US lawmakers see no Trump plan for Iran following strikes

By Doina Chiacu

Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran

March 1 (Reuters) - The United States has yet to spell out a "day-after" strategy for Iran following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed much of the country's leadership, lawmakers from both major political parties said on Sunday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a change in Iran's government, which has entered a period of uncertainty following the death of Supreme Leader ‌Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Saturday's attack. The strategy Trump has publicly outlined so far hinges largely on the hope that the Iranian people will rise up and determine their own future after decades ‌of repression.

Republicans expressed optimism about the attacks, while Democrats were skeptical they would lead to a favorable outcome, but lawmakers on both sides were uncertain about the immediate future. Trump told the Daily Mail later on Sunday that the military operation could continue for four weeks.

WHAT ​COMES NEXT?

Lawmakers appearing on Sunday morning talk shows all opposed deploying U.S. ground forces to Iran.

"There's no simple answer for what's going to come next," Senator Tom Cotton, the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee from Arkansas, said on CBS News' "Face the Nation."

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a staunch Trump ally and defense hawk, echoed the U.S. president's call for the Iranian people to decide who should lead their government.

"You know, this idea, 'You break it, you own it,' I don't buy that one bit," Graham said on NBC's "Meet the Press" program. "This is not Iraq. This is not Germany. This is not Japan. We're going to free the people up from a terrorist regime."

Khamenei's death set ‌off a process under which a three-person council will run the country until ⁠a separate clerical body selects a new supreme leader.

Asked if the U.S. had identified a leader of the Iranian opposition that Iran's people could rally behind, Cotton said: "The opposition is 90 million Iranians who have suffered under the brutal Islamic Republic Revolutionary regime for the last 47 years."

Senator Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, said he could not see ⁠how regime change in Iran could happen with the current operation.

"There's no example I know of in modern history where regime change has happened solely through air strikes," Coons said on CNN's "State of the Union" program.

Before Saturday's air strikes, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency assessed that hardline figures from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could replace Khamenei if he were killed, two sources briefed on the intelligence said.

Trump on Sunday said that 48 leading figures in Iran's government had been killed so ​far. ​Senator Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, pointed to the earlier CIA assessment.

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"So, we are not going to get a democracy. We ​are going to get an even worse Iranian leadership," Murphy told the CBS program. "It's ‌no secret that this administration has no plan for the chaos that is unfolding right now in the Middle East."

'WAR OF CHOICE'

The U.S. and Israeli strikes, as well as Iranian retaliation, have sent shockwaves through multiple sectors, such as shipping, air travel and oil, amid warnings of rising energy costs and disruption to business in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway.

Three U.S. service members have been killed and another five were seriously wounded, in the first U.S. casualties of the unfolding operations against Iran, the U.S. military said on Sunday.

Trump justified the attack in part by pointing to the threat of an Iranian nuclear program that he had until recently claimed had been "obliterated" by U.S. air strikes last June.

While Trump's fellow Republicans largely fell in line behind the president, several Democratic lawmakers said the attack was illegal because only Congress has the right to declare war under the Constitution.

Senator Mark ‌Warner, the Democratic vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee from Virginia, who was among the eight lawmakers briefed last week ​before the strikes, said the administration did not provide evidence of an imminent threat. Instead, Warner said, Trump started a "war of choice."

"I ​saw no intelligence that Iran was on the verge of launching any kind of pre-emptive strike ​against the United States," Warner said on CNN's "State of the Union."

Warner and U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, expressed concern that it could drag the United States into another ‌long and messy conflict in the Middle East.

Khanna, who is helping lead an ​attempt in the House of Representatives to block further military ​action without congressional approval, said it was unclear how Iran would be governed following Khamenei's death.

"Khamenei was a brutal dictator, but Americans are not safer today," Khanna said. "The question is: 'Is the country going to descend in civil war? Are billions of our dollars going to be spent there? Are American troops going to be at risk?'"

Lawmakers said they wanted to avoid a prolonged and costly conflict reminiscent of ​the Iraq War, which dragged on for years and claimed thousands of U.S. ‌lives.

Senator Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, said he hopes U.S. involvement in Iran can be completed within a month.

"It all depends on... whoever the new leader is in Iran," Scott ​told Fox's "Sunday Morning Futures" show. "We're going to finish this, and if we don't, we'll be doing this in five years, in 10 years."

(Reporting by P.J. Huffstutter in Chicago, Doina Chiacu in ​Washington, Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Sergio Non and Bill Berkrot)

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 01, 2026

US lawmakers see no Trump plan for Iran following strikes

By Doina Chiacu Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in ...

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Some celebrate in Iran after supreme leader's death, but deep fear and uncertainty remain

CAIRO (AP) — Some of the jubilation was open and even raucous — people dancing in Iranian streets, honking car horns in celebration, screaming joyfully from windows and rooftops over the killing of the country's supreme leader. But asbombardment by the United States and Israelfell from the air for a second day Sunday, many expressed fear and uncertainty over what direction Iran will take.

The death ofAyatollah Ali Khamenei, who stood at the pinnacle of Iran's Islamic Republic for nearly four decades, along with a number of top military leaders in the first day of the U.S.-Israeli campaign, stunned Iranians and stirred a mix of complex emotions in a divided nation.

"Inside, we are in party mode," said one man in northern Tehran who expressed joy overKhamenei's death. He was reached via messaging apps. "But unless we are safe from them, people are not celebrating publicly because they are ruthless and even more vengeful."

