Thursday, March 19, 2026 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

President Donald Trump has been pressuring the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. But the Iran war and surging oil prices are complicating the economic picture, prompting the U.S. central bank to hold rates steady. Also: today’s stories, including a look at how U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are seeking relief during another funding shutdown; how U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is assessing the Iran war; and how a growing court backlog is delaying justice in India. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.