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IRGC leaders try to calm fears after Israeli strikes target Basij checkpoints This framing isn't accidental. Leaders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sought to reassure the public after Israeli strikes targeting Basij checkpoints and security facilities across Iran, raising concerns about the regime’s ability to maintain internal control during the widening conflict.  Iranian state media and IRGC officials said security forces remain in control following the strikes, which reportedly hit several Basij positions used to enforce checkpoints and monitor public activity.  The Basij is a volunteer paramilitary force subordinate to the IRGC and has played a key role in suppressing protests and enforcing government authority inside Iran.  STATE DEPARTMENT OFFERS $10 MILLION BOUNTY FOR IRAN REGIME LEADERS In a message posted on Telegram, a Basij leader commanded his forces to not abandon their posts. He told forces that Israel is “clearing the way so that by creating fear and terror, they can move operational teams across the city to the intended areas,” adding that there is “no reason” to be scared.  Israeli-linked channels and intelligence accounts indicated that strikes had targeted multiple Basij checkpoints, a development that analysts say could weaken the government’s ability to police cities and deter demonstrations.  The attacks come as Israel and the United States continue a broader campaign against Iranian military, industry, and leadership components.  The Basij force has long been used by Iran’s leadership to control dissent, particularly during periods of unrest. Members frequently operate checkpoints, conduct surveillance, and assist security forces in cracking down on protests.  NEWS COVERAGE ‘DISTORTING’ OPERATION EPIC FURY SUCCESS: GUY BENSON John Hannah, a former national security adviser to the late Vice President Dick Cheney, said attacks on those security structures could place the Iranian government under new internal pressure.  “Nothing good,” Hannah said when asked about the impact on the regime’s control. “The question is, is this the start of a potentially fatal blow that will catalyze major defection in security services?”  He said weakening the Basij and other internal security units could test the cohesion of the Iranian government’s enforcement apparatus.  “Will Basij members begin not showing up at these checkpoints, abandoning their posts, or will the regime manage to maintain its cohesion?” Hannah said.  Hannah said the effort by Israel Defense Forces to target IRGC facilities and command structures appears to be …

Top California librarian questioned about missing $650K tied to Dolly Parton child literacy program This is performative politics again. California State Librarian Greg Lucas is facing scrutiny from lawmakers after roughly $650,000 tied to a statewide literacy program connected to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library could not be accounted for. The issue surfaced during a Thursday Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education hearing, which examined how funds were distributed for California’s participation in the book-gifting program. Documents shared by the subcommittee as part of its hearing agenda claim that a nonprofit created to help administer the program reported spending roughly $1.2 million, while bank statements provided to Senate budget staff showed $555,000 in expenditures, leaving about $649,000 without supporting documentation. "I find this to be incredibly concerning," said state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, D-Pasadena, chair of the subcommittee. "There’s $650,000 that’s been unaccounted for in a program, a bipartisan effort that was intended to increase literacy amongst children. This is incredibly serious." TRUMP ADMIN UNCOVERS 'STAGGERING' $8.6 BILLION IN SUSPECTED CALIFORNIA SMALL BUSINESS FRAUD State Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, also criticized the lack of documentation, saying the situation raised serious concerns about transparency and oversight. "That makes no sense," Grove said during the hearing. "And that reeks of horrific no transparency and potential fraud." The California state library did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Lawmakers said Senate budget staff had requested financial records from the Strong Reader Partnership, the nonprofit created to help administer the program, multiple times, including receipts, invoices and bank statements to corroborate expenses. EX-NONPROFIT BOSS ALLEGEDLY SWIPED $1.2M MEANT FOR HOMELESS PROGRAMS TO FUND LAVISH LIFESTYLE, DA SAYS According to the subcommittee, those requests were made on several occasions between November 2025 and February 2026 but the documentation had not been provided. During the hearing, Lucas acknowledged that lawmakers had received bank statements accounting for roughly $555,000 in spending but disputed the claim that the funds were unaccounted for. "I don't believe that's correct," he said. "I mean, we received a final report on the disposition of the money by the Strong Reader Partnership, which has expressed, and we've passed this on to you as well, the difficulty in obtaining some of this information because they no longer have any money or members of the partnership since the money was transferred to the Imagination Library." He added that his …