Authorities moved to show public support, rallyingmassive crowds in several citiesto mourn a leader that state media declared a martyr. Video run on state media — verified by the AP — showed tens of thousands filling the sprawling main squares of the southern and central cities of Isfahan and Yazd, waving Iranian flags and chanting, "Death to America."

Several of those who joined past anti-government protests, reached by The Associated Press on Sunday, said the state's security grip remained too strong to go out for a new round of mass demonstrations, despite calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for Iranians to "seize their government." With communications into Iran unstable, AP contacted eight Iranians, some of whom spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

Golshan Fathi, a woman living in Tehran, said the Basij paramilitary, which played a key role in the bloody crushing of mass protests last month, was showing a heavy presence in the streets of the capital. A doctor in the northern city of Rasht said Basijis pulled one man out of his car after he honked his horn in celebration.

Iranian society at the moment, Fathi said, is living "between hope and fear."

Some cheered, some honked

Iranian society is deeply divided. Hundreds of thousands marched in the streets across Iran last month, chanting "Death to Khamenei" in what were likely the biggest protests ever against the clerics' rule in place since 1979. A bloody crackdowncrushed the street movement, but not thebitterness against the government. At the same time, large numbers of loyalists remain tied to the system for religious, social or patronage reasons.

Iran's leadership quickly moved to show it was still in control even after the deaths of Khamenei, the defense minister, army chief of staff and a top security adviser. President Masoud Pezeshkian said a new leadership council had begun its work, and the foreign minister saida new supreme leaderwould be chosen in "one or two days."

Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf delivered an address on state TV on Sunday, saying the government and military did not depend on individuals.

"We prepared ourselves for these moments and set plans for all scenarios," he said, "even for after the martyrdom of our dear Imam Khamenei."

State media announced Khamenei's death just after dawn on Sunday. Celebrations erupted in some areas. Videos circulating online and verified by the AP showed dozens cheering and dancing and cars honking their horns in the streets of Karaj, a city near Tehran. Fathi in Tehran and the doctor in Rasht said cheers and celebratory chants were heard from windows and rooftops around their neighborhoods.

"It was one of the best nights, if not the best night, of our lives,"the doctor saidin a voice message. "It was actually my first time ever smoking a cigarette. ... We didn't sleep at all. And we don't even feel tired."

During the day, Iranians faced the reality of living under bombardment, with no idea when it will end. Blasts in Tehran sent a huge plume of smoke into the sky in an area where there are government buildings. Iranian authorities say more than 200 people have been killed in the strikes, including at least 165 killed in a strike at an all-girls school in the country's south.

Residents of Tehran rushed to supermarkets on Sunday, emptying shelves of bottled water, bread, eggs and milk. Long lines at gas stations across the capital suggested fears of possible fuel shortages or plans by many to leave the city. State television footage showed heavy traffic on major highways, with cars packed bumper-to-bumper as families attempted to reach northern provinces. Others said they were staying home, deciding that was safer.

Iranfired missiles at an ever-widening list of targets in Israel and Gulf Arab states in retaliation while Israel pledged "non-stop" strikes against Iran's leaders and military.

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Some talk about a possible 'new page' for Iran

Fathi said she fears the Islamic Republic will hold onto power, "leading to chaos or even causing the splitting of the nation.

"But maybe, maybe from this morning, that new page for Iran where everything changes has begun. People are hopeful," she said. As she spoke, she heard the sound of explosions in the capital. "Right now, you see, Israel is hitting us. Fighters have violated our country's airspace and are freely bombing us and we are just sitting here."

Iranians arestill reeling from last month's crackdown, when security forces killed thousands. That and the ensuing wave of arrests have made many fearful of taking the streets again. Others are wary of U.S. and Israeli intentions or fear that Iran will be thrown into chaos and division.

"I don't think that the people have their determination in their own hands yet," the doctor in Rasht said. "This is a foreign war at the end of the day. But if the regime is so weakened and then another call for protests is made, this is another story."

Reza Mehrabi, 67, said celebrations of the deaths of Iranian senior leaders seem premature. He recalled similar celebrations after the 1979 revolution when the Shah was deposed, and the Islamic Republic's reign began.

"I saw some people were happy about the losses, but when I remember 1979 revolution and its aftermath, I need more consideration to understand if the nation and the country is on the right path."

But there's uncertainty about how much the strikes will embolden Iranians

One 27-year-old Tehran resident said a strike fell a few hundred yards (meters) away from her house, terrifying her with the explosion. "I have no idea which direction we are heading," she said. "I wish all these things were just a bad dream that vanishes when I wake up."

Despite Trump's calls for Iranians to rise up, experts say launching a new wave of mass demonstrations may not be so simple.

"The reality is, the Iranian people don't have the means to displace the Islamic Republic on their own," said Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies-Europe.

The strikes will embolden some people, he predicted, but many will be wary of taking to the streets again "because the regime retains its repressive capacity … and there should be no doubts it would be willing to use violence again against protesters."

"Even within families and within neighborhoods there may be very disparate views" about Khamenei's killing, especially because it was at the hands of foreign powers, he said.

Both in last summer's 12-day war with Israel and so far in this round of bombardment, "the political and military apparatus has been hit hard, but they have replaced people and maintained their cohesion," said Arang Keshavarzian, professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at New York University.

During the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranians from across society held massive protests lasting for months, eventually leading to the shah fleeing the country. "But we are far from the 1979 model in which Iranians organized strikes and nationwide organizations of merchants, students, and clerics," Keshavarzian said.

