No. 1 Duke survives first-round NCAA Tournament scare against No. 16 Siena

The No. 1 Duke Blue Devils, the betting favorite to win the men’s NCAA Tournament, barely escaped the round of 64 with a 71-65 win over the No. 16 Siena Saints on Thursday. The Blue Devils trailed from the 15:31 mark of the first half until the 4:25 mark of the second, when an Isaiah … Read more

Mortgage rates rise as Iran war fans inflation fears and lifts Treasury yields

Mortgage rates in the U.S. jumped this week to the highest level in three months, as the Iran war fans inflation fears and puts pressure on the U.S. housing market. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.22% in the week ending March 19, up from 6.11% the previous week, according to Freddie Mac.  Economists note that … Read more

Elizabeth Warren endorses Nazi-tattooed Graham Platner in high-stakes Maine Senate primary

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, is throwing her weight behind newcomer Graham Platner in Maine’s high-stakes Democratic primary in June — a pivotal showdown that will determine who will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Warren’s endorsement, announced Wednesday in a video statement posted by Platner’s … Read more

Iran retaliation is forcing Gulf nations into a stark decision: whether to join the fight

As Gulf state leaders gathered in a Riyadh hotel this week to discuss the growing Middle East war, strikes from Tehran blasted outside. Iran was sending a clear message, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said. “The attack was timed to coincide with this meeting,” Saudi’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told NBC News. … Read more

Epstein’s lawyer ‘not aware’ of any relationship Trump had with late convicted sex offender, Comer says

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime personal lawyer and co-executive of his estate said he had no knowledge of a relationship the late convicted sex offender had with President Donald Trump, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said Thursday.  Darren Indyke made the claim in a closed-door session before … Read more

U.S. oil producers could get $63 billion boost from high crude prices, analysis shows

Soaring energy prices due to the Iran war could provide a massive windfall for U.S. oil companies. Rystad Energy, a market research firm, estimates that shale oil producers in the U.S. could earn an additional $63 billion in sales as prices soar past $100 a barrel.  If oil prices averaged $70 a barrel — their approximate level before … Read more

What a day at a gas station in Pennsylvania reveals about the midterms: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In today’s edition, Jonathan Allen shares what he learned after spending a day talking to voters at a Pennsylvania gas station. Plus, our Capitol … Read more