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Good morning,

Need a playlist for today’s eclipse? Well we’ve got you covered.

• To get ready: “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler (though we also like the Nikki French remix), “Eclipse" by Pink Floyd

• During (you’ll have enough time for about one): “Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest, “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel, “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles, “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash

• After: “House Of The Rising Sun” by The Animals, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” by Stevie Wonder, "Blinded by the Light" by Bruce Springsteen, “Daylight” by Taylor Swift

More on today’s fun below!

Mosheh, Jill, & Lauren

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☀️ GET READY TO WATCH TODAY’S ECLIPSE

Today’s the day! Millions of people are expected to take some time this afternoon to watch a rare total solar eclipse across North America. It won’t happen again in the US for another 20 years.

• Reminder: The sun is both 400 times larger than the Moon and 400 times farther away. The uncommon celestial event happens when the sun and moon align — appearing the same size in the sky from our perspective. Globally, it happens every 18 months (but usually over the ocean or uninhabited areas).

Storms and clouds are in the forecast for parts of the US. And even if you’re not in the path of totality, people across the country could see a partial eclipse today.

WHO IS WATCHING
In 2017, 154 million American adults watched the eclipse in person — more than the most-watched Super Bowl (123 million this year). More than double the amount of people are on today’s total solar eclipse path compared to 2017.

• The path of totality — the expanse where the moon fully obscures the sun — is a 100 mile stretch from Mexico’s Pacific Coast to the Atlantic coast of Canada. Here is a map.

  • The moon starts to conceal the sun near Mazatlán, Mexico at 9:51 am local time. It will cut across the country diagonally starting with Texas at 1:10pmET and end up in Maine about 2 hours later—before making its way into Canada.

The closer you are to the path of totality, the more of the full eclipse you’ll see. Folks in the NYC area will see close to 90% of the sun covered by the moon. To the other end, Seattle and South Florida will only see about 10% blockage.

HOW TO WATCH
Glasses are sold out; what to do? DON’T USE your sunglasses — eclipse glasses let in thousands of times less light.

• Looking at the sun directly, even for a few seconds, can cause permanent damage to your eyes. So, please don’t do that either.

  • Much like a sunburn, the damage is done before you feel anything. Retinas don’t have pain receptors. Even looking for a few seconds could lead to permanent black spots in your vision.

  • A Mo News premium member (our resident ophthalmologist) says an eclipse sun is different from our every day sun and can cause more damage (though, don’t look at either): “When you look at a non-eclipse your pupils constrict in what's known as the pupillary light reflex much like the shutter of a camera narrowing its aperture to block excess light. During a partial eclipse there is not as much light and thus the pupils remain larger, sometimes even dilating as you focus on the sun, directing more light in.”

  • If you are in the path of 100% totality, NASA says looking up without glasses only when the moon completely hides the sun’s face is OK.

• Here’s how to make a pinhole camera for eclipse watching and if you’re on the path of totality and want some great pics, here’s how to get them (hint: press eclipse glasses to a phone’s camera lens, then remove them to get the shot when the full eclipse is reached).

• And, here are a few safety tips for our pets today!

📲 We will have on-the-ground-coverage of the celestial event over on the Mo News Instagram!

🇮🇱 SIX MONTHS OF WAR: ISRAEL WITHDRAWS TROOPS FROM SOUTHERN GAZA

After six months of war, the Israeli military withdrew ground troops from the southern Gaza Strip over the weekend. One brigade remains located in the center of the Palestinian territory.

The US says it is not a shift in military strategy, but a “rest and refit for these troops that have been on the ground for four months.” It comes days after a tense conversation between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu over the airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers.

• Talks between Hamas and Israel resumed this weekend in Egypt for a temporary ceasefire deal that could include the release of some of the 130+ Israelis who continue to be held hostage in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and additional humanitarian aid.

FIGHTING CONTINUES
The Israeli military has been reducing numbers in Gaza since the beginning of 2024 to relieve reservists — in January, there were three divisions (roughly 30,000 troops). The brigade that remains consists of about 4,000 troops. The IDF believes that smaller raids — like a recent operation at Shifa Hospital taking out several members of Hamas — are a more effective way to operate against the terror group moving forward.

Israel says there are four remaining Hamas battalions in southern Gaza and another in the central region. Israel is also on alert for an attack from Iran, which has vowed retaliation against Israel for last week’s strike killing several top military leaders.

SIX MONTHS SINCE OCT. 7

• The war has devastated the Gaza strip, leaving over 50% of buildings damaged or destroyed, 85% of people displaced, and 33,000 Palestinians killed (according to the Gaza Health Ministry which is run by Hamas).

  • The numbers do not differentiate between civilians and Hamas fighters, and also include the Hamas terrorists killed during the October 7th attack. Israel claims that upwards of 15,000 of those killed are Hamas fighters.

  • The World Health Organization says 25 children died of complications linked to malnutrition, so far, while over half of Gaza's population are experiencing food insecurity.

• In Israel, communities are still reeling from the Oct. 7 attacks. More than 100,000 are still displaced from communities near Gaza and also from the northern part of the country, at risk of Hezbollah rockets.

• And then there are the hostages. An IDF spokesperson told Newsweek on Friday that there are 134 hostages—among them 11 foreign nationals—still being held hostage. 123 others were released.

🏀 WOMEN’S HISTORIC NCAA SEASONS WRAPS

South Carolina won the women’s NCAA basketball tournament yesterday. The team’s 87-75 win over Iowa brought them a third national championship in seven years, and closed an undefeated season.

• South Carolina became just the fifth Division 1 program to complete an undefeated season, joining Texas, Tennessee, Baylor and UConn (who did it six times).

• After the win, South Carolina’s head coach Dawn Staley made a point of giving a shout out Iowa’s top player, "I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport," adding that she’s excited to see how the WNBA is impacted by the “Clark effect.” Clark is expected to be the first draft pick on April 15th by the Indiana Fever.

RECORD SETTING NUMBERS
This season, Iowa's Caitlin Clark became the all-time NCAA Division I men's and women's scoring leader.

• Friday’s Final Four matchup between Iowa and UConn had 14 million viewers on ESPN — the largest audience ESPN has had for ANY basketball broadcast and the most in women's college basketball history.

• Money talks: The women’s championship tickets ($376-$1,512) went for more than the men’s ($162-$1,109).

MEN 🏀 TONIGHT
March Madness started with 68 teams for both men’s and women’s tournaments. Tonight, UConn and Purdue will play in the men’s championship game.

• Both teams are No. 1 seeds, and UConn is the defending national champs. A win for the Huskies — who are favored — would make them the first back-to-back men’s winner in 20 years. The game’s at 9:20 p.m. ET.

⏳ SPEED READ

🚨NATION

📌 Trump’s campaign said it raised a record $50.5 million at a Florida fundraiser (AP)

📌 Ohio warns that Biden may not make deadline to be on ballot in November (WASHINGTON POST)

📌 Oregon Powerball player wins $1.3 billion jackpot, beating odds of 1 in 292 million (FORTUNE)

📌 Suspect arrested after setting fire to Bernie Sanders' Vermont office (NBC NEWS)

📌 Mike Johnson prepares to unwrap mystery Ukraine aid package (WSJ)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

📌 Mexico’s president says his country is breaking diplomatic ties with Ecuador after embassy raid