"Just because Iranians have many grievances and make claims on the state on a daily basis, it does not necessarily mean that this will scale up to a social revolution," he said. "And bombing Iran does not change this."

El Deeb and Chehayeb reported from Beirut.

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 01, 2026

Some celebrate in Iran after supreme leader's death, but deep fear and uncertainty remain

CAIRO (AP) — Some of the jubilation was open and even raucous — people dancing in Iranian streets, honking car horns in c...

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Spring Is Coming In Hot As Millions Across The US Face Record Highs This Week

March 1 is thestart of meteorological spring, but the forecast might look more like the beginning of summer for millions across the country. (Astronomical spring begins March 20). This is a major flip compared to last week, when we hadan historic blizzardand cold temperatures to start the week.

Over the course of this week, we will see dozens of high temperature records fall from the Desert Southwest to the mid-Atlantic.

Heat Dominates Southwest And Deep South First Half Of The Week

Warm temperatures will continue across the Southwest and Deep South to start the week. Dozens of record highs could fall from Phoenix to Jackson, Mississippi, and even north into Grand Junction, Colorado.

Those hot highs will hang on for one more day across the Southwest, as Monday is expected to hit 91 degrees in Phoenix. This will be the 3rd day in a row temperatures have topped 90 degrees.

Mid to upper 80s will dominate much of Texas to start the week. Just last Thursday, the Falcon Dam cooperative weather station, along the Rio Grande River about 70 miles south-southeast of Laredo, reported ahigh temperature of 106 degrees.This is a preliminary record of the hottest temperature ever recorded during the winter months in the U.S.

The record warmth will stick around across the South through midweek, then begin to shift eastward.

Southeast And Mid-Atlantic Feeling The Heat Later This Week

By the latter half of the week, the heat will spread eastward, impacting much of the Southeast and mid-Atlantic, with the record heat peaking on Friday for most.

On Friday, record highs could fall from Houston to Tampa, and stretch northward into portions of Ohio. This sprawling area will see high temperatures as much as 25-30 degrees above average for this time of year.

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On Friday, we could see record highs in places like Atlanta, Memphis, Charlotte and even Zanesville, Ohio.

On Saturday, places as far north as Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh could see a high in the mid 70s.

While the Northeast isn't expected to set any records, they will definitely be feeling the spring vibes with temperatures reaching the mid 50 by the weekend. This will be a welcomed change from the two and a half feet of snow that was dumped on the region byWinter Storm Hernandoless than two weeks prior.

March Is Trending Warmer For Many

As we make this major flip from such a cold winter to a mild March, this warming trend is expected to continue for most of the country, especially the west, through at least the first half of the month.

So if you have been counting the days until the sun and warmth reaches you, enjoy!

This doesn't mean the cold weather is behind us, but we can make the most of the warmer days while they last.

(MORE:March Forecast Trending Warmer)

Jennifer Grayis a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 01, 2026

Spring Is Coming In Hot As Millions Across The US Face Record Highs This Week

March 1 is thestart of meteorological spring, but the forecast might look more like the beginning of summer for millions ...

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Arizona State claim Big 12 swimming crowns as men break NCAA relay record

The rest of the Big 12 never stood a chance.

From the opening day to the final finish, Arizona State didn't just win the Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships, they owned it, rewriting the record book and leaving no doubt about who owns the conference heading into March.

Both the men and women are now two for two on Big 12 titles since joining the league.

Here are the main takeaways from this year's Big 12 swimming and diving championships:

Arizona State men are ready for March

The Sun Devils closed the meet with a statement swim.

In the 400-yd freestyle relay ASU broke the NCAA record posting a time of 2:42.15. Ilya Kharun, Adam Chaney, Remi Fabiani, and Jonny Kulow broke Tennessee's record from 2025 by fifteen one-hundredths of a second.

To put things in perspective, Tennessee's record included the fastest split in history fromJordan Crooks,who is the also the NCAA record holder in the 100-yd freestyle (which he took fromCaeleb Dresselin 2025).

The Arizona State men have been the definition of consistency throughout the 2025-26 season. Nothing changed this week as they won the Big 12 title with ease.

The undefeated Sun Devils have steamrolled through the season, including a big win at theCSCAA Dual Meet Challengein November where they dominated No. 9 Tennessee, No. 12 Michigan, and No. 25 Virginia.

Twelve meet records fell at the Big 12 championships, and all but one belonged to the Arizona State men. The Sun Devils also set Big 12 conference records in the 400-yd medley and 200-yd freestyle relays. The time posted in the 400-yd medley relay is good enough for fastest time in the country this year ahead of the quartet from No. 1 Texas.

"Swimming fast year round is a big emphasis of our program." fifth-year senior Jordan Tiffany told Yahoo Sports. "Every single person on the team buys into such a high standard and it's been special to be a part of it."

The Sun Devils were led by Kharun, who set meet records in the 100-yd and 200-yd butterfly and 50-yd freestyle. Kharun,who switched his international representation this January, has been on fire all season. He is heads back to Tempe with seven more Big 12 titles to his name.

Arizona State's dominance was felt most in the sprints, where it placed seven swimmers in the top eight of the 50-yard freestyle. The Sun Devils swept the podium, led by Kharun's meet-record 18.46.

This iteration of Arizona State has strength in experience, as the team is made up of four fifth-year seniors, who all transferred in from a number of different programs.

