THE WEEK IN REVIEW: MARCH 1-7, 2026: NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

 

ALTHOUGH W.H.O. HAS ENDED THE PANDEMIC,

THE VIRUSES ARE STILL ONGOING.

PLEASE GET VACCINATED,

WEAR A MASK😷 WHEN NECESSARY

& BEWARE ANY VERSION OF

THE COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS!

MARCH 8!

MARCH IS WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH.

MARCH 7 IS CEREAL DAY.

MARCH 8 IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY.

MARCH 9 IS DENTAL HEALTH DAY.

MARCH 10 MARKS THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL PERFECTING THE TELEPHONE.🕿

MARCH 11 IS DEER🦌 AWARENESS DAY.

MARCH 12 IS PLANT A FLOWER🎴 DAY.

MARCH 13 IS THE 245TH ANNIVERSARY OF URANUS’ DISCOVERY.

MARCH 14 IS PI 𝛑 DAY. (3.14)

MARCH 15 IS WORLD SHEEP🐑 DAY.

MARCH 15 ALSO MARKS THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF

MY FAIR LADY’S BROADWAY DEBUT.

MARCH 16 IS PANDA🐼 DAY.

MARCH 17 IS SAINT PATRICK’S DAY🍀 AND THE UNIFICATION OF ITALY DAY.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE W🌍RLD THIS PAST WEEK…

TRUE!

*Is Ecuador cutting off diplomatic relations with Cuba???

*A new Papal ambassador to the US has been named.

*Venezuela and the US may soon restore diplomatic relations.

*France plans to give military vehicles to Lebanon.

*Croatia is now landmine free!

*Japan is concerned about the H5N1 Bird Flu at a poultry farm in Hokkaido.

*The reported COVID state of the world, as of March 7, 2026. But why has there been no data from the United States since January 21, 2025???

*There are now fewer political parties in Guinea.

*France has outlawed Planned Obsolescence!

*Trump held the "Shield of the (Latin) Americas" summit

FACT BASED OPINION

March 7, and wants all participants assistance in fighting (drug) cartels. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*The 2026 Winter Paralympic Games have begun. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Vietnam's new regulations concerning AI are now in effect.

*To protect the children, Indonesia will start canceling any social media account of users under 16/SIXTEEN.

*The United Kingdom wants to make sure everyone's Meta/Facebook data is secured.

*A "new" dinosaur, Spinosaurus Mirabilis, has been found in the Sahara Desert.

*The case of the hidden Rembrandts.

*A professional Spider-man???

*Speculation: Could the European Union and the Trans Pacific Partnership join forces???

*Speculation: They had drills in ancient Egypt???

*March 18 marks the 260th anniversary of Great Britain repealing the Stamp Act.

IN THE MIDDLE EAST…

*Concerning Israel, Palestine, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Gaza Strip and more. (There are 4/FOUR separate links in this item.)

*As the conflict between Iran, the US and Israel continues,.. Iran has confirmed the death of their Supreme Leader, but they now have a new, interim leader. (There are 3

*Trump thinks he should have "a say" in who the next leader of Iran will be.

*Israel may be helping the US against Iran, but Russia is helping Iran.

*Meanwhile, Israel is continuing its conflict with Hezbollah.

*Trump wants Iran's unconditional surrender.

*Not all news footage of the Iran War may be genuine.

*As the second week of fighting begins... Trump vows to "hit Iran even harder." (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Did Iran strike the United Arab Emirates while trying to attack a US base in Iraq???

*The verified acts, so far.

*When will the Strait of Hormuz be opened???

*Analysis: So who did bomb an elementary school???

THE RUSSIA UKRAINE WAR!

*As the war continues…  

*Russia attacked a residential area???

*First drones. Now robots???

THE TERRORIST REPORT…

*The Free Choice E-zine does not support terrorism, no matter what the “cause” or alleged “justification”. Thus we will only be posting news items in this section whenever terrorists are brought to justice through arrest and trial.

FACT BASED OPINION

🌐THE CLIMATE CHANGE CHRONICLES…

*The iceberg that is about to disappear.

