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US meets Iran in search of historic deal Morning Report | 8 minutes ago

Why violent crime is dropping in US cities State Watch | 49 minutes ago

DHS shutdown has no clear off-ramp: 5 takeaways Senate | 49 minutes ago

Democratic candidates rush to define themselves ahead of primary season Campaign | 49 minutes ago

On voter ID and ICE, do the parties want the policy win or the campaign issue? Campaign | 49 minutes ago

Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson dies at age 84 Campaign | 1 hour ago

Moore’s office fires back at Trump after blaming Potomac sewage spill on local Democrats Administration | 7 hours ago

Trump says US, Cuba are talking in midst of oil blockade Administration | 9 hours ago

US meets Iran in search of historic deal

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▪ Jesse Jackson dies at 84

▪ Next round of Iran nuclear talks

▪ FBI won’t share evidence in Pretti investigation

▪ AOC stumbles on foreign policy

U.S. and Iranian officials are set to meet for a second round of talks on Iran’s nuclear program today as the Trump administration strives for a deal that has so far proved elusive.

Tuesday’s talks are taking place in Geneva, Switzerland. The U.S. delegation is led by President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, both of whom have been heavily involved in peacemaking efforts in various conflicts, including between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Representatives from the two countries met earlier this month for indirect talks in Oman to try to reach a diplomatic solution on Iranian nuclear developments. After the meeting, both sides described those discussions as productive and indicated they would plan to meet again.

The U.S. and Iran took part in nuclear talks last year, but Iran pulled out of those discussions after Israel launched airstrikes targeting Tehran’s nuclear facilities and military sites in June. The U.S. subsequently launched its own strikes against three Iranian nuclear sites days later.

Tensions have been rising between the U.S. and the Middle Eastern nation in recent months, especially amid nationwide protests that the Iranian regime cracked down on harshly, resulting in thousands killed. The Trump administration ultimately held off on striking Iran while the protests were at their peak, but it has built up its military assets in the region in preparation for a possible attack.

Iranian naval forces began military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday on the eve of the planned discussions, in a show of strength. The exercises included rehearsing scenarios to respond to security threats in the area.

But Trump hasn’t taken diplomacy off the table and is still in search of a breakthrough deal to further cement his legacy on foreign policy, which has been a major focus throughout his second term.

The president’s decision to hold off on strikes so far suggests he sees at least some path to a deal, even if it’s a difficult one.

Witkoff and Kushner on Tuesday are also expected to participate in a separate set of talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials as part of the ongoing push to bring an end to the war between those two countries.

The administration has sought to portray Trump as a global peacemaker, bringing an end to various conflicts around the world, though ending the Russia war has proven the most challenging yet.

Settling tensions around Iran’s nuclear program would be a major achievement to add to the president’s global peacemaking efforts, but officials have recognized the hurdles facing them.

“These people make policy decisions on the basis of pure theology,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said of Iran during a trip to Hungary on Monday. “That’s how they make their decisions. So, it’s hard to do a deal with Iran. We’ve always said it’s hard, but we’re going to try.”

Rubio’s comments come as he has been taking part in a multiday trip that included a visit to the Munich Security Conference in Germany over the weekend. He struck a much more conciliatory tone toward the U.S.’s European allies than Vice President Vance did at last year’s conference, seeking to reassure Europe the U.S. wants to work together on security issues.

CBS News reported Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting in December that the U.S. would support another round of Israeli strikes on Iran if negotiations fail. Senior figures in the military and intelligence communities have now started to consider backing another round of strikes, the outlet reported following Trump and Netanyahu’s meeting in Washington last week.

▪ The Associated Press: Iran meets U.N. nuclear watchdog ahead of talks.

▪ The Hill: Five takeaways from tense Munich conference.

Smart Take with Blake Burman

Ever wanted to pose a question to a lawmaker?

Viewer’s Voice is a new segment on “The Hill with Blake Burman” on NewsNation, airing weeknights at 6 p.m. ET.  The segment debuts tomorrow with Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.).

The segment puts voter questions directly to members of Congress about the issues shaping their lives. This is built on a simple principle: The U.S. government represents all Americans — and it has to work for you.

Send us a question you want to ask Congress based on the issues most important to you. Topics can include the issues on your mind, including the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, the government’s latest efforts on affordability or anything else that matters to you.

Please include your name and city/state and specify if you do not want your name used on air. (We encourage you to pose your question in a video and send along to us.) We’ll ask a number of your questions directly to lawmakers during our Viewers Voice segment this week.

Submit your question in an email to ViewersVoice@newsnationnow.com.

3 Things to Know Today

Trump said he’s directing federal officials to assist in cleanup efforts concerning the wastewater spill in the Potomac River. He blamed state and local officials for the breach, a claim that a spokesperson for Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) rejected.

Anderson Cooper plans to leave CBS’s “60 Minutes,” which he has contributed to for nearly 20 years, saying in a statement he wants to spend more time with family. He’s expected to stay through the end of the current season in May and continue with his CNN show.

The Hill Event — Top Women in Policy: Join Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) and top strategists on March 4 to spotlight the women driving the 119th Congress. From AI to the economy, meet the women navigating the new political map. Register.

FAREWELL: The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a longtime civil rights leader who ran two prominent campaigns for the Democratic nomination for president in the 1980s, has died at the age of 84.

Jackson’s family announced his death in a statement early Tuesday morning, saying he died surrounded by family. Jackson had been battling the neurodegenerative disorder Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

“Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said.

“His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by,” the statement continued.

An outpouring of condolences for Jackson are expected throughout the day Tuesday.

A protégé of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson gained national attention in the 1960s when he was a member of the “Greenville Eight” who tried to desegregate a public library in South Carolina. He helped lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s Operation Breadbasket, a program focused on improving the lives of Black people economically.

Jackson later formed his own civil rights organization that became known as the Rainbow PUSH Coalition based in Chicago.

He entered the world of politics more directly when he launched what had been considered a longshot presidential campaign in 1984 to oppose former President Reagan‘s reelection bid. Jackson outperformed expectations and became a serious candidate, ultimately coming in third for the Democratic nomination behind former Vice President Walter Mondale.

He tried again for the nomination in 1988, placing second behind then-Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.

Jackson did win election in 1990 to become one of Washington, D.C.’s first “shadow senators.”

He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000 from then-President Clinton.

Jackson continued his activism in his later years despite PSP affecting his ability to move and speak, appearing at protests following the killing of George Floyd in 2020 and more recently at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 2024.

▪ CBS News: Jackson’s life, work tied to Chicago.

EPSTEIN FALLOUT: Hyatt Hotels Corporation executive chair Tom Pritzker has become the latest public figure to face blowback over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, announcing Monday that he would resign from his role.

Pritzker, who is Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker‘s (D) cousin, revealed his decision in a letter to the company’s board after recently disclosed files showed he kept in close touch with the disgraced financier years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Tom Pritzker, who has served as the chair since 2004, hasn’t been personally accused of wrongdoing but did communicate with Epstein about his interactions with women.

“I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner,” Pritzker wrote in the letter.

He’s the latest major figure to step back from a position over revelations from the Epstein files, joining others such as Wall Street lawyer Kathy Ruemmler, corporate attorney Brad Karp and Hollywood mogul Casey Wasserman, among others.

▪ Axios: Files end political, business careers around the world.

DEATH PENALTY THREAT: The president warned Nancy Guthrie’s kidnappers would face the death penalty if the mother of “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie is found dead.

Trump told the New York Post in a phone interview the consequences would be the “most severe” if the kidnappers kill Nancy Guthrie, responding to a question about whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) would seek the death penalty.

The FBI is searching for a possible suspect seen on Guthrie’s doorbell camera, described as standing between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10 with an average build and seen wearing dark gloves, sweatpants and a jacket.

Savannah Guthrie said in a video post on Sunday that the family is still clinging to hope that her mother is still alive two weeks after her disappearance.

“And it is never too late to do the right thing, and we are here. We believe — and we believe in the essential goodness of every human being,” she said in video addressed to anyone who might know where her mother is.

▪ CBS News: Device to track Guthrie’s pacemaker deployed.

▪ NewsNation: Guthrie family members cleared in investigation.

ANTHROPIC TIES: The Pentagon is reviewing its association with the AI company Anthropic over the terms of use of its AI product, Claude.

The Department of Defense and Anthropic have held discussions for months about the military’s terms of use for Claude. But Axios reported officials are now weighing whether to cut ties and label the company a supply-chain risk.

Claude was apparently used during the U.S. operation to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro last month through Anthropic’s partnership with Palantir, stoking tensions with the Pentagon. Anthropic has denied reaching out to the department or Palantir, which has extensive military contracts, about the raid.

Axios reported Anthropic is prepared to loosen its terms of service but wants to ensure its tools aren’t used to develop weaponry that fires without human involvement and its products aren’t used for mass surveillance on Americans.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told The Hill the partnership’s review is about guaranteeing the country’s security.

“Our nation requires that our partners be willing to help our warfighters win in any fight. Ultimately, this is about our troops and the safety of the American people,” he said.

▪ CNBC: Anthropic received user boost from Super Bowl ad.

NO EVIDENCE SHARING: The FBI has formally decided not to share any information about its investigation into the death of Alex Pretti with Minnesota officials, isolating the federal and state probes into the ICU nurse’s death.

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Superintendent Drew Evans said in a statement Monday that the FBI notified the agency it won’t provide access to any information or evidence it has gathered related to Pretti’s death last month at the hands of federal immigration officers.

