Iran still retains power to inflict damage despite Trump's war claims

Plus, why America could be on the cusp of a farm crisis. 

Today's Top Stories from NBC News SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2026 In today's newsletter: U.S. forces rescued one service member and are still searching for a second after Iran shot down a fighter jet. NASA shares breathtaking photos of Earth from the Artemis II mission. And why America could be on the cusp of a farm crisis.  Here's what to know today. ▼ The Lead Iran's shooting of a U.S. fighter jet shows it still retains power to inflict damage (Bettmann Archive file) On Wednesday, President Donald Trump told Americans that the U.S. military had "beaten and completely decimated Iran." Less than two days later, Tehran shot down an F-15E fighter jet, setting off a high-risk scramble by U.S. forces to rescue two service members from deep inside Iranian territory. Iran also struck two Blackhawk helicopters and an attack jet that were assisting in the search and rescue effort.  As of last night, one pilot aboard the F-15E jet has been rescued, and U.S. forces were still searching for the second crew member after a regional governor offered a bounty for his capture. There were minor injuries to U.S. forces on the Blackhawk helicopter, and the pilot of the attack aircraft, an A-10 Thunderbolt, who safely ejected over Kuwaiti airspace, according to a U.S. official. The incidents have put in stark relief a growing challenge facing the president as the war enters its second month: Despite a daily bombing campaign and his triumphant wartime narrative, Iran retains enough military capabilities to inflict considerable damage to U.S. service members and America's allies in the Middle East. The developments have also marked a potential turning point for Americans, as the White House's account of how the war is going is in conflict with its grim realities.  Where Iran's military capabilities stand, according to sources.  ✱ FOR SUBSCRIBERS Judge gives Justin Baldoni a major win in Blake Lively's lawsuit  Rebecca Keegan explains why many of Lively's claims against her "It Ends With Us" co-star were tossed and what comes next in the case.    Become an NBC News subscriber to access this exclusive video briefing → ▼ Top Stories Trump signs memo directing DHS to pay all employees during shutdown President Trump signed a memo authorizing paychecks for more than 35,000 Department of Homeland Security employees as the department's shutdown extends to nearly 50 days. The employees at agencies including FEMA, the Coast Guard and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have gone without pay since funding stopped on Feb. 14.  Last week, Trump signed a similar memo that directed DHS to pay TSA workers, as passengers endured significant delays at airports across the country. All the while, ICE and Border Patrol have received funding during the shutdown with money from Trump's so-called "big, beautiful bill."  In yesterday's memo, Trump argued why the new payments are justified. South Carolina and UCLA advance to women's NCAA title game South Carolina and UCLA will face off tomorrow for the 2026 women's NCAA Tournament championship after each team claimed victory in their Final Four matches. South Carolina beat UConn 62-48 in a game that snapped the Huskies' 54-game winning streak. The intense match led to a heated exchange between Huskies coach Geno Auriemma and Gamecocks coach Dawn Stanley, who had to be separated at midcourt. And UCLA defeated Texas 51-44. For most of the game, the Longhorns appeared on their way to losing — but in a three minute stretch in the fourth quarter, they outscored the Bruins 12-2 to cut a 13-point deficit to just three points. But it wasn't enough. In the men's tournament this evening, Illinois will take on UConn, and Michigan will fight Arizona for a spot in the title game. See more highlights from the women's Final Four. Photos of Earth taken on historic Artemis II moon mission The world is watching as NASA's Artemis II mission makes its 10-day journey around the Earth and the moon. Meanwhile, the crew aboard the Orion spacecraft is taking in views of our planet. Yesterday, NASA shared a few photos — and they're breathtaking. One picture, taken Thursday by Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman, shows the planet backlit, with auroras visible at the top right and bottom left, Lakiesha Hawkins, deputy director for NASA's Artemis program, said during a news conference. As of Friday, the crew is more than 100,000 miles from Earth, with about 150,000 miles to go to the moon which the spacecraft is expected to fly around on Monday. The mission does not include a lunar landing, but is designed as a step toward a landing in 2028. See more photos from the Orion spacecraft. The best of NBC News. Fewer ad interruptions. All in one place. Ad-free articles, podcasts and full episodes of NBC News Shows Ad-free live news, streaming on NBC News NOW Subscriber-only video briefings and newsletter LEARN MORE The best of NBC News. Fewer ad interruptions. All in one place. Ad-free articles, podcasts and full episodes of NBC News Shows Ad-free live news, streaming on NBC News NOW Subscriber-only video briefings and newsletter LEARN MORE ▼ Quiz Time Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lifted the suspensions of members of an Army aircrew who were punished for flying helicopters past which musician's house? Kid Rock  Lee Greenwood Morgan Wallen  Nicki Minaj Find out the answer and test your knowledge of this week's most-read stories. (The answer to the question is also at the bottom of this newsletter.) TAKE THE NEWS QUIZ ▼ Read All About It The U.S. added 178,000 jobs in March, blowing past expectations and showing a resilient labor market as the war with Iran began escalating. News that ICE would be stationed outside Marine Corps graduation events in South Carolina meant that some graduates had to celebrate without their parents. A death wish and a catfish: How an IRS agent lured his wife and an unsuspecting man to their murders — and received help from his family's au pair. A California dairy is recalling some of its cheese products amid a dangerous E. coli outbreak. A woman who disappeared in 1994 when she was 13 years old told investigators this week that she wasn't abducted — and she didn't want to be found. ▼ Staff Pick Is America on the cusp of a farm crisis? The war in the Middle East is straining American farmers. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, the usual third of the world's fertilizer ingredients and fifth of its oil supplies aren't passing through the key waterway. That has raised global prices — a double whammy hitting farmers who rely on fertilizer to grow their crops and diesel to power their tractors. When I talked with farmers, they told me it's putting extra pressure on an industry already under serious stress. Years of consolidation in the fertilizer industry and increased competition from abroad have upped costs and led to smaller returns. Farm sector debt is expected to reach a record high this year. Many farms have gone under. One farmer told me he's more concerned now than he has ever been in his 30 years in the industry. He says we could end up with fewer farms, higher prices for consumers and less choice at the grocery store. — Kayla Steinberg, producer ▼ NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified Hiking season is finally here. Our editors spoke to experts about the essentials you should keep in your emergency kit to stay safe on the trails. Plus, our editors wore these hiking shoes for hundreds of miles and tested nearly a dozen point-and-shoot cameras to help capture the views. 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 Elizabeth Robinson.  By the way, the answer to the quiz question is A. Kid Rock. If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — send us an email at: MorningRundown@nbcuni.com If you're a fan, please forward it to your family and friends. They can sign up here. 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