*Is America responsible for endangering the coral reefs???

*Recycling methane to grow plants.

*Still working to save the endangered Persian Leopard.

*Can The Great Salt Lake be refilled???

*March 11 is Deer🦌 Awareness Day.

*March 12 is Plant A Flower🎴 Day.

*March 15 is World Sheep🐑 Day.

*March 16 is Panda🐼 Day.

🌌SPACE NEWS...

*March 13 is the 245th anniversary of Uranus’ discovery.

😢PASSING PARADE…

*The innocent lives lost to war.

*The innocent lives lost during a shooting spree in Austin, Texas USA March 1.

*Singing drummer Gary Walker of The Standells and The Walker Brothers has passed away.

*TV producer Kenith Trodd (Pennies From Heaven, much more) is no longer with us.

*Actor/writer Stephen Hibbert (Pulp Fiction, Late Night With David Letterman, much more) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.

*Film producer Andrew Gunn (many films for Disney in his career) is no longer with us.

*Len Garry of The Quarrymen (forerunner of the Beatles) has passed away.

*Ceramics artist Victoria MacKenzie-Childs is no longer with us.

*Famed college football🏈 coach Lou Holtz has passed away.

*Professional football🏈 Quarterback Dominiq Ponder is no longer with us.

*Stanley Cup champion hockey player🏒 turned broadcaster Troy Murray has passed away.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE FORD RECALL???

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS BEFORE DAWN MARCH 8.

WE NEED MORE

GUN RESPONSIBILITY

NOW!

ALL INEQUALITY HAS TO STOP!

BAN BOOK BANS!

POLITICALLY…

ON FOREIGN ISSUES…

*Trump held the "Shield of the (Latin) Americas" summit March 7, and wants all participants assistance in fighting (drug) cartels. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*A new Papal ambassador to the US has been named.

*Venezuela and the US may soon restore diplomatic relations.

*Meanwhile, in Ecuador...

FACT BASED OPINION

*Cuba's next???

THE US WAR IN IRAN...

*Israel may be helping the US against Iran, but Russia is helping Iran.

*Some European Leaders are challenging the Trump/Republican regime over the war.

*Trump thinks he should have "a say" in who the next leader of Iran will be.

*"We have no stupid rules of engagement." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

*The reported US causalities. They have come home. But does Trump respect their sacrifices??? (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)

*The (initial???) travel warnings.

*As the second week of fighting begins... Trump vows to "hit Iran even harder." (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

FACT BASED OPINION

*Yet Trump rejected the United Kingdom's offer of assistance???

*When will the Strait of Hormuz be opened???

*Analysis: So who did bomb an elementary school???

*Opinion: Trump's latest opinions. March 2.  March 3. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Opinion: PEACE???

*Opinion: If you're stranded in the Middle East, good luck getting home!

*Speculation: Why the Trump/Republican regime attacked Iran.

*Speculation: Is the Secretary of War actually enjoying current events???

*Speculation: Did the US commit a war crime???

*Speculation: A religious crusade???

FACT BASED OPINION

*Speculation: No warnings???

THE TRUMP TARIFF TURMOIL AND THE ECONOMY…

*The effects of war.

*Trump's new 10% global tariff is now facing legal challenges.

*Analysis: The current state of the economy. But it's all the weather's fault??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Speculation: Will the tariff money be refunded??? Maybe a rebate??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

ON IMMIGRANT ISSUES…

FACT BASED OPINION

*Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared before a Congressional committee March 3. Trump has since fired Noem. Her thoughts on that before the Trump/Republican regime moved her to a new position with Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma pending as her replacement. (There are 9/NINE separate links in this item.)

*Noem adviser Corey Lewandowski has also been fired.

*The story of Hesler Asaf Garcia Lanza, a legal US resident.

*ICE detained a reporter covering them???

*All ICE raids in Los Angeles are now facing a legal challenge.

*No FEMA grant for Alligator Alcatraz until an environmental study has been done.

*Opinion: Stephen Miller's view of history.

*Speculation: Could Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino be facing legal action in the future???

FACT BASED OPINION

ON DOMESTIC ISSUES...

