The Latest: 03/08/2026 08:59pm ET

0:00This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human Imagine if your Wi-Fi was a lot smarter and way more reliable. Picture it. Your TV, phone, laptop, even your fancy fridge working together to make life easier. Well, Exfinity makes that dream a reality. Devices so insane you'd think they're telepathic. Wi-Fi that knows when your device needs a boost. The best equipment to stream or games at once with multi-view or stream your favorite podcast on iHeart Radio. That's the magic of Exfinity. It's seamlessly in tune with you. Exfinity. Imagine that. Restrictions apply. This is your 24-7 News Update, the latest views this hour in just four minutes. A 7th US service member has died as part of Operation Epic Fury. According to US Central Command, the service member was seriously injured during an attack on US troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1st and succumbed to his injuries. The identity will be withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification.

1:02The bodies of six American soldiers killed in Kuwait arrived back in the United States on Saturday. President Trump and other senior officials took part in the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The US ambassador to the United Nations says the US is seeing tremendous success in military operations against Iran. Epic Walts tells ABCs this week that US forces are ahead of schedule. Iran's navy is largely sitting at the bottom of the ocean with over 40 ships now sunk. Major degradation to their ability to produce the ballistic missiles that have been striking so many of their Gulf neighbors. When asked how long the operations will take, Walts said the president is focused on an Iran that can no longer pose a threat to Americans or its allies. The Trump administration is reportedly eyeing a surprise economic deal with Cuba. That's according to a report from USA Today, which cites sources with knowledge of the administration's plans, details and timing of the deal remain unknown.

2:03It's also unclear what the US would achieve in a potential deal. It comes after President Trump told CNN on Friday that Cuba is going to fall pretty soon. The president also said the country wants to make a deal so badly, adding that he plans to send Secretary Rubio to Cuba. Ryan Blaney is celebrating a straight talk wireless 500 win after taking home the checkered flag at Phoenix Raceway. The driver of the number 12 car held off Christopher Bell by less than four tenths of a second to earn the victory. Kyle Larson, Thai Gibbs and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five finishers. The field heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway next Sunday. I'm Rob Martin. Today is International Women's Day. It is also the 115th year the day has been celebrated. This year's theme is give to gain and encourages generosity and collaboration. Organizers are asking people to celebrate the day by sharing their pictures on social media with the hashtag give to gain for the first pose hold your hands cupped in front of you, which universally symbolizes the act of giving and receiving the second pose features

3:06holding one hand on your heart and the other stretched out in giving millions tuned in as Lady Gaga performed during a wedding at the Super Bowl 60 halftime show. Now the pop superstar is getting ready for her own walk down the aisle. She's been engaged to tech entrepreneur Michael Polanski since 2024. A recent iHearth radio and TikTok event previewing Bruno Mars new album The Romantic featured a pre-taped message from Gaga telling Mars the big day is coming soon. She said the two have been traveling all year but were hoping Mars could help choose a special song. The Obama Presidential Center's grand opening celebrations will start in June. Jim Forbes has more. The news was announced by the Obama Foundation this weekend with the former president saying in a video that quote, hope is getting a permanent home. This is not a monument to the past. It's a living destination for people who refuse to accept the status quo. The center a museum and public gathering space in honor of former president Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will be dedicated on June 18th.

4:08It opens to the public the following day on June 10th. The celebrations will run through June 21st with a series of events that will bring together quote the change makers, community members, volunteers and supporters who made the Obama presidency a reality. I'm Jim Forbes. Harry Styles first concert for his new album is streaming on Netflix. The Grammy winning pop star just dropped his new album, KISS all the time, disco occasionally. On March 6th, he hit the stage Friday for a one night only event in the U.K. I'm Rob Martyr.