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Hope for Cleaner Air: London, San Francisco and Beijing Achieve ‘Remarkable Reductions’ in Air Pollution (The Guardian)
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Cycle lanes, electric cars and other interventions have helped 19 global cities slash levels of pollutants by more than 20%, according to the AQ report from Breathe Cities, an initiative of Bloomberg Philanthropies that supports cities around the world in cleaning the air and enhancing public health. 

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London, San Francisco and Beijing are among 19 global cities that have achieved “remarkable reductions” in air pollution, analysis has found, having slashed levels of two airway-aggravating pollutants by more than 20% since 2010.
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Beijing and Warsaw topped the ranking for cleaning up fine particulate pollution (PM2.5), reducing levels by more than 45%, while Amsterdam and Rotterdam saw the greatest improvement in nitrogen dioxide (NO2), with cuts of more than 40%.

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San Francisco was the only US city that cut levels of both pollutants by more than 20%, according to the analysis of nearly 100 cities around the world. China and Hong Kong are home to nine of the 19 cities, with European cities making up the rest.
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“This report shows that cities can achieve what was once thought impossible: cutting toxic air pollution by 20-45% in a little over a decade,” said Cecilia Vaca Jones, executive director of Breathe Cities. “This isn’t just happening in one corner of the world; from Warsaw to Bangkok, cities are proving that we have the tools to solve this crisis right now.”

The report, shared with the Guardian, looked at air quality in cities in the C40 and Breathe Cities networks – mostly large cities, but also some smaller ones such as Heidelberg in Germany – and found that “substantial reductions” can be achieved within 15 years through deliberate action.

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It highlighted examples of action that had helped to clean the air, such as China’s rapid switch from combustion engine cars to electric ones, the expansion of cycle lanes in dense European cities, London’s restrictions on dirty vehicles and Warsaw’s shift away from coal and wood home heating. 

Learn more about the work of Breathe Cities here. 

The Civics Deficit 

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Emma Bloomberg and Jim Nicholson: America Wins at the National Civics Bee (Wall Street Journal - Opinion) 

As America’s 250th anniversary draws near, American democracy continues to depend on the character, habits and civic virtue of its citizens. Yet in national surveys around 60% of Americans get a failing grade in basic civics, Emma Bloomberg and Jim Nicholson report in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. 

Few democracies endure for 2½ centuries. To ensure this one’s survival, we need a grassroots nationwide civics renewal bringing together citizens, schools, businesses and communities to revive those habits and skills that enable a diverse people to govern themselves.

"At the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s National Civics Bee, where we both served as judges for the last two years, we saw what civics knowledge looks like in practice," Bloomberg and Nicholson write.

Middle-school students from around the country designed proposals to address community issues, analyzed how their ideas intersect with civic institutions, debated respectfully, and refined their thinking in real time.

To inspire more students to take these lessons in democracy seriously, school curricula should treat civics as a foundational skill, not an optional activity. Students should learn to confront and collaborate on real community challenges, working through differences to achieve common goals, the authors write. 

Read the full op-ed here. 

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What I'm Reading

Middle East Latest: Trump Warns of New Strikes on Iran as War Hits Two-Week Mark (Bloomberg)
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US President Trump threatened Iran with further attacks after the Islamic Republic’s new leader signaled defiance, suggesting there will be no letup in a war that’s upending energy flows and global markets.

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“We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags” on Friday, he said, referring to Iran’s leaders.

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Yet pressure is building in the US for Trump to end the fighting given the chaos enveloping the Middle East and the surge in oil prices. They have climbed above $100 a barrel because of Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway.

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American casualties are also mounting. A US refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq and four of the six crew members aboard were killed, the American military said. That raised the number of US service members who have died to 11.

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Trump’s warning came after Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the Islamic Republic would seek to ensure the strait remains effectively closed. In his first public comments since succeeding his father, he also said Tehran would look to open other fronts in the war, now in its 14th day, if the US and Israel persist with their attacks.

Moscow's Shadow: Putin’s ‘Hidden Hand’ Guides Iran’s Strikes in Widening Conflict (Bloomberg)
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Russian intelligence support for Iran’s deadly retaliation against the US, Israel and Gulf allies — as well as concerns that China may also be helping Tehran — demonstrates deepening ties among US adversaries as the war with Iran continues to widen.

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Moscow is currently providing Iran with various forms of intelligence, including satellite imagery and drone targeting tactics, in an effort to help Iran hit back at US forces in the region, according to people familiar with US and Western intelligence.

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Housing Market Check-In: Mortgage Rates Jump Most in 11 Months on Inflation Risk From Iran War (Bloomberg)

Mortgage rates in the US jumped by the most in almost a year as inflation fears stoked by the war with Iran added uncertainty for the upcoming spring sales season.

Tragedy in Michigan: Suspect Killed After Ramming Vehicle Into Michigan Synagogue (Bloomberg)

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A man was killed after ramming his vehicle into the front doors of a synagogue in suburban Detroit on Thursday afternoon, setting off an exchange of gunfire with security officers and a large police response, authorities said.

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Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said a vehicle drove into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield shortly after 12:30 p.m., breaching the entrance before security personnel engaged the suspect with gunfire.

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The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the attack was carried out by Ayman Mohamad Ghazali. Ghazali, 41, was born in Lebanon, entered the US in 2011 and was granted citizenship in 2016, according to DHS.

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Gun Violence in Virginia: Army Officer Killed in University Attack That Is Being Investigated as Terrorism (New York Times)

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An Army officer who led the R.O.T.C. program at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., was killed on Thursday when a man stormed a classroom and opened fire in an attack the authorities said was being investigated as an act of terrorism. The gunman, who the authorities said was subdued and killed by students during his attack, had been released from federal prison in 2024, after serving seven years on terrorism-related charges.

