Iran's power vacuum and Democrats dominate in flipping state seats: Morning Rundown

Iran's power vacuum and Democrats dominate in flipping state seats: Morning Rundown Plus, snow droughts are raising risk for wildfires in the West Share Add NBC News to Google March 5, 2026, 7:02 AM EST By Marissa Martinez Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 In today’s newsletter: Whoever becomes Iran’s next supreme leader, real power is likely to rest in the hands of a hard-line military corps. Democrats have outperformed Republicans in flipping state legislative seats. And snow droughts raise the risk of a dangerous wildfire season across Western states. Here’s what to know today. Who is set to be in charge in Iran now that Khamenei is dead? A powerful hard-line military corps Add NBC News to Google Iran works to install new leader as Israel tries to impede process 03:11 The U.S.-Israeli attack that ended Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s iron-fisted rule also created a power vacuum in Iran for the first time in decades, with a group of clerics convening to cast their votes on who will succeed him. While front-runners have emerged, the real power is now likely to be in the hands of the heavily-armed force that propped up Khamenei for decades: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The IRGC most recently demonstrated its loyalty to the deceased leader by orchestrating a crackdown on anti-government protesters that left thousands dead. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Trump officials are also considering arming Kurdish opposition against Iran’s regime. In the U.S., a majority of voters disapprove of how President Donald Trump is handling the situation in Iran and believe he shouldn’t have taken military action against the country, according to a new NBC News poll. Fifty-four percent of voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of Iran, compared with 41% who approve and 5% who say they either don’t have an opinion or aren’t sure. Though support is mostly polarized along party lines, a small b...