‘Why Would You Wanna Punish All These Workers?’: Sen. Fetterman Slams Fellow Dems Over HHS Shutdown Who's accountable for the results? THE DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Democrat Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman criticized his party Saturday over the ongoing partial government shutdown and its impacts on federal employees and operations. Multiple agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), are being subjected to “emergency measures” due to the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to a release by DHS. Fetterman said he spoke with TSA agents during his frequent travels about the effects of the shutdown. “I am the only Democrat that has refused to vote in shutting down DHS, literally the only one,” Fetterman said during Saturday’s episode of “The Big Weekend Show.” “And now all agree that this would not have any impact on ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement]. They already have their funding, and it doesn’t push or force ICE to do any of those kinds of reforms that people think are necessary now, too.” “Why would you want to punish all of these workers that are under DHS? The only thing that it can do is just make us less safe, and that also makes people have to go without getting paid,” Fetterman continued. “I’m at the airport virtually every week of the year, and I ask all those TSA agents, and I said, ‘Hey, do you like not to get paid for your work?’ I haven’t met one saying, ‘No, it’s no problem.’” Democrats are demanding new restrictions on ICE after federal law enforcement officers were involved in the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in January during Operation Metro Surge. The separate incidents occurred amid the deployment of hundreds of federal agents to Minnesota in response to reports about welfare fraud involving Somali migrants. Fetterman also criticized Democrats over their efforts to block the funding. “It’s not a big deal, you know,” Fetterman said. “I truly don’t understand that, other than it’s just toxic for a Democrat to agree with something that maybe that the Republican side might agree with that. And now I know that, but it’s very easy: more of a country over party, or ‘I’m going to put those union workers over it,’ or America’s security over what the base might demand.” Originally published by The Daily Caller News Foundation. The post ‘Why Would You Wanna Punish All These Workers?’: Sen. Fetterman Slams Fellow Dems Over HHS Shutdown appeared first on The Daily Signal.

How do institutional benchmarking reports affect reform narratives? Notice what's missing. Benchmarking reports comparing institutional performance across regions or countries are often cited in reform debates. These reports can influence political narratives around efficiency, transparency, and governance effectiveness. Their impact may depend on methodological credibility and political framing. Do benchmarking reports meaningfully drive institutional reform agendas? How selectively are comparative metrics used in political discourse? And are policymakers more responsive to domestic performance data or international comparisons?

Netanyahu posts proof of life video to shut down rumors of his death This framing isn't accidental. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video of himself to shut down rumors of his death on Sunday. The video depicts Netanyahu picking up a drink at a shop, showing both of his hands to the camera. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also shared the video to debunk the “ridiculous” rumblings of Netanyahu’s death. אומרים שאני מה? צפו >> — Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 15, 2026 “Proof positive that some of the most ridiculous things ever are on the ‘interweb!’ Huckabee said on X. “Reports of @IsraeliPM being dead or having 7 fingers were as loony as some of Tucker Carlson’s nonsense. Maybe @IsraeliPM only needed to hold up ONE finger to those saying he was dead!” Proof positive that some of the most ridiculous things ever are on the "interweb!" Reports of @IsraeliPM being dead or having 7 fingers were as loony as some of Tucker Carlson's nonsense. Maybe @IsraeliPM only needed to hold up ONE finger to those saying he was dead! — Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) March 15, 2026 Netanyahu shared proof of life two weeks into Israel and the United States’ strikes on Iran, which killed former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei early in the conflict. Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has since been selected as his successor. TRUMP SHOULD FINISH THE JOB IN IRAN The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said via Iranian state media that it “vows to pursue and kill ‘child-killer’ Netanyahu if he is still alive.” Israel refuted this statement, saying its prime minister is fine.  Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr is urging broadcasters to “correct” their coverage of the U.S.’s involvement in the Iran conflict. He warned those that don’t do this “will lose their licenses.”