Fabiani, who transferred in from Cal Baptist, won the 100-yd and 200-yd freestyles and was a part of four Big 12 title relays for the Sun Devils. His Big 12 record in the 100 freestyle ranks him as the ninth-fastest performer in history.

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The Arizona State men will now try to climb back into the top three at the NCAA Championships in March. The Sun Devils finished sixth a year ago after winning the national championship in 2024.

Arizona State women set the pace

Much was the same in the women's meet as the Sun Devils took home another Big 12 title. All together the team had strength in numbers as ASU had five total event winners who took home nine total Big wins.

Albane Cachotled the way, sweeping the 50-yd, 100-yd and 200-yd freestyles. The freshman was also a part of three conference winning relays for the Sun Devils.

SeniorDeniz Ertanswept the distance freestyle events and won the 200-yd butterfly to be the second Sun Devil to go three for three.

Joining Cachot and Ertan at the top of the podium were Alexa Reyna (400-yd IM), Julia Ullmann (100-yd butterfly) and Sonia Vaishnani (200-yd IM).

One of the most impressive feats is the historical strength of the Arizona State women's roster. This year the team has posted 19 times inASU Women's All-Time Top 10.Cachotbroke the school record in the 100-yd freestyle in 47.42, which was also a Big 12 meet record, and Ullmann set the 100-yd butterfly record back in the fall. The roster is loaded with depth and positioned for a bright future.

While the ASU women's times may not yet match the national standard set by the men, the program had never won a conference title before 2025. The Sun Devils are now building serious momentum after capturing back-to-back Big 12 crowns.

Highlights from the rest of the pack

Although the Sun Devils stole most of the headlines, the rest of the Big 12 had several bright moments throughout the week.

Arizona prevented a relay sweep, as the Wildcats won the 200-yard freestyle relay to claim their first Big 12 title of the meet.

Arizona sophomore Kayman Neil dropped six-tenths of a second on the final night to win the 200-yard backstroke in 1:52.44.

BYU's Tanner Nelson out-paced the field in the men's 400 IM, winning the title by 0.09 seconds over ASU junior Reece Grady.

Senior Joleigh Crye earned a victory for Cincinnati in the women's 100 backstroke, touching first in 58.02.

Utah found success in the men's distance events and in diving. The Utes swept both the men's and women's team diving titles on the opening night. Utah also went one-two in the men's 500 freestyle, with Nick Chirasfisi and Jones Lambert taking gold and silver. Chirasfisi added another win in the 1,650 freestyle, and Evan VanBrocklin captured the men's 200 IM.

Full Team Results

1. Arizona State: 1,898.5

2. Arizona: 1,552.5

3. Utah: 1,305

4. TCU: 934

5. BYU: 843

6. Cincinnati: 802

7. West Virginia: 641

1. Arizona State: 1,660.5

2. Arizona: 1,442.5

3. Houston: 1,194.5

4. Cincinnati: 770

5. Kansas: 739.5

6. TCU: 733

7. Utah: 693

8. BYU: 524

9. Iowa State: 520

10. West Virginia: 409

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 01, 2026

Arizona State claim Big 12 swimming crowns as men break NCAA relay record

The rest of the Big 12 never stood a chance. From the opening day to the final finish, Arizona State didn'...

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Americans worldwide urged to be cautious after US operations in Iran

The State Department has issued a worldwide caution for Americans, not just in the Middle East.

Americans worldwide urged to be cautious after US operations in Iran

"Following the launch ofU.S. combat operations in Iran, Americans worldwide and especially in the Middle East should follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate," theState Department announcedFeb. 28. "The Department of State advises Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution."

A number of U.S. embassies and consulates across the Middle East have advised U.S. citizens toshelter in place.

Travelers hoping to either leave or enter the region are also being limited by temporary airspace closures.

US-Iran live updatesIsrael, Iran trade strikes after Khamenei killed

Airports, airspace closed

In the United Arab Emirates, one person was killed and seven people were hurt by falling debris after a drone targetingZayed International Airportwas intercepted, according toAbu Dhabi Airports.The airport and UAE airspace are currently closed.

Four workers were hurt when a concourse sustained minor damage at Dubai International Airport, one theworld's busiest, according toDubai Airports.A spokesperson said most terminals had already been evacuated at the time. The airport and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International have both suspended flights until further notice.

Several workers suffered minor injuries in a drone attack on Kuwait International Airport, a spokesperson for the country's civil aviation authority told state-ownedKuwait News Agency KUNA.

Bahrain International AirportandHamad International Airportin Qatar have suspended flight operations due to airspace closures over their respective countries. Israel has also closed its airspace and evacuated passengers at Ben Gurion International Airport and Haifa Airport, according to itsAirports Authority.Some of Israel's land border crossings are also closed.

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The vast majority of El Al, Emirates, FlyDubai, Gulf Air and Qatar Airways flights for March 1 are cancelled, according toflight tracking website FlightAware. More than half of Etihad Airways' flights are canceled as well.

What travelers should do

U.S. citizens currently abroad or heading out of the country are urged to enroll in the State Department's freeSmart Traveler Enrollment Programfor important updates and easier reach in the event of an emergency.

"Also follow our WhatsApp channel 'U.S. Department of State – Security Updates for U.S. Citizens' and@TravelGovsocial media," State Department Assistant Secretary for Consular AffairsMora Namdar posted on X,adding that the safety and security of Americans is their highest priority. "Americans in the Middle East region who need consular assistance can call 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 from overseas or +1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada."

