The Assignment - March 12, 2026
Daily Updates on important news stories and how they are being covered
I am a former news assignment editor and news startup leader, and I am now a media consultant. I still follow, curate and verify the national and global news every day. Thousands of journalists and current affairs experts follow me, and now I want to share that work with others who may find it useful.
I publish “The Assignment” every evening during the week to help journalists, and others who care deeply about the news, understand which stories are important, which questions and aspects still remain uncovered, and which sources are the best to follow.
I have been following coverage of these important stories today and I want to provide some useful guidance on key aspects of each story that may require more coverage.
The Epstein Files: The files have still only been partially released. There is no clarity on when the rest of the files will be released.
Iran: Please follow my Iran, National Security, Israel-Mideast and White House Lists below to monitor developments.
I am watching for more images and videos from the incident in which two American refueling aircraft hit each other, one going down inside Iraq and the other returning to base with visible damage.
The New York Times did an excellent Daily podcast this morning summing up its forensic investigation of the American bombing of the school in Iran that killed more than a hundred children. Click to listen below.
President Macron confirmed that at least one French service member was killed in an attack on a French base inside Iraq.
Iranian news agencies showed images of markings honoring the children that died in the bombing of the school now being attached to rockets being prepared for attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets.
The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to any oil tanker traffic.
Ukraine: The Trump Administration confirmed the extension of an order lifting sanctions on Russian oil sales to India. The money that Russia is making from these oil sales, especially as prices spike because of the war in Iran, will provide funds for Russia to continue attacking Ukraine.
See all my curated lists below. Paying Subscribers to The Assignment can request additional curation or verification on any major story: