What you need to know: This week, the family of Henrietta Lacks reached another landmark settlement over the use of her groundbreaking HeLa cells, bringing renewed attention to a story that reshaped medical ethics. Tensions in the Middle East escalated after a U.S. backed operation targeted Iran’s leadership, sending global energy markets into turmoil and pushing gas prices higher at home. Meanwhile, political shake-ups from a Texas Senate primary defeat for Jasmine Crockett to a new leader at the Department of Homeland Security signal shifting power dynamics as the country heads toward the next election cycle. This and more in this week’s “The State of US.”
Gas Prices Jump After Strikes on Iran, Raising Economic Concerns
U.S. gas prices surged this week as military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran rattled global energy markets, prompting the largest one‑day increase in pump prices in years. The national average for regular gasoline climbed about 11 cents Tuesday to roughly $3.11 a gallon, according to AAA data, the biggest single‑day spike since 2005. Analysts said the moves reflect market anxiety over potential disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global crude.
By The Numbers: The rise in oil prices, with Brent crude over $83 a barrel and U.S. oil near $78, is making gas and other goods more expensive, according to experts. When gas prices go up, it costs more to transport food and products, so prices at stores can rise too. If gas reaches $3.50 per gallon or higher, families may feel the pinch in their budgets. Higher oil prices could also make it harder for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, which impacts loans and savings.
Condoleezza Rice Urges Trump To ‘Take Care of Iran For Good’
In a rare statement, Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice challenged the Trump administration to capitalize on what she described as Iran’s weakened position following the U.S. military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury. In a Fox News interview, Rice argued the United States should move decisively to eliminate Iran’s ability to threaten the U.S. and its allies. Rice, who served under the Bush administration at the height of the War in Iraq, called the idea that the regime is not a threat “ahistorical.” Rice added that the goal of the operation should be to render Iran “incapable of military action” and effectively neutralize its regional power.
The Bigger Picture: Operation Epic Fury, launched Feb. 28, consisted of joint U.S. and Israeli military action targeting Iran and resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Over the course of a week, strikes have intensified a broader regional conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Iran has launched retaliatory attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets across the Middle East, killing several American service members. President Donald Trump warned Iran against retaliating, saying the United States would respond with even stronger military action if Iran carried out attacks against Americans or U.S. interests. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate failed to pass a resolution that would have required Trump to seek congressional approval for further military action against Iran. The measure fell short in a 47–53 vote, allowing the administration to continue the campaign without new limits from Congress.
Jasmine Crockett Concedes After Senate Bid In Texas + More Prominent Primary Races
State Rep. James Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, ending Crockett’s bid to become the party’s nominee in the November general election. Talarico secured more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 contest, avoiding a runoff and positioning himself to challenge the Republican nominee in November. Crockett, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, conceded Wednesday and urged party unity despite the loss.
More Info: On the primary calendar elsewhere, U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee narrowly held off challenger Nida Allam in North Carolina’s 4th District, avoiding an automatic recount in their U.S. House race. In Texas’s 9th District, longtime Democratic Rep. Al Green trailed a younger opponent, Christian Menefee, and will face a runoff in May, reflecting mixed outcomes for Black candidates on Super Tuesday.
Trump Announces DHS Leadership And Enforcement Operations
President Trump said Thursday that Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R‑Okla., will become the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, effective March 31. Trump praised Mullin’s experience and immigration enforcement views, and said outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem will serve as the administration’s special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a new Western Hemisphere security initiative. Noem thanked Trump for the opportunity and highlighted efforts under her leadership to bolster border security and deportation efforts.
Details: Noem’s tenure as DHS head drew criticism from both parties over controversial immigration enforcement operations, including federal actions in Minneapolis that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens and intensified debate about DHS’s impact on Black and Brown communities. The choice of Mullin, a close Trump ally and member of the Cherokee Nation, marks a shift as DHS faces ongoing budget negotiations and legislative calls for new oversight of immigration agencies.
Henrietta Lacks’ Family Reaches Settlement Over Use of ‘Stolen’ HeLa Cells
The family of Henrietta Lacks reached a settlement with Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis in federal court, resolving a lawsuit that accused the company of profiting from cells taken from Lacks without her knowledge or consent. The agreement, finalized in Maryland, is the second such settlement for the Lacks estate, following a 2023 deal with Thermo Fisher Scientific. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Background: Henrietta Lacks was a Black woman whose cervical cancer cells, harvested in 1951 at Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Hospital, became the first “immortal” human cell line known as HeLa cells. These cells have been used in countless scientific and medical breakthroughs, including the development of the polio vaccine, genetic research and COVID‑19 vaccines. Her family had long argued that companies unjustly profited from her cells while the Lacks family saw no compensation. The settlement ends litigation against Novartis, though other lawsuits against biotech firms remain active as the estate continues to seek accountability.