Travelers trying to rebook flights to the Middle East should reach out to their respective airlines.

In a statement to USA TODAY, a spokesperson for Israel's El Al said the airline is proactively reaching out to existing ticketholders and will give them first priority once flights are allowed to resume. Ticket purchases for other flights have been closed until March 21 or until existing ticketholders can be rebooked.

"Closing ticket sales is intended to ensure full priority for customers whose tickets were issued before the current situation and to guarantee their travel as soon as possible," the airline said, directing customers toEl Al's websiteand social media for the latest updates.

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires travelers to be given a refund if their flight is canceled for any reason and they choose to no longer fly.

Travelers who already purchasedtravel insurance for their tripsmay have additional options. However, Squaremouth Travel Insurance notes, "Most standard travel insurance plansexclude cancellation coverage for military action, acts of war, or government-imposed airspace closures."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Americans urged to exercise caution abroad: What travelers should know

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 01, 2026

Americans worldwide urged to be cautious after US operations in Iran

The State Department has issued a worldwide caution for Americans, not just in the Middle East. Americans worl...

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Texas bar shooting leaves 3 dead and 14 wounded as FBI investigates possible terrorism

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The gunman who killed two people at a bar in Texas early Sunday in a mass shooting that left 14 others wounded has been identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a law enforcement official and another person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

Texas Bar Shooting

Diagne is originally from Senegal, according to multiple people briefed on the investigation. One of the people told the AP that Diagne came to the U.S. in 2006 and was a naturalized U.S. citizen. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.

Officers in Austin shot and killed the gunman, who used both a pistol and a rifle to carry out the attack, police said. The FBI said the shooting was being investigated as a potential act of terrorism.

The suspect drove past the bar several times before stopping and shooting a pistol out the window of his SUV at people on a patio and in front of the bar, said Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis.

The gunman then parked the vehicle, got out with a rifle, and began shooting at people walking in the area before officers who rushed to the intersection shot him, Davis said.

There have been at leasttwo other high-profile shootingsin Austin's Sixth Street entertainment district within the past five years, including one in the summer of 2021 that left 14 people wounded. Although this weekend's shooting doesn't meet the definition of amass killing, there have been five of those so far this year.

The FBI is investigating whether the shooting early Sunday was act of terrorism because of "indicators" found on the gunman and in his vehicle, said Alex Doran, the acting agent in charge of the FBI's San Antonio office.

"It's still too early to make a determination on that," Doran said.

The shooting happened outside Buford's Backyard Beer Garden just before 2 a.m. along Sixth Street, a nightlife destination filled with bars and music clubs and only a few miles from the University of Texas.

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The school's president said on social media that some of those impacted included "members of our Longhorn family."

"Our prayers are with the victims and all those impacted," said university President Jim Davis.

The entertainment district has a heavy police presence on weekends, and officers were able to confront the gunman within a minute of the first call for help, Davis said.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson praised the fast response by police and rescuers.

"They definitely saved lives," he said.

One of the victims was found in the street between two parked cars. Inside the multi-story bar, there were overturned tables and drinks left behind by fleeing customers.

Another shooting early Sunday at a Cincinnati nightclub and concert venue wounded nine people, police in Ohio said.

All nine had gunshot wounds, but none were non-life threatening, said Adam Hennie, the city's interim police chief.

Diaz reported from Richmond, Virginia; and Seewer from Toledo, Ohio. ___ Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.Report for Americais a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 01, 2026

Texas bar shooting leaves 3 dead and 14 wounded as FBI investigates possible terrorism

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The gunman who killed two people at a bar in Texas early Sunday in a mass shooting that left 14 othe...

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Iran live updates: 3 US service members killed, 5 wounded, CENTCOM says

Watch "Shockwaves: The Attack on Iran – ABC News Special," airing Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Saturday, with daytime strikes in the joint U.S.-Israel attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.

On Sunday, Iranian state television confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed by airstrikes in Tehran on Saturday.

Iran is responding to the U.S.-Israeli operation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and several Gulf nations. On Sunday, Israel said it was again bombing targets in Tehran.

Latest Developments

Mar 1, 1:47 PMOmani foreign minister says Iran open to 'any serious efforts' to reduce tensions

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told his Omani counterpart on Sunday that Tehran welcomes "any serious efforts contributing to de-escalation and the restoration of stability," according to a social media post from the Oman News Agency.

The post said Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidii, who had been mediating the negotiations between the United States and Iran leading up to Saturday's joint U.S.-Israel military operation, spoke with Araghchi by phone.

Araghchi "conveyed the position of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which calls for peace, noting that the Israeli-US attack upon his country had exacerbated tension and alarm throughout the region, while affirming the Iranian side's openness to any serious efforts contributing to de-escalation and the restoration of stability," the post read.

The post further said al-Busaidii "affirms the Sultanate of Oman's continued advocacy for a ceasefire and a return to dialogue and negotiation to resolve the ongoing conflict through diplomatic means."

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian

Mar 1, 1:01 PMIran's state-run TV building targeted, broadcaster says

Iran's state-run Islamic Republic State TV announced Sunday that its broadcasting building was targeted in the joint U.S.-Israel attacks.A state TV presenter said that an American-Israeli attack targeted the country's broadcasting building. The presenter added that state TV broadcasting continues as usual as technical teams assess the situation.-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian

Mar 1, 12:54 PMTrump says 9 Iranian naval ships 'destroyed and sunk'

President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that U.S. military forces "destroyed and sunk" nine Iranian naval ships and that Iran's naval headquarters had also sustained major damage since strikes against the country began on Saturday."I have just been informed that we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important," Trump said in a social media post. "We are going after the rest -- they will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also!"

