March 30, 2026
45 Days: The length of the partial U.S. government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security — now the longest in U.S. history. The impasse has left parts of the agency operating without full funding since February 14. On Friday, President Trump signed a presidential memorandum (an executive action) directing DHS to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers who have worked without pay for more than a month, in hopes of improving airport delays caused by staffing shortages.
“03”: One of several aliases linked to the U.S.- born heir apparent of a major Mexican cartel leader killed last month. According to The Wall Street Journal, Juan Carlos Valencia González, the stepson of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (“El Mencho”), has assumed leadership of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The WSJ goes on to report that Valencia González’s American citizenship presents “legal hurdles in directly targeting and collecting personal data” that could aid law enforcement in pursuing the 41-year-old.
15: The number of policy provisions in a proposal the United States sent to Iran last week aimed at ending the war. Although Iran reportedly rejected the plan, President Donald Trump said Sunday that negotiations are ongoing and that “they gave us most of the points.”
7.5 Million: Student loan borrowers who began receiving notices Friday instructing them on how to select a new repayment plan after a federal court struck down the Biden-era SAVE plan, which offered some of the most generous income-driven repayment terms available. Borrowers will receive another notice in July, giving them 90 days to choose a new plan or be automatically placed into the standard repayment option.
3,100: The number of registered “No Kings” events held Saturday across all 50 states, protesting President Trump’s policies, including the Iran war. The Associated Press described the demonstrations as “mostly peaceful,” while noting that Los Angeles police arrested 74 people and deployed tear gas near a federal complex after some protesters refused to disperse.
28: Sharks found with traces of caffeine, common pain relievers, and even cocaine in their blood, according to a study of 85 sharks in the Bahamas that documented contamination from both legal and illegal drugs. Researchers say the findings reflect “the first report of caffeine and acetaminophen detected in any shark species worldwide” and highlight “the urgent need to address marine pollution in ecosystems often perceived as pristine.”
by Stephanie Wagner, based in Florida
