The 7: How to war-proof your budget; why you should avoid difficult people; northern lights; and more

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Flash offer: Read for 50¢ a week Billed as $2/four weeks for the first six months, then $14/four weeks. Pricing subject to change. Cancel anytime. → PUBLISHED BY READ ONLINE   By Jamie Ross and Hannah Jewell Listen to this briefing Good morning. It's Monday, March 9, and if you're struggling to adapt to the clock change, make sure to get some sunlight today — it has surprising health benefits. Now let's catch up. Iran named a new supreme leader to replace the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Who? Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei. The selection cements hard-line theocratic rule in the nation and sends a strong message of defiance against President Donald Trump. Inside Iran: New video shows what appears to be a U.S. missile landing near a school where Iranian officials said 175 people, including dozens of children, were killed last week. Since the war began: Trump has been on an unpredictable posting spree. Read this story       The assault on Iran is causing widespread economic damage. Key impacts: The conflict is interrupting shipments of electronics, pharmaceuticals and precious metals. In the U.S., a rapid increase in gas prices is showing no sign of slowing. War-proof your budget: Our personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary has four pieces of expert advice, including tackling your debt and doing an audit of your gas usage. Read this story       After slashing federal jobs, the Trump administration is ramping up hiring. Last year: Elon Musk and DOGE purged hundreds of thousands of federal workers. But now, the Trump administration is quietly retreating from one of its early priorities. Why? The recent hiring push is unfolding under new rules designed to give the White House greater influence over the government's 2 million-person civilian workforce. Read this story       ICE has picked untested companies to oversee new warehouse detention centers. Across the nation: The Trump administration plans to convert industrial warehouses into large-scale holding centers. Two will be rapidly built by industry newcomers. As opposition to the warehouse plan grows: The Department of Homeland Security has been feeding talking points to Republican leaders to help them defend the project. Read this story       Cargo thieves are stealing millions of dollars in tech hardware. Energy drinks and sneakers have given way to AI chips and RAM modules as favorite targets. (iStock) What's happening? Losses from the theft of goods in transit surged 60% in the U.S. last year. Thieves are targeting pricey computer parts that are driving AI and tech booms. A new kind of heist: Increasingly sophisticated strategies are being deployed to steal from truck trailers. Companies and the trucking industry are struggling to keep up. Read this story       Difficult people in your life might make you age faster. In a new study: People with more "hasslers" in their lives suffered chronic stress and elevated biomarkers linked to aging. Each hassler increased the pace of aging by 1.5%. What to do about it: Find tips to protect your health against difficult people here. Another potential health threat: GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy can raise your risk of bone and tendon injury, including osteoporosis and gout, a new study suggests. Read this story       Advertisement   You can still see the northern lights before they fade. Sightings are expected to beam closer to the auroral oval, the region encircling the Earth's magnetic poles. (Bo Amstrup/AFP/Getty Images) More than 90 million miles away: The sun's 11-year cycle is downshifting, which will mean fewer aurora displays. But it's not too late to catch the show at these destinations. Back on Earth: This year could have one of the strongest El Niño climate events on record. It could push global temperatures to record levels, particularly in 2027. Read this story       Before you go … some medical advice: Why you should get a colonoscopy earlier than recommended. Plus: The surprising way breast cancer screenings could reveal heart disease. One more good read: Why do airlines hate basic economy passengers? We want to hear from you: Do you have questions about stories you've seen in The 7? Send them here. We'll find the right person to answer them and share responses in our weekend edition. And finally … take a game break: News quiz: A high-profile job change in today's On the Record.   Word game: One word to spell 'em all! Can you solve today's Keyword in 6 guesses? Crossword: It's time to solve! Play now.    Wridges: Speed and spell your way up to a high score in our newest game.   You're all caught up. See you tomorrow. (Illustration by Katty Huertas/The Washington Post) Do you know someone who would like this newsletter? Share it with them. 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