The president said Iran's Naval Headquarters was also attacked, adding, "We largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters. Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!"

Earlier Sunday, U.S. Central Command said in anonline postthat "an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette was struck by U.S. forces during the start of Operation Epic Fury. The ship is currently sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Oman at a Chah Bahar pier."-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr and Cindy Smith

Mar 1, 12:09 PMCIA had been tracking Khamenei for months prior to attack

The CIA had been tracking Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei for months prior to Saturday's U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, a source familiar with the intelligence confirmed to ABC News.When they learned there would be a meeting of top leaders on Saturday with the Supreme leader, the timing of the attack was moved, the source said, adding that the agency had high confidence in their analysis.

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These details were first reported by The New York Times.Khamenei was killedin Saturday's attacks.A second source told ABC News that Israel had been planning for months with its own intelligence to target Iranian leadership, according to a person familiar with the operation.-ABC News' Cindy Smith and Anne Flaherty

Mar 1, 11:34 AMIsrael 'striking the heart of Tehran,' Netanyahu says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces were "striking the heart of Tehran with increasing strength, which will increase even more in the coming days."Netanyahu's comments were part of a recorded video message in which said he had "given instructions for the continuation of the campaign" after meeting with senior Israeli officials, including "the minister of defense, the chief of staff and the head of the Mossad," Israel's national intelligence agency.

Netanyahu also said the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks had "eliminated dozens of senior officials of the oppressive regime" in addition to "the dictator Khamenei," referring to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in Saturday's attacks.He also addressed reports of Israelis killed and injured in retaliatory strikes on Israel, saying "These are painful days. ... My heart goes out to the families.""We are in a campaign in which we are bringing the entire strength of the IDF, as never before, to this campaign to ensure our existence and our future," Netanyahu said. "But we are also bringing to this campaign the assistance of the United States, my friend, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, the U.S. military. This combination of forces allows us to do what I have been hoping to do for 40 years: to strike the terrorist regime squarely in the face. I promised, and so we will."-ABC News' Victoria Beaule

Mar 1, 8:35 AMIsrael reports 9 dead, 49 injured in 'missile barrage'

Israeli Emergency Services said on Sunday that nine people were killed and 49 were injured in a "missile barrage" in the Beit Shemesh region in central Israel.A spokesperson for the emergency service, also known as MDA, announced that paramedics were treating casualties after a missile barrage fired at Israel on Saturday and overnight.The injured were taken to hospitals in Jerusalem and Shamir, including three people in serious condition, three "moderately injured" and 43 "lightly injured," according to the MDA.

Rescue operations were also underway to locate any people who may be trapped in debris from the attacks, according to the Israel Fire and Rescue Service.-ABC News' Dorit Long and Victoria Beaule

Mar 1, 8:54 AMIran forms interim leadership council, state TV reports

The interim leadership council of Iran has been formed following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian state TV reported Sunday.According to the Islamic Republic's constitution, the interim leadership council is comprised of the president, the head of the judiciary and one of the members of the six "faghihs" – Islamic jurists who are scholars of Islamic law – of the Guardian Council.

According to the spokesperson for Iran's Guardian Council, since the faghih member of the Guardian Council to join the interim leadership council has been chosen, the leadership council is already formed."The constitution provides for the current situation and the Leadership Council will be in charge until the leadership is determined," the Guardian Council spokesman said on state TV.According to the law, the leadership must be determined as soon as possible, given the war conditions, according to a post on Iranian state TV's Telegram account.-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian

Mar 1, 8:06 AM3 killed in Iranian attacks on UAE, Defense Ministry says

The United Arab Emirates' Defense Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that three people had been killed and 58 people injured in Iranian attacks since Saturday.

The ministry said that since the start of the conflict, Iran had launched 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and 541 drones toward the country. Of those, 152 ballistic missiles, both cruise missiles and 506 drones were intercepted. Thirteen ballistic missiles also fell into the sea, the ministry said.Thirty-five drones "fell within the country's territory" causing "material damage" and casualties, the ministry said. Those killed were from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, the statement said.

Mar 1, 8:06 AMLarijani says attacks on regional nations are targeting US bases

Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, said in a post to X on Sunday that Tehran is launching attacks on regional nations to target U.S. military installations there.

"To the countries of the region: We are not seeking to attack you," Larijani wrote. "But when the bases located in your country are used against us, and when the United States carries out operations in the region relying on these forces, then we will target those bases.""These bases are not part of the land of those countries; rather, they are American soil," he added.Since the U.S. and Israel began their strikes on Iran on Saturday, Iranian forces have launched missile and drone attacks at Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.

Mar 1, 7:25 AMUS Embassy in Bahrain advises citizens to avoid hotels after attack

The U.S. Embassy in Bahrainadvised U.S. citizensin the country "that hotels might be a target for future attacks" and encouraged them to avoid hotels in the capital Manama, following a reported strike on the city's Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The Bahrain Interior Ministry said on Sunday that the hotel was targeted resulting in material damaged but no loss of life.The U.S. Embassy said it was "tracking confirmed reports the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manama was struck on March 1, 2026, resulting in injuries."Bahrain has reported being attacked with multiple waves of Iranian missiles and drones since Saturday.-ABC News' Victoria Beaule

Click here to read the rest of the blog.

