A frontpage overview of the news from The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times for March 2.
These fictional news reports from March 2, 2026, describe the fallout of Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The sources detail a rapidly expanding regional war as Tehran retaliates with strikes against U.S. bases and Persian Gulf nations, resulting in the deaths of three American service members. While some Iranian citizens and global protesters celebrate the regime's decapitation, others mourn, and global oil prices have spiked amid the instability. President Trump’s decision to pursue regime change is portrayed as a major reversal of his previous non-interventionist stance, sparking intense debate among lawmakers and his political base. Additionally, the headlines cover secondary stories, including the death of a Mexican cartel boss, the rediscovery of iPod Nanos by Gen Z, and legal battles surrounding the legacy of Jeffrey Epstein.