*The Trump/Republican regime wants to eliminate layoff protection for Federal employees.

*Opinion: The consequences of DOGE's actions.

*Opinion: Trump's real objective in office???

THE 2026 MID-TERM ELECTIONS…

*Analysis: With all the retiring politicians, what do the upcoming mid-term elections look like???

*Speculation: Is what Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana did legal???

THE BALLROOM BLITZ...

*Which is more important??? The Iran War or Trump's ballroom??? Or maybe the Rose Garden decor??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*The ballroom approval vote has been delayed until April.

FACT BASED OPINION

ALSO…

*Trump actually canceled some lawsuits. But then refiled them. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Early speculation about the 2028 Presidential election.

*Opinion: Trump on baseball. ⚾

*Who still currently has a grant???

*Keeping track of all the legal actions against the current Trump/Republican regime and its personnel.

*The latest from the White House.

FACT BASED OPINION

THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN SITUATION…

*There may be a Russian connection to Jeffrey Epstein, but how/if is Trump involved???

*Poland is conducting a separate investigation to see if any of its citizens were victims.

*Did the ex-butler try to sell Epstein's "little black book"???

*Have some of the missing witness statements been found??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Videos of Bill and Hillary Clinton's testimonies have been released.

*Attorney General Pam Bondi may be the next to testify???

*Speculation: How did Ghislaine Maxwell get an easier prison???

*NOTE: Any possible crimes happened BEFORE his first Presidential campaign so as a potential civilian suspect, Donald Trump is NOT covered by the Supreme Court’s Presidential Immunity Ruling in The Jeffrey Epstein Situation.

MEDICAL NEWS…

FACT BASED OPINION

*The FDA needs a new Vaccine Chief, again.

*The work unfinished.

*And now, the Human Metapneumovirus.

*The current status of your hospital.

*Analysis: Are meat sticks safe???

*Speculation: The latest on Trump's health.

⚖THE SUPREME COURT REPORT…

*Does the Trump/Republican regime want the Court to limit the authority of Federal Judges???

DEFENDING FREE SPEECH…

*Speculation: A pending policy change at the FCC???

FACT BASED OPINION

SOCIAL (IN)JUSTICE…

*NO accountability for DOJ lawyers???

*Any actions Kari Lake undertook leading the Voice of America, including firings, have been declared null and void by a Federal Judge. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Going against the Trump/Republican regime can put a Judge in danger???

*Remembering Jesse Jackson.

*Remembering Harry Belafonte.

*Opinion: Can CBS News still be trusted???

*Opinion: What can a Veteran do when no longer covered by the VA???

*Opinion: Trump wants all white men to sue for racial discrimination???

*Speculation: Will billionaires ever pay their fair share of taxes???

*Speculation: Bigotry in political chat???

🛑STOP THE SENSELESS VIOLENCE!

*Who went on a shooting spree at a concert in Cincinnati March 1???

*Who went on a shooting spree in Austin, Texas March 1???

✅IT’S FACT CHECK TIME!

*Kristi Noem and Marco Rubio: Who actually said what???

*Why dogs put their paws on people.

*Your dog is smarter than you realize.

MEANWHILE, IN CONGRESS…

FACT BASED OPINION

*Republicans in both the House of Representatives and the Senate voted NOT to limit Trump's authority during the current conflict with Iran, for now. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Congress apparently doesn't want to hear anything negative about current events in Iran.

*Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared before a Congressional committee March 3. Trump has since fired Noem. Her thoughts on that before the Trump/Republican regime moved her to a new position with Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma pending as her replacement. (There are 9/NINE separate links in this item.)

FACT BASED OPINION

*Is Noem now facing perjury charges???

*Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and its Attorney General Keith Ellison testified before the House Oversight Committee March 4 concerning alleged Medicaid Insurance fraud.

*Internet users may lose their Anonymity.

*Congress has a slush fund to cover sexual harassment lawsuits???

*Congress finally acknowledges the Capitol Riot of January 6, 2021.