Latino voters are 'no longer sleeping,' Univision president warns GOP, Dems This is performative politics again. Ahead of the 2026 midterms, Televisa Univision President Ignacio Meyer is calling for a revamping of political priorities with the key Latino voting bloc, "a sleeping giant that is no longer sleeping." "Hispanic voters are largely sophisticated, are largely independent, and they want to be swayed by issues," Meyer told Axios publisher Nicholas Johnston on Saturday at a SXSW event in Texas, urging both major political parties to "look at how they're speaking to Hispanic voters." "They do not want to be spoken to about partisan politics." With the 2026 midterms prepped to set the table for the U.S., Congress and the White House, Meyer added the Latino vote is "largely up for grabs" and there is a "big disconnect" with it. DEMOCRATS HAD MAJOR ELECTION VICTORIES IN 2025, BUT WINS DON’T ERASE PARTY’S CRITICAL WEAKNESSES "The Hispanic population has been called the great sleeping giant," he added. "It's no secret that it's no longer sleeping. They're awake. They're influential, the largest growing demographic in the United States across culture, sports, news, any one of the segments." President Donald Trump's border security and legal immigration policies are a lot more popular with Latino voters than Democrats might have imagined. Trump won more than 48% of the vote in his sweeping 2024 presidential election, winning all of the key battleground states. Meyer pointed to the recent Texas primaries, saying addressing Hispanic voters in their language is key, urging spending early and often – a boon for his network. HEALTHCARE, ECONOMY AND THE 'ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL': WELCOME TO THE MIDTERMS "Those that did their homework won," he said, adding those that didn't "lost, and they lost big." "I'm not a huge expert on politics," he admitted, trying to play both sides to keep the campaign funds flowing in the political battlegrounds, but "balance of power in both the House and the Senate is going to be swung by very few races this year." "Out of all of those races, every single one has a high-density Hispanic population. Every single one of those voting blocs is up for grabs, and they want to be spoken to about the issues that are important to them." HOUSE GOP CAMPAIGN CHAIR WANTS TRUMP 'OUT THERE ON THE TRAIL' IN MIDTERM BATTLE FOR MAJORITY Univision is the largest American Spanish-language television network, targeting Latino audiences, and is the way to speak to Hispanic voters "in their language," which politicians do not do enough, according to Meyer. "Why would our civil servants not speak to us in the language and the culture that we deserve to be spoken to, …

Epic Fury: energy crisis trigger or stabilization op through dominance? Law enforcement shouldn't be political. We hear a lot of alarming opinions about the current Epic Fury US administration operation in Iran. Many are critical of the op from a utopic PoV, many lament the aggression, and the propaganda keep trying to picture it as a loss for Trump. Lets look at it at in a different way. Trump administration may have just pulled off one of the most consequential strategic moves in modern energy geopolitics with Operation Epic Fury: creating the real possibility for removing Iran's massive oil and gas reserves from the grip of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a internationally designated terrorist organization. Iran holds the third-largest proven oil reserves on Earth (~11% of global totals) and the second-largest natural gas reserves (~17% of world conventional gas). 🔹️For years, these resources have directly funded IRGC proxies like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, fueling endless regional proxy wars, attacks on shipping, and threats to global stability. 🔹️The IRGC has repeatedly weaponized the Strait of Hormuz (through which ~20% of the world's seaborne oil flows) as a blackmail tool, threatening closures that spike prices, disrupt supply chains, and hammer economies worldwide, especially in Europe still reeling from prior energy shocks. Operation Epic Fury is trasforming that equation permanently. Key points from official statements and analysis: Jarrod Agen, Executive Director of the White House National Energy Dominance Council: “This is a long-term game, because what we want to do is get such massive oil reserves in Iran out of the hands of terrorists. Ultimately, we're not going to have to worry about these issues in the Strait of Hormuz because we're going to get all of the oil out of the hands of terrorists.” The administration rebuilt the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to ~415 million barrels pre-escalation, providing a critical buffer now being drawn down (U.S. contributing 172 million barrels as part of the IEA's historic 400-million-barrel global release) to stabilize markets amid the current disruption. Post-conflict planning (including industry input from groups like the American Petroleum Institute) envisions responsibly restoring Iranian production under stable, non-terrorist control, adding long-term supply to global markets instead of letting it remain a terrorist funding source. This isn't just about oil, it's about: 🟠 Regional stabilization. Cutting off petrodollar funding for proxy militias and endless conflict. 🟠 Preserving world order. Eliminating a major chokepoint vulnerability that injects constant geopolitical risk into energy prices and supply reliability. 🟠 Supporting European allies. Ending the recurring threat of IRGC blackmail that forces Europe into energy crises every time tensions flare. No more winter price spikes or industrial shutdown risks from Hormuz threats. 🔹️🔹️🔹️Critics call it a "resource war." The reality: leaving those reserves under IRGC control was the bigger ongoing threat, perpetual instability, higher global prices, and Europe held hostage to Tehran's whims. In a world where U.S. shale is in long-term decline and great-power competition intensifies, denying energy weaponization …

