CNN 5 Things Iran War Resignation, Shutdown Travel Headaches, USA vs. Venezuela and more
Mar 17, 2026
A senior US intelligence official resigns amid tensions over Iran and claims of targeted killings. Airports face long lines as unpaid TSA staff skip shifts during a partial shutdown. Forecasters warn of an early, dangerous heat wave across the West. A deadly airstrike is reported at a Kabul hospital. Team USA meets Venezuela in a high-stakes World Baseball Classic final.
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Targeted Killings Raise Iran War Stakes
- Israel says it eliminated Iran's top security official and the head of a paramilitary force, raising tensions ahead of Nowruz.
- Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu framed the strikes as weakening Iran to give Iranians a chance to remove their regime, per David Rind's report.
Traveler Shows Up Hours Early Because Of Shutdown
- Traveler Ayush Kakar showed up at Newark at dawn after hearing horror stories about TSA lines during the partial shutdown.
- Airports like Atlanta and Houston are seeing multi-hour waits as unpaid TSA staff skip shifts and call-outs rise, per David Rind.
Shutdown Is Forcing Airport Operations To Strain
- The partial government shutdown is disrupting airport security as TSA workers work without pay and many quit or take unscheduled time off.
- TSA warns smaller airports could shut if call-outs increase and airline CEOs urged Congress to restore DHS funding.