U.S. soldier accused of betting on Maduro raid and NFL Draft takeaways: Morning Rundown

In today’s newsletter: Iran’s regime is in no rush to end the war and may have benefited politically from the conflict, officials say. Why using AI is becoming less taboo in Hollywood. And a U.S. soldier involved in the Maduro raid is charged with betting on the operation.

Here’s what to know today.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed to bring the war with Iran to a speedy end by stepping up bombing raids, threatening to wipe out infrastructure and ordering a naval blockade. But Tehran is in no rush to cut a deal.

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Despite the assassinations of its leaders and the damage to an array of military sites, Iran’s regime seems to have benefitted politically from the attacks started by the U.S. and Israel, according to a Western diplomat with knowledge of the conflict and five Western officials, all with knowledge of intelligence assessments on Iran. The regime is, improbably, more stable now than before the war and slightly more hard line, five of the officials said.

In Iran, the mass anti-government protests that rocked the country have receded. And the so-called moderate or reformist faction inside the regime has been marginalized because heavy bombing and Trump’s frequent ultimatums have undermined their arguments that a more accommodating approach with Washington could produce benefits, five of the officials said.

Meanwhile in the U.S., the political costs are mounting. The midterms are drawing near. A critical meeting between Trump and China’s Xi Jinping is on the horizon. Gas prices are rising. And new polling shows that majorities of voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of the war.

Now Trump, who previously called the war a “little excursion” that would be over in roughly five weeks, is denying he’s under any time pressure to end the conflict. Yesterday, he told reporters in the Oval Office that he didn’t want to rush anything. But as the war drags on, voters are souring on Trump’s handling of the conflict and its economic repercussions.

Why officials and analysts say Iran isn’t feeling pressure to end the war — especially as it maintains its own stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

More Iran war news:

The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by three weeks, Trump announced. Follow our live blog for updates.

For subscribers: Fadel Hijzadi said he struggles to get out of bed since an Israeli airstrike killed his wife, a daughter, two grandchildren and a nephew. He’s among the civilians in Tyre, Lebanon, who feel like collateral damage in the conflict between Lebanon and Israel.

For subscribers: From condoms and shoes to airlines, here’s how expanding fallout from the war is affecting consumers.

Pope Leo vented about U.S. and Iranian leaders’ failure to end the war.

Staff Pick: Why Hollywood is warming to AI

When Reese Witherspoon and Sandra Bullock suggested to their fans that it was time to learn how to use AI, the internet immediately pushed back. But even as much of the public opinion continues to be informed by fear and skepticism, the idea of using AI is growing less taboo in Hollywood.

Rebecca Keegan and I talked to industry experts to figure out whether Hollywood professionals are changing their tune, and how they’re now working with the rapidly proliferating technology. Some are gravitating toward companies they consider more ethical, and others are drawn by emerging commercial opportunities.

People are also increasingly coming to the realization that the technology isn’t going away — but they also realize that there are ways to use AI without relying on it to generate the final product. Still, celebrities have to grapple with the reputational risks of leaning into a technology that garners widespread public distrust. — Angela Yang, culture and tech reporter

U.S. special forces soldier charged with betting on Maduro raid

A U.S. special forces soldier who “participated in the planning and execution of the U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro” was accused of making bets on the raid, federal authorities said. The soldier, identified as Gannon Ken Van Dyke, “bet a total of approximately $33,034” on the operation on the prediction platform Polymarket, authorities said.

According to the Justice Department, Van Dyke made “approximately 13 bets” from Dec. 27 to Jan. 26. An unsealed indictment said he ultimately made more than $409,000 as a result of the bets he placed. Federal authorities said that on Jan. 6, three days after the Maduro raid, Van Dyke asked Polymarket to delete his account.

Read more about the allegations.

More politics news:

For subscribers: Former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s exit from the California governor’s race was expected to result in more support for billionaire activist Tom Steyer and former Rep. Katie Porter. Instead, another Democratic candidate appears to be getting a second look.

The DOJ’s internal watchdog is investigating the department’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Sens. Katie Britt and John Fetterman push for social media guardrails

Republican Sen. Katie Britt and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman pushed for more legislation to address social media use by children and teenagers in a wide-ranging interview with NBC News. The senators warned of social media’s effects on mental health for young people, saying they’ve introduced and co-sponsored bills because they feel a need to put up guardrails for the next generation.

In a separate interview at the event in Washington, Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell said social media has contributed to a rise in toxicity and polarization in Congress, with Dingell saying it’s “without fail, one of the worst things that’s happened to this country.”

The lawmakers’ comments came at a Common Ground event, part of an NBC News franchise bringing together leaders with different perspectives to focus on solutions to pressing issues.

Read the full story here.

The biggest takeaways from the first round of the NFL Draft

The beginning of the 2026 NFL Draft began as many expected, with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza being selected as the first overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. What happened next had plenty of twists and turns. NBC News sports reporters Rohan Nadkarni and Andrew Greif shared a few standout moments:

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night came from the Los Angeles Rams, who chose Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th pick. With the Rams, Simpson could benefit from coach Sean McVay, a quarterback whisperer whose play-action heavy offense could unlock Simpson’s potential. It’s also unlikely Simpson will be expected to start any time soon.

And what about the biggest gamble of the night? That distinction goes to the Arizona Cardinals, which selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love third overall. In choosing Love, the Cardinals disregarded conventional wisdom that quality running backs can be plucked much later in the draft and at a much lower cost.

See more takeaways.

Read All About It

One person was killed and five others injured in a shooting at a Louisiana mall when two groups opened fire at each other, police said.

At least eight wildfires are tearing through parts of southern Georgia and northern Florida.

Meta is planning to lay off approximately 8,000 employees and eliminate another 6,000 open roles.

An NTSB report found overlapping issues that contributed to the LaGuardia Airport crash last month between an Air Canada plane and a fire truck.

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

You’re never too old to learn a new skill. One NBC Select editor took us behind the scenes of her journey learning to DJ from the comfort of her bedroom. Speaking of bedrooms, these editor-loved cooling sheets are 50% off for a limited time only. Plus, here are all the products that launched this month that you should know about.

Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.

Thanks for reading today’s Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you’re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here.

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