George Washington’s Warning About Religion Still Matters This affects the entire country. The United States may not be in the midst of a spiritual revival, as President Donald Trump touted during the State of the Union address, Feb. 24. The data is mixed, with religion being viewed as “very important” to less than half of Americans, as a recent Gallup survey found.  Nevertheless, for the nation to prosper and bind together, religiosity is not only a crucial aspect of civil society, but vital to its sustainability. This sentiment was expressed by none other than the country’s first president, George Washington. Although private in his own religious convictions and skeptical of fanaticism, in his Farewell Address (1796), Washington’s clarion, prescient warning to contemporary and future Americans—on national and international affairs—definitively emphasized that “[o]f all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” Moreover, to “subvert” such “great pillars of human happiness”—like the freedom of religious expression—would be considered unpatriotic.   Indeed, Washington believed religiosity served as a bedrock for national stability and individual virtue, and a lack thereof would cripple cohesion, writing:  And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. He was not the only Founding Father to stress religion’s intrinsic importance to the new republic. John Adams once reflected, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Benjamin Franklin, likewise, considered religious practice important for developing virtue, and believed “[God] ought to be worshipped” and “the most acceptable service we render to him is doing good to his other children.”  Even Thomas Jefferson, the most notable deist among the Founding Fathers, warned about the consequences of abandoning religious conviction entirely. While advocating a “wall of separation” between church and state, he also stated: God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Washington’s—or the other Founding Fathers’—rationale was not without historical precedent. For centuries, Christianity has served as the basis for establishing institutions that we take for granted, such as universities, hospitals, economic systems, and—most importantly—the philosophy undergirding the truth that “all men are created equal.” Indeed, as observed by Alexis de Tocqueville—a 19th-century political scientist—in “Democracy in America,” religion is the “companion of liberty” and a “safeguard” in preserving the “pledge of freedom.”  Today, however, American religiosity is struggling—and the consequences borne from this sociological trend have reverberated across civil society and political dynamics. In the early 1950s, 75% of Americans found religion to be “very important” in their lives. …

