March 3 Briefing: Iran Conflict Disrupts Airspace — Protests, Primaries, Clinton Depositions, Guthrie Search

Large sections of Middle Eastern airspace have been closed as the conflict involving Iran intensifies, forcing airlines to reroute flights onto longer, costlier paths and creating what some pilots describe as a "hole in the sky." Major commercial routes have been altered to avoid contested areas, increasing fuel costs and travel times for carriers and passengers.

Ongoing Military Action and Regional Tensions

As the conflict with Iran enters its fourth day, U.S. and Israeli officials say their joint military campaign is continuing. Israel reported "simultaneous strikes" in Tehran and Beirut targeting Iranian military sites and positions linked to Hezbollah. Iranian forces have responded with attacks on neighboring countries aligned with the U.S., adding to regional instability. The U.S. State Department has ordered non-emergency personnel to leave Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait and urged American citizens to depart the Middle East if possible.

Nationwide Protests and Community Divisions

Thousands of people gathered peacefully across the United States on Monday to protest the U.S.-Israeli military action. Demonstrations were reported from Boston — where speakers denounced "endless, immoral wars" — to New York and Los Angeles, with chants of "hands off Iran" and "no war on Iran." At the same time, some members of the Iranian-American community publicly welcomed reported high-level Iranian casualties and called for regime change, highlighting deep divisions within the diaspora.

Primaries: Texas, North Carolina, Arkansas

All eyes are on Texas, where high-stakes primaries are expected to provide an early read on voter engagement and party momentum. Polls in most of Texas close at 8 p.m. ET; historically the state reports results quickly. North Carolina closes at 7:30 p.m. ET and will provide the first primary returns of the evening, while Arkansas polls close at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Clinton Depositions Released

The House Oversight Committee released video from last week's closed-door depositions of Bill and Hillary Clinton as part of its investigation related to Jeffrey Epstein. Committee members repeatedly questioned the former president about photos from Epstein-related files; Bill Clinton denied knowledge of Epstein's crimes. Hillary Clinton's deposition included tense exchanges with Republican panelists.

Missing Person: Nancy Guthrie

Investigators have not yet determined what happened to 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who disappeared from her Arizona home one month ago. Aerial footage showed her daughter, "Today" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, and other family members laying flowers at a memorial outside the house. Authorities say they have received tens of thousands of tips and followed thousands of leads; DNA recovered inside the home — described as a mixture from multiple people — is undergoing advanced genetic testing.

Other Notable Items

IKEA is rushing to restock a stuffed toy that went viral and sold out worldwide. An investigation found that chemicals of unknown safety were secretly added to parts of the U.S. food supply, raising oversight questions. President Trump said he will attend this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner — a reversal after earlier boycotts. The leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was buried publicly amid a heavy security presence. New research estimates global breast cancer cases could exceed 3.5 million by 2050.

This edition of "5 Things AM" was edited and produced by CNN’s Andrew Torgan. For more news and newsletters, create an account at CNN.com.