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 01, 2026

Iran live updates: 3 US service members killed, 5 wounded, CENTCOM says

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Brewers keep showing small‑market savvy can match big budgets

PHOENIX — Here we go again.

TheMilwaukee Brewersare too cheap.

Too foolish, trading away their ace.

Too reckless, trading away their young star third baseman.

Surely, this will be the year their luck finally runs out, leaving their fans drowning their sorrows in beer, stuffing their faces with cheese curds, and screaming every time they hear, "Go Cubs Go," at Wrigley Field.

The Brewers hear the mockery, the taunts, the ridicule and the malice.

Their reaction?

"Honestly, we just don't care," Brewers outfielder/DH Christian Yelich says. "It's the same story every year."

MLB spring training 2026: Sunshine, good vibes in Arizona and Florida

So go ahead, bring it on, but please, don't take it personally if they laugh in your face.

"It's funny to us, because we don't feel like we're underdogs," Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick said. "We know we didn't go out and spend a lot of money, so that can kind of give you the underdog edge.

"But it's still a little weird to us because we win every year."

Indeed, the Brewers have dominated the NL Central for the past eight years. They've won three consecutive division titles, four of the last five, and in five of the past seven full seasons (excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season). They have averaged 92.6 victories a year since 2020, including a franchise-record and major-league leading 97 victories last year.

And not once was there a single season in which they were preseason picks to win the division.

"I don't mind it, it comes with the territory," Brewers GM Matt Arnold says. "If people want to overlook us, that's fine. Really, we embrace being underdogs here."

Now, here they are this year, without ace Freddy Peralta, and without starting third baseman Caleb Durbin, joining that Brewers tradition where Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes and All-Star closers Josh Hader and Devin Williams were dumped the past three years.

This was a winter where their hated rivals, theChicago Cubs, spent $209 million in free agency, while also acquiringMiami Marlinsfront-line starter Edward Cabrera in a trade.

The Brewers spent a grand total of $6.5 million.

The Cubs filled their third-base spot by signing Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract.

The Brewers filled their vacancy with Luis Rengifo on a one-year, $3.5 million deal.

So, is anyone shocked that the Cubs are heavy favorites to win the NL Central, even running away with it?

The Brewers simply shrug their shoulders, yawn and grin.

"We kind of defy what's going on," starter Brandon Woodruff, 33, the longest-tenured Brewer, tells USA TODAY Sports. "We're not supposed to be doing what we're doing with our payroll and our market.

"You see what we spend, and it's like how we going to win again. Then, you think, well, we did that last year without spending, we can do it again."

What's new?

The Brewers are always counted out in March, and in October, everyone's scratching their head and wondering how they pulled it off?

"I get it, we're a small market, everyone keeps writing us off," Brewers All-Star closer Trevor Megill says. "The top team is the Dodgers, and you hear everyone saying, 'How are we or anyone else going to beat them this year?' Well, people forget we're the ones who won the most games last year."

In many aspects, the Brewers are the Major League Baseball Players Association's dream team. They're a perennial playoff team year after year despite a bottom-10 payroll, proving a salary cap isn't necessary for small-market teams to win.

"Our team is a great example of why you don't need a salary cap," Megill says. "Get creative. There's more than one way to win a baseball game. Just because you pay guys all of that money, doesn't mean they're going to the playoffs.

"Growing up watching 90's baseball and the Yankees were doing exactly what the Dodgers are doing. Everyone thought it was cool because it was happening in New York. But now that it's the West Coast, everyone seems to have a problem with it. I think it's great for baseball that we have a team that's willing to go out there and spend, while teams like us that are underdogs to write their own stories.

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"Growing up, it was the Angels. Who the hell were the Angels in '02 (winning their first World Series)? They still do the damn rally monkey nearly 30 years later. So, when teams like that pull it off, it's great for baseball."

The Brewers, simultaneously, can be the union's worst nightmare, too, proving you don't have to spend big bucks in free agency. They had the second-lowest payroll among all playoff teams last year at $115.1 million, a cool $206 million less than the Dodgers.

The Brewers have only two players earning more than $10 million this year with outfielder Christan Yelich ($26 million) and Woodruff ($22.025 million). Exactly half of the Dodgers' team is earning at least $10 million, including eight players in excess of $20 million.

"We prove," Frelick says, "that you don't need to sign 10 players to $100 million deals to be good and to compete."

No, but it sure does help, covering up any mistakes with money.

Look at the Dodgers. They dropped $72 million last season on free-agent closer Tanner Scott, who flopped in his first year. What do they do? Turn around and throw another $69 million at closer Edwin Diaz this winter, pushing Scott to a setup role.

"I don't have any problem with teams spending money as a player, that's what you want to see," Woodruff said. "Obviously, the Dodgers have more money than anybody. They're the juggernauts of Major League Baseball. But you're not going to get mad at them for spending money.

"It shows the rest of the league, hey, maybe you can spend a little more money here, too."

While the Dodgers may be driving Bentleys and Mercedes to their ballgames, with the Brewers getting around in Jeeps and pickup trucks, the two teams have averaged more than 90 victories a season, with four division titles in the past five years.

They just have different styles of getting there, with the Brewers having to trade away potential free agents and prospects to get what they desire, while the Dodgers can reach into their bank account.

"It's crazy, but I feel like the money doesn't really matter," Brewers shortstop Joey Ortiz says. "The biggest payroll doesn't mean that you're going to win ballgames, and the lowest payroll doesn't mean that you're going to be the worst team in the league.