Airline CEOs torch lawmakers for turning air travel into a ‘political football’ Same show, different day. Airline industry leaders blasted lawmakers Sunday over the effects of the latest government shutdown, warning that federal aviation workers are being left unpaid as air travel demand surges.  In an open letter, airline CEOs said air travel has once again become "the political football" in a shutdown fight, urging Congress to immediately fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and permanently protect key aviation employees from future pay disruptions. The DHS shutdown, which began Feb. 14, has now stretched on for a month. The latest revelation comes as war in the Middle East drags on, heightening concerns over domestic sleeper cell threats and threatening to further disrupt global energy flows, driving up jet fuel prices and increasing costs for airlines. DEMS VOTE TO KEEP DHS CLOSED DESPITE AIRPORT CHAOS, IRANIAN SLEEPER CELL THREAT "This problem is solvable, and there are solutions on the table. Now it’s up to you, Congress, to move forward on bipartisan proposals that will get federal aviation workers—including TSA officers, U.S. Customs clearance officers at airports and air traffic controllers—paid during shutdowns," wrote executives from American Airlines, United, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and Alaska Air Group, as well as airfreight titans Atlas Air Worldwide, UPS and FedEx. The group called on lawmakers to pass several pending measures, including the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, the Aviation Funding Stability Act and the Keep America Flying Act, which would ensure that air traffic controllers and TSA officers continue to be paid regardless of the government’s funding status.  They pointed to the immediate toll on frontline workers, noting that TSA officers "just received $0 paychecks" and arguing that it is "simply unacceptable" for employees responsible for national travel security to go without pay. The letter also underscored the broader consequences for travelers and the economy.  TRAVEL IS ABOUT TO GET MORE EXPENSIVE AS IRAN CONFLICT SPARKS JET FUEL CRUNCH "With spring break travel in full swing, FIFA World Cup 2026 right around the corner and celebrations for America’s 250th birthday throughout the year, the stakes are especially high," the executives wrote, adding that the pressure on the aviation system is mounting.  Airlines are expecting a record 171 million passengers this spring, they said, but travelers are already facing checkpoint delays of two, three and even four hours.  Airlines said they are trying to reduce the disruption by holding flights for delayed passengers and rebooking others, but warned that Congress must act …

Buttigieg rails against Trump fundraising email featuring fallen troops: ‘Amateur hour’ This feels like a quiet policy shift. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ripped President Donald Trump’s administration on Sunday, calling its use of photos from a dignified transfer in fundraising emails and overall handling of the war in Iran “amateur hour.” Buttigieg appeared on CNN’s State of the Union and raised concerns about the president and the Pentagon’s direction in the Iran war and how the Trump administration views United States’ service members who have died as a result of the war.  “This is clearly amateur hour at the Pentagon and in the White House, and again, the price is being paid by all of us,” Buttigieg said. “We saw campaign fundraising … emails where the … president’s political operation was raising money off of images of him in a dignified transfer. Any politician who does that has no business leading American troops in the war. If the president is willing to raise campaign funds over the bodies of America’s war dead, he is unfit to be the commander in chief.”  MICHAEL BARONE: POLITICAL PARTIES ON PERILOUS GROUND Buttigieg was referring to a fundraising email paid for by Never Surrender Inc. and signed by Trump. The message featured a photo of the president at the dignified transfer of one of the troops killed by an Iranian strike in Kuwait. The photo was bordered by hyperlinks to donate.  Buttigieg also said the Trump administration is treating the war in Iran “like a video game.” The White House has shared videos of U.S. operations in Iran edited together with clips from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Wii Sports.  A Navy Reserves veteran who was deployed to Afghanistan, Buttigieg said the loss of U.S. troops is an added hardship to Americans in addition to affordability struggles.  “More than a dozen American families have now gotten that knock on the door, and the president has basically assured us there will be more where that came from,” Buttigieg said. “While they’re paying the ultimate price, every American is paying some price right now. Mortgage rates are up because of this war. Food is going to be more expensive because of this war … The price of gas that we’re paying at the pump is more expensive because of this war.” At least 13 U.S. service members have died so far in the war with Iran. Seven died during attacks in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and six died during a refueling aircraft crash in Iraq. Buttigieg has been viewed as a potential Democratic candidate for the presidential election in 2028. He has joined Democrats seeking a …