*Texas Republican Representative Tony Gonzales, Montana Republican Representative Ryan Zinke and California Republican Representative Darrell Issa have announced they will not seek reelection and finish out their current terms. (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)

*Opinion: The current position of Congress.

*Speculation: What to do about Representative Tony Gonzales???

*The latest Bills pending before Congress.

ELSEWHERE…

*BEWARE GHOST LIGHTING!

*A more enjoyable battle. The latest on the burger wars. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*At the 2026 Screen Actors' Guild awards...

😀AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS…

*♫Reunited, and it feels so good.♫

*A new leash on life.

*The TRUE Waffle Fries have returned.

THE FREE CHOICE E-ZINE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ITS LOYAL READERSHIP FOR GRANTING US 36, 425 PAGE VIEWS IN FEBRUARY 2026.

ALL MEMES COURTESY OF FACEBOOK.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: MARCH 7, 2026

 😎FUN FACT

Except during a leap year, the first 28 days of March are always in the exact same calendar positions as the month of February.

FAMOUS FIRSTS🥇

March 10 marks the 150th anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell perfecting the telephone. What were the very first words said over the device?

AKA, ALSO KNOWN AS

Who do we know Leslie Sebastian Charles better as?

We’ll reveal all next weekend but for now, let’s open up THE ANSWERS BOX📦 and discover the results from the February 28, 2026 Puzzle Corner.

THE 50/50 CHANCE

Just like a regular TRIVIA TIME question except there are only two possible answers, hence the even odds of getting it right. Ready?

TRUE or FALSE: Has a cat ever been in outer space?

TRUE! One cat named Félicette has been to outer space. On October 18, 1963, the French space program launched the stray tuxedo cat into a sub-orbital flight that reached an altitude of 157 kilometers (98 miles). Félicette was the first and only cat to have gone to space and was successfully recovered alive after the 13-minute mission.

WHAT’S THAT SONG?

Words from a tune of the past are below. All you have to do is give us the song title. Ready?

♫Space Monkey Mafia.♫ = An odd historical pairing from Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire”.

SUNDAY FUNNIES: CATTY CELEBRITY CITINGS

 Hello Everybody! Piper D. Katt finally here after that nasty blizzard last weekend kept me from posting, with another installment of my Catty Celebrity Citings.

As usual, a quote from a real person past or present will be followed by a hopefully witty remark from meow.

But this month I'm trying something a bit different and spotlighting one person. That famous author, Doctor Seuss.

Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991) has created all kinds of wonderful entertainment from cartoons to Private Snafu episodes, but is most famous for his books.

So now, without further adieu

A little entertainment for you.

Hey! I'm a poet and didn't know it. 😼 Anyway...

"I know it is wet

And the sun is not sunny.

But we can have

Lots of good fun that is funny!"

From The Cat in the Hat.

While no one likes being cooped up indoors, there are a lot more distractions and home entertainment now than when this book was first published.

Makes one wonder what the story would be like if Dr. Seuss wrote it today.

"When you're in a Slump,

you're not in for much fun.

Un-slumping yourself

is not easily done."

From Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Sad, but true. Even us cats suffer from depression at times.

Why do you think we want to curl up next to our people?

"The more that you read,

The more things you will know.

The more that you learn,

The more places you'll go."

From I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!

Knowledge is power. The more you know, the more you grow.

Great. Now I'm quoting Saturday morning infomercials from back when they were much shorter and didn't try to sell you something.

"I'm afraid that some times

you'll play lonely games too.

Games you can't win

'cause you'll play against you."

From Oh, the Places You'll Go!

"To thine own self be true."~~William Shakespeare.

♫Well you can't please everyone so you've got to please yourself.♫ from Ricky Nelson's Garden Party.

Need I go on?

"Step with care and great tact, 

And remember that life's a great balancing act."

Also from Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Just be careful. If you trip over your own two feet, just pick yourself up and try again.

Even with four feet, us cats stumble once in awhile.

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."

Exact source uncertain.

It doesn't matter what others say about you. What matters most is what you say about yourself.

So on that note♫, take care.

STAY SAFE!

Have a great week and please be back next weekend for more Sunday Funnies!—PDK.

All links were active at the time of posting.