matter because “Cuba’s finished.”
What it means: The tanker’s load could fuel Cuba for a few weeks, according to one expert, offering some relief in an energy crisis that has been causing island-wide blackouts.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon leads students in cheering for America on her “History Rocks!” tour. (Andrew Craft/Reuters/USA Today)

Across the nation: Education Secretary Linda McMahon is holding events at schools ahead of America’s 250th birthday. But some parents, students and teachers are resisting.
This weekend: Anti-Trump No Kings protests took place at more than 3,300 rallies in all 50 states and around the world. Some attendees told The Post why they decided to protest.
One more thing: Reporters called the White House. Their phones said “Epstein Island.”

Yesterday: Border czar Tom Homan said immigration agents could stick around, even as TSA officers are paid this week. If you’re traveling soon, here’s what you should know.
At the Supreme Court this week: Trump officials will make their case for ending birthright citizenship using arguments from white supremacists, some legal scholars say.

A five-inch hailstone that fell near Burlington, Illinois, on March 10. (Matthew Cappucci/MyRadar)

Gargantuan hail was once virtually unheard of: But atmospheric scientists are now realizing it’s probably not that rare. And, as the world warms, there will probably be more.
Why it matters: Hail is the most expensive thunderstorm-related hazard. Scientists are racing to understand more about the phenomenon, but intact hailstones are hard to find.

Braylon Mullins connected from well beyond the arc to send Connecticut to its third Final Four in four years. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Last night: UConn stunned Duke with a shot for the ages in the last second, setting up a Final Four clash against Illinois this Saturday. Michigan will take on Arizona.
On the women’s side tonight: Michigan play Texas, and TCU faces off against South Carolina to complete the Final Four. The winners will join UCLA and UConn.

The couple live at the U.S. National Arboretum in Northeast Washington. (Courtesy of American Eagle Foundation/Friends of the National Arboretum)

Congratulations to Mr. President and Lotus: Despite their turbulent past and cheating scandals that rocked fans on social media, the couple’s eaglet is expected in April.
Love is in the air: Across town at the National Zoo, two giant pandas are showing signs of flirting with each other. Zookeepers hope the pair will successfully breed in a few years.