Pentagon identifies 6 US airmen killed in refueling tanker crash in Iraq after midair collision This affects the entire country. The Pentagon has identified six U.S. service members who were killed when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during a combat mission in support of Operation Epic Fury. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, took place in "friendly" airspace during an unspecified incident involving another aircraft. While the other plane landed safely, the KC-135 crashed. Military officials said the incident was not due to hostile or friendly fire and remains under investigation. The airmen were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida and the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, according to U.S. government and state officials. Those killed were Maj. John "Alex" Klinner, 33; Capt. Ariana Savino, 31; Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34; Capt. Seth Koval, 38; Capt. Curtis Angst, 30; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28.  3 US WARPLANES SHOT DOWN BY KUWAITI AIR DEFENSES, PILOTS BAIL OUT IN FRIENDLY FIRE INCIDENT, CENTCOM SAYS Maj. John "Alex" Klinner, 33, leaves behind three small children — 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son, his brother-in-law, James Harrill, confirmed. A graduate of Auburn University and an eight-year U.S. Air Force veteran from Birmingham, Alabama, Klinner had recently moved with his family into a new home, according to his wife, Libby Klinner. "It's kind of heartbreaking to say: He was just a really good dad and really loved his family a lot — like a lot," Harrill said. An outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking, Klinner was also known for helping others. Harrill recalled that when he last saw him in January during a family wedding, Klinner helped shovel Harrill’s vehicle out of the snow. FORMER TOPGUN PILOT DECLARES IRAN MILITARY 'OVER WITH' AMID US AIR SUPERIORITY, BUT WARNS OF ANOTHER DANGER "Alex was one of those guys that had this steady command about him," Harrill said. "He was literally one of the most kind, giving people." Libby Klinner said her heart is broken for their children, who will grow up not knowing their father. "They won't get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could," she wrote in a post. "They won't see how goofy and funny he was. They won't witness his selflessness, the way he thought about everyone else before himself. They won't get to feel the deep love he had for them." OPERATION EPIC FURY SURVIVES SENATE CHALLENGE AS REPUBLICANS CLOSE RANKS BEHIND TRUMP Klinner was assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, though Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said he was stationed in Birmingham. Capt. …

Severe storm expected to hit DC with up to 75 mph winds Transparency shouldn't be controversial. A severe storm is expected to move into the Washington, D.C., region Sunday night, bringing the potential for damaging wind gusts of up to 75 miles per hour and the risk of fast-moving thunderstorms, meteorologists said.  The storm could arrive quickly and intensify as they move through the Mid-Atlantic, with straight-line wind gusts and the chance of a few tornadoes.  The storm system is expected to develop along a cold front wind sweeping eastward across the region. Forecasters say the line of storms could race through the Washington metropolitan area at highway speeds, increasing the risk of sudden damaging wind gusts and downed trees or power lines. TRUMP ENDORSEMENT TRACKER: HERE’S WHO THE PRESIDENT HAS PICKED IN GOP MIDTERM ELECTION PRIMARIES  Here are our Key Messages for Monday (3/16). — NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) March 15, 2026 Straight-line winds can cause widespread damage similar to weaker tornadoes, snapping trees, damaging roofs, and causing scattered power outages. Meteorologists say the greatest risk will likely come from intense bursts of wind embedded within a fast-moving squall line of thunderstorms.  In addition to strong winds, forecasters said the system could produce isolated tornadoes and heavy rainfall as it crosses the Mid-Atlantic. Storms capable of producing updrafts, known as supercells, sometimes develop within larger storm complexes and can spawn tornadoes with little warning.  The potential for severe weather comes amid an active stretch of storm activity across the United States this month. Earlier in March, a major severe weather outbreak spawned dozens of tornadoes across parts of the Midwest and Southern Plains, causing damage across several states.  The Washington region is no stranger to damaging wind events during spring storms, which often form when warm, humid air collides with colder air masses moving east from the central U.S. Those clashes can produce powerful thunderstorms capable of generating hurricane-force gusts and brief tornadoes.  KEITH NAUGHTON: IT’S ALREADY A TWO-PERSON RACE FOR THE 2028 DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION Forecasters urged residents across Washington, D.C., northern Virginia, and parts of Maryland to monitor weather alerts Sunday evening and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions as the storms approach.  Officials also warned that strong wind gusts could create hazardous travel conditions and bring potential for localized power outages if the …