Today's Top Stories from NBC News

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2026

In today's newsletter: The U.S. military says it "eliminated" 16 Iranian mine-laying ships near the Strait of Hormuz. Voter confidence in the Supreme Court slumps to a record low. And 1,700 trans Kansas residents have lost their right to drive.

Here's what to know today.

▼ The Lead

U.S. military says it has 'eliminated' 16 minelayers near Strait of Hormuz

(ZUMA Press Wire via Reuters)

U.S. Central Command said its forces "eliminated" 16 minelayers, along with multiple naval vessels, near the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which 20% of the world's oil passes.

The action comes amid fears of damage to the global economy over the lack of shipping through the strait.

Here are the other top developments from the war:

During the House GOP retreat in Florida, House Speaker Mike Johnson and other top Republicans said the U.S. should not be involved in nation-building in Iran, a day after President Donald Trump called the operation there "the beginning of building a new country."

Evidence is mounting that the U.S. was responsible for the deadly school strike in southern Iran as images emerged showing fragments of American-made missiles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin may have lost another Kremlin-friendly leader, but the war could be a long-term benefit for his country, whose economy is dependent on energy exports.

Follow NBC News' live blog for more updates.

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Millions pour into Illinois primaries from unknown sources

Ahead of the Illinois primaries, super PACs have been pouring millions into Democratic campaigns across the state. Kristen Welker explains how this money is shaking up the race.

Become an NBC News subscriber to access this exclusive video briefing →

Voter confidence in the Supreme Court has dropped sharply over the past few years, and a new NBC News poll shows only 22% of registered voters have a "great deal" or "quite a bit" of confidence in the court.

It's the lowest since NBC News began polling on the question in 2000. The previous low came after the court overturned Roe v. Wade.

While Democrats have more negative feelings about the court, the poll found that Republican confidence has also tumbled in recent years. This comes amid Trump criticizing the justices after they struck down his sweeping tariffs.

Here's a closer look at the court's sinking poll numbers.

More politics news:

Republican Clay Fuller and Democrat Shawn Harris advanced to a runoff in the race to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Trump will visit Kentucky in an effort to boost the primary challenger in Rep. Thomas Massie's district.

Exclusive: Trump has questioned aides about Corey Lewandowski's role in a DHS ad campaign.

The FBI subpoenaed election records in Arizona last week, expanding an investigation into the state's 2020 results.

Trump's endorsement in the Texas Senate race may hinge on the passage of the SAVE America Act. Read more about what's included — and what's not — in the voting bill here.

Poll work or jury duty? A bill advancing in Idaho would give prospective jurors a choice to volunteer if there are election workers shortages.

Trump nominee for a senior State Department role withdraws after senators press him on remarks about Jews, Israel and "white culture."

Kansas law revokes our right to drive and threatens our right to exist, transgender residents say

Some 1,700 Kansas residents had their driver's licenses invalidated last month, not for speeding tickets or DUI charges, but for being transgender.

Kansas is one of five states to prohibit trans people from changing the gender marker on their licenses, but it is the first to pass a law that retroactively cancels licenses that were already changed. The law also invalidates birth certificates for those who updated their gender markers.

Hundreds of trans drivers received letters from the state informing them their documents were "invalid immediately" and they "may be subject to additional penalties" if they continue to drive, unless they surrender the license and receive a new one with their birth sex.

Two anonymous residents sued the state last month over the law.

Read how the law's rollout affected trans residents.

Bam Adebayo scores 83, passes Kobe Bryant for second most points in a game in NBA history

The Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo scored 83 points in a 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards, the second-best scoring effort in NBA history.

Adebayo passed former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who had an 81-point game in 2006.

Adebayo also set a record for made free throws, sinking 36 from the foul line. Wilt Chamberlain was the last player to hold this record, scoring 28 points in free throws the night he hit 100 points — still the highest-scoring game in league history.

More from Adebayo's big night here.

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A defunct NASA satellite is crashing back to Earth, with a small risk of falling debris. The 1,323-pound spacecraft, launched 14 years ago, made an uncontrolled re-entry on Tuesday evening.

An NBC and KFF Health News investigation into cosmetic surgery chains prompted a push for tighter safety standards.

The FDA sent a warning letter to Novo Nordisk for failing to report potential GLP-1 side effects.

An Ohio federal judge ruled that Kalshi's sports prediction markets count as gambling, and must adhere to state law, saying that she's obligated to "avoid absurdity."

The New Mexico ranch of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is being searched by state investigators.

The woman accused of shooting at pop star Rihanna's L.A. home has been charged with attempted murder.

An ex-NFL linebacker charged with killing his girlfriend asked ChatGPT for advice before calling 911, court documents say.

▼ Staff Pick

The audacious plan to refill the Great Salt Lake

In 2022, I rode a bike across the parched Great Salt Lake — the year alarm bells began to blare for Salt Lake City. The lake's water level was at its record low and nearing ecological collapse, researchers told me.

Utah's governor announced an ambitious goal: to refill the lake by 2034, when the state hosts the Olympics. To get to healthy levels, Utah will have to save and dedicate about five times as much water to the lake as it has in any previous year. It's a Herculean task, one source said.

However, the lake now has a diverse, growing collection of advocates. Environmentalists, Republican lawmakers, a business-friendly philanthropy group led by Mitt Romney's son — and even Trump — are all part of the effort to save the lake.

— Evan Bush, science reporter

▼ NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

Trying to spend more time offline? Same. Select editors "bricked" their phones for two weeks to see if it kept them from mindless scrolling. Other good ways to get off the internet is planning a board game night with friends or learning a new skill, like how to play pickleball.

Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.

Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Marissa Martinez.

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