Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here’s what’s to read morning:
Nicole Fallert here, bringing you the news to know on Monday, from the latest on the war in Iran, the elections to follow this week and a final chapter for this year’s March Madness.
What happened: President Donald Trump took to social media on Easter Sunday to applaud the U.S. military’s rescue of the second airman whose fighter jet was shot down over Iran — and deliver a profanity-filled message to the Middle Eastern nation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Why it matters: After extending the deadline on his ultimatum that Iran cease its effective blockade on ships passing through the oil route, the president said the regime now has until Tuesday to meet his demands, threatening strikes on critical Iranian infrastructure.
What happens now: Iran condemned Trump’s post, while the war remains unpopular among Americans who are skeptical of the goal in attacking Iran.
Follow Monday’s developments on the war in Iran live here with USA TODAY.
March Madness
UCLA finally broke through, winning its first women’s basketball national championship of the NCAA era. The Bruins dominated South Carolina, routing the Gamecocks 79-51 Sunday, at the Mortgage Matchup Center. The team, which features five senior starters and six players who are likely to be drafted into the WNBA on April 13, posted a wire-to-wire win. Watch UConn and Arizona in the men’s final tonight.
Artemis II
The lunar mission’s moon flyby will happen Monday, in a roughly six-hour window when the sun, moon and Orion spacecraft are aligned to give the crew a view of the far side of the moon that can’t be seen from Earth.
Have feedback on the Daily Briefing? Shoot Nicole an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.