The slain army officer was identified by Gov. Abigail Spanberger as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, who was a professor of military science and a combat veteran. According to his university bio, Colonel Shah, a native of Virginia, had flown Apache helicopters in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, logging hundreds of hours in combat. He earned two Bronze Stars and two Meritorious Service Medals, along with other awards.

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South Carolina Stronghold: James Clyburn to Run for House Again, Defying Push for Generational Change (New York Times)

Representative James E. Clyburn, the 85-year-old Democratic power broker from South Carolina, said on Thursday that he planned to seek an 18th term, breaking with other former congressional leaders and aging lawmakers who have announced retirements and testing his party’s desire for generational change at a crossroads moment.

NY-12 Congressional Race: Mike Bloomberg to Back Protégé Micah Lasher in Crowded NYC House Race With Super PAC (New York Times)

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"At a moment like this, New Yorkers need representatives with the imagination to offer bold new ideas, the experience to get big things done, and the courage to take on the toughest fights," Mike Bloomberg writes in a LinkedIn post. 

"That’s why I will be voting for Micah Lasher for Congress this year. Micah was a key part of our team in City Hall, where he helped secure the city’s fair share from Albany and advanced the cause of gun safety. I counted on Micah when I was Mayor, and he delivered for our city. I look forward to supporting him this June, and I hope you will, too," Mike writes. 

🔊 New Episode Alert: Today's Daily Read Podcast just dropped, featuring an AI-powered breakdown of today’s biggest headlines. We go beyond the scroll with key takeaways, smart context, and the “why it matters” behind each story—so you can stay ahead in less time. Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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Countdown to March Madness: This Weekend's Conference Title Games That Will Shape the Bracket Before Selection Sunday (USA Today)
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It’s conference tournament time, and Champ Week is already underway. Several leagues have been playing postseason games since last week, with more tournaments tipping off over the next few days as US college basketball races toward Selection Sunday for the 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament, the United States’ national college basketball championship tournament—better known as March Madness.
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This weekend is when the biggest games hit: Saturday is stacked with conference championship finals, including the ACC, Big 12, and Big East, and Sunday closes with the Big Ten and SEC title games.

Then comes Selection Sunday (March 15), when the full NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed and fans can finally start building their brackets. Expect a fast, high-stakes weekend with nonstop games and surprise winners that can flip the bracket before it’s even announced.

Find this weekend’s game times here, and use the NCAA’s step-by-step guide to building your bracket here.

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The Shamrock's Weekend Takeover: The Biggest and Best St Patrick’s Day Celebrations Around the World (Time Out)
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St Patrick’s Day isn’t until Tuesday, March 17, but celebrations worldwide are already kicking off this weekend.

Fueled by Ireland’s expansive diaspora, Paddy’s Day is now marked across the globe with free Céilís, enormous parades, river-dyeing sessions, and even potato-flinging contests.

Dublin leads the charge with a monumental four-day festival (March 14–17), when half a million people are expected to pack the streets for the parade and a stacked lineup of walks, treasure hunts, gigs, poetry, comedy, and “great craic.”

From Chicago turning its river vivid green on Saturday to Montserrat’s glorious culmination of Irish and Afro-Caribbean cultures marked throughout March, the festivities span cities and islands in wildly different ways—and in Tokyo, the Green Ireland Festival sees costumed revellers sing, jig and march along Omotesando before taking over Yoyogi Park with Irish food stalls and events, proof that the party isn’t just in Ireland, it’s everywhere.

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Weekend Streaming Guide

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The Oscars (ABC, Hulu)
This Sunday, the 98th Academy Awards will air at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT and will be hosted by Conan O’Brien. The top contests to watch include Best Picture, plus the headline acting races: Best Actor (Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Wagner Moura) and Best Actress (Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Renate Reinsve, Emma Stone). Before Sunday’s show, see a full list of nominees here . Watch live on ABC or stream on Hulu.

Finding Meaning in Our Biggest Mistakes (NPR-1A Podcast)
In this episode of NPR’s 1A, Josh Steiner and Michael Lynton discuss 'From Mistakes to Meaning,' their book about facing the decisions you’d rather forget. Drawing on personal experiences, relevant research, and insights from psychiatrist Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, they unpack how to own your mistakes—and what it really takes to move forward.

The Madison (Paramount+)
Taylor Sheridan, the showrunner behind “Yellowstone,” “Landman” and “1923,” among others, has a new show, “The Madison.” It follows the Clyburn family (Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell, Patrick J. Adams and others), who move to the Madison Valley area of southwest Montana from New York City after experiencing a tragedy.

Best of Late Night

“Well, guys, we’re now in day 12 of the war in Iran, and I read that the Trump administration has started to panic about the rising price of oil. Yep, apparently, Trump is so worried, he can barely sleep through his meetings.” 
-- Jimmy Fallon

On Trump's rally in Kentucky where he rambled for over an hour on the state of the economy and attacked his political opponents:

"We have credible threats of retaliatory drone attacks on California, and this guy is in Kentucky reminiscing about the way Obama went down the stairs.” 
-- Jimmy Kimmel

“Trump said the high gas prices are nothing to worry about. He was, like, 'I just heard on TV, America actually runs on Dunkin’, so, we’re going to be all right. We’re going to be OK.’”
-- Jimmy Fallon

“But don’t worry, Trump has a solution to save on gas. He’s asking everyone to just drive downhill.” 
-- Jimmy Fallon

And from The Late Show: Stephen Colbert says the United States government has stopped minting pennies, but we can still have fun with them! Click the photo below to watch. 

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