“While this lack of cooperation is concerning and unprecedented, the BCA is committed to thorough, independent and transparent investigations of these incidents, even if hampered by a lack of access to key information and evidence,” Evans said, adding that BCA will continue to pursue all legal avenues to gain access to information.

The decision doesn’t come as a significant surprise as the FBI had indicated it wouldn’t coordinate with BCA on the investigation into the death of Renee Good earlier in January. But it’s a setback in relations between the federal government and state officials, with tensions otherwise cooling as immigration agents withdraw from Minnesota.

White House border czar Tom Homan said Sunday a “small” security force would remain in the state for a short period of time to ensure agreements reached with local and state law enforcement remain in place.

Multiple investigations are ongoing into Pretti’s death, including one from the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, though Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche cast doubt on its significance.

▪ CBS News: Hennepin County attorney to demand evidence be turned over.

▪ The New York Times: How videos expose and cloud the truth.

The president will participate in ambassador credentialing at 2 p.m. He will participate in policy meetings at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The House will convene at 11 a.m. for a pro forma session.

The Senate will meet at 6:30 p.m. for a pro forma

AOC STUMBLES: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) received a mixed response to her appearance at the Munich Security Conference, putting a possible vulnerability on display despite her status as a rising star in the Democratic Party.

Ocasio-Cortez was one of the potential 2028 presidential contenders who visited the conference last week, calling on international leaders to fight for the working class and slamming the Trump administration’s moves on foreign policy. But some parts of her remarks received criticism and raised questions about her foreign policy prowess, The Hill’s Julia Mueller reports.

The congresswoman stumbled on a question about whether the U.S. should commit to sending troops to defend Taiwan if China invades, and on another occasion, she said Venezuela is “below the equator,” though it’s entirely in the Northern Hemisphere.

Doubts about her comfortability on the topic are receiving attention as Ocasio-Cortez is considered a top possible candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. She’s also been floated as a possible candidate for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) Senate seat, regardless of whether Schumer decides to run for another term.

Trump chimed in on Ocasio-Cortez’s struggles, telling reporters on Air Force One on Monday that it wasn’t a “good look” for the country.

Some Democrats said her stumbles signal she’s not ready for higher office, while others said the criticism of her shows her strength.

She sought to refocus the narrative on her message during her appearance at the conference, which she said is being overshadowed by speculation about her future ambitions.

“This reporter came up to me and was like, ‘Is Munich the new New Hampshire?’ And I cannot say enough how out of touch and missing the point, genuinely, that is,” she said in an interview with The New York Times. “Global democracies are on fire the world over, and established parties are falling to right-wing populist movements.”

▪ CNN: Dems eyeing 2028 bids offer reassurance to world leaders.

▪ MS NOW: Rubio, Ocasio-Cortez present dueling world visions.

RUSSIAN DENIAL: Russia has denied five European countries’ accusation that former Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed in 2024 with a lethal toxin.

“Naturally, we do not accept such accusations. We disagree with them. We consider them biased and not based on anything. And we strongly reject them,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Navalny was serving a 19-year prison sentence after being convicted of extremism charges when he died in custody in 2024. A longtime sharp critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Navalny had denounced his sentence as politically motivated, as had many Western countries.

Monday marked the two-year anniversary of his death.

Russia said Navalny died of natural causes, but the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands said Saturday that analyses of samples from Navalny show he was poisoned with epibatidine, a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America. They said the poison isn’t found naturally in Russia.

Rubio said Sunday that the U.S. doesn’t have “any reason to question” the European countries’ finding, calling it “troubling.”

▪ The Guardian: Was Navalny’s poisoning meant to send a message?

▪ BBC: Navalny’s mother says she knew he was murdered.

REVERSE: A federal judge ordered the National Park Service to restore exhibits about slavery at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, finding the administration’s removal of them was likely unlawful. The judge invoked the dystopian novel “1984” in her ruling.

On voter ID and ICE, do the parties want the policy win or the campaign issue? The Hill’s Chris Stirewalt writes.

What you have in common with a pigeon and why it’s causing problems for you, Michaeleen Doucleff writes in The New York Times.

And finally … The conservationist legacy of former President Theodore Roosevelt is back on display as his descendants are calling on lawmakers to protect public lands in Minnesota.

The descendants of the 26th president wrote a letter to senators obtained by The New York Times earlier this month calling on them to oppose a resolution overturning a Biden administration decision to prevent mining in a wilderness area near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The House passed the resolution last month, sending it to the Senate for consideration.

Roosevelt established a reputation during his two terms as president as a major advocate of conservation efforts, pushing to ensure natural resources were used responsibly. While serving as president, he established more than 230 million acres of public lands, created the U.S. Forest Service and helped found multiple national parks.

More national parks are named in his honor than any other president.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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