"I feel like we kind of use it as a chip on our shoulder a little bit. We just show up, handle business, and see where we are at the end of the season."

Says Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn: "We just drown out the outside noise and play our game. Once you're on the field, it's just baseball, not how much money you're making."

$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $700,000,000: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $500,000,000: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2026-39)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $426.5 million: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2019-2030)* includes extension

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $365 million: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-32)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $360 million: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (2023-2031)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $350 million: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $341 million: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (2022-31)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $340 million: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (2021-34)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $330,000,000: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (2019-31)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $325 million: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (2015-2027) – traded to New York Yankees in 2017

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $325 million: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (2022-31)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $325,000,000: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-35)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $313.5 million: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (2024-33) - traded to San Francisco Giants in 2025

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $300 million: Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies (2023-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $292 million: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (2014-2023)* includes extension

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $288,777,777: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (2024-34)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $280 million: Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $275 million: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (2008-2017)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $260 million: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (2019-26) - traded to St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, traded to Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $252,000,000: Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers (2001-10)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $245 million: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (2020-26)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $245 million: Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels (2020-26)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $240,000,000: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers (2026-29)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $240 million: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels (2012-2021)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $240 million: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners (2014-2023) – traded to New York Mets in 2019

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $225 million: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (2012-2021)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $217 million: David Price, Boston Red Sox (2016-2022) – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $215 million: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-2020)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $215 million: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-28)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $214 million: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (2012-2020) – traded to Texas Rangers in 2013

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $212 million: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (2023-32)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $210 million: Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks (2025-30)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $210 million: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (2015-2021)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $209.3 million: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (2023-34)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $206.5 million: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2021) – traded to Houston Astros in 2019

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $200 million: Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins (2023-28) - traded to Houston Astros in 2025

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

MLB's $200+ million contracts

$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)

Still, the Brewers are constantly faced with money decisions, and budgetary concerns. The Dodgers can spend $240 million on outfielder Kyle Tucker to replace Michael Conforto and not even blink. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio paid only $223 million for the entire franchise.

The Brewers hated the idea of having to trade Peralta, their homegrown and lovable two-time All-Star who went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA last season. Yet, he's a free agent after this year, and when they couldn't reach an agreement on a contract extension, they felt the urgency to trade him. They sent him and reliever Tobias Myers to the New York Mets for prized pitching prospect Brandon Sproat and shortstop/center fielder Jett Williams, who immediately became the Brewers' No. 3 prospect.

"Losing Freddy was tough," Brewers pitcher Aaron Ashby said. "Here's a guy who helped create a really awesome starting rotation here, and just a pitching culture. He was a huge piece of our success, and a model for everyone."

While everyone anticipated that Peralta likely would be traded once Woodruff accepted his $22.025 million qualifying offer, the trade of Durbin to the Boston Red Sox was stunning. Durbin, who finished third in 2025 NL Rookie of the Year balloting hitting .256 with a .721 OPS, exemplified the Brewers' blue-collar, gritty team. He was traded along with infielders Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler for left-handed pitchers Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan and infielder David Hamilton.

"It's difficult because Durbin represented how we played, what we were about," said Brewers manager Pat Murphy, the two-time NL Manager of the Year, who received a three-year, $8.95 million contract after the opening of camp. "He was as excited about getting on base by a hit-by-pitch as he was getting a line drive hit. He was all about just getting on base for us.

"I know we got a lot of pitching depth, and you look at the future, but it's still tough. I always want to remember this deal was about the big picture."

The deal certainly raised eyes throughout the industry, even with the Brewers replacing Durbin with the signing of Rengifo to a one-year, $3.5 million contract. Yet, inside the clubhouse, they didn't blink. They've watched Arnold work his magic over the years, stealing pitcher Quinn Priester from the Red Sox last season (13-3 with a 3.32 ERA) and hitting the jackpot by acquiring Vaughn from the White Sox, who hit nine homers with 46 RBI and a .869 OPS in 64 games.

"It's kind of how it is here," Brewers center fielder Blake Perkins says. "They make these trades every year, and everyone gets a little skeptical like, 'I don't know about this,' and they work out great.

"The big thing they do here is their due diligence on the type of people they want in the clubhouse that mesh well with everybody. They're big on that. Everyone's talented in this game, but they make sure everyone meshes well seamlessly. This team is perfect for me."

Said Arnold: "We're not looking for Boy Scouts everywhere, but you've got to have the right guys, guys that are willing to compete and play hard. There's a certain brand of player that we're looking at who fits in our clubhouse."

It's this culture why Woodruff says it was a no-brainer to accept the qualifying offer as a free agent to return to Milwaukee. He loves the city. Adores the fans. And feels completely at peace in the clubhouse.

"There's no place I'd rather be," said Woodruff, the Brewers' 11th-round draft pick in 2014. "Everyone gets it here. I know we've traded away some pieces, but the front office does a great job here. They don't make moves just to make moves. Sometimes the public doesn't necessarily see it, but they always have a reason behind it.

"I mean, they're obviously trying to set up moves for the future and to keep us competitive, but at the same time, we know how to win baseball games."

They've got the NL Central flags to prove it.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Brewers keep showing MLB you don't need big money to win

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 01, 2026

Brewers keep showing small‑market savvy can match big budgets

PHOENIX — Here we go again. TheMilwaukee Brewersare too cheap. Too foolish, trading away their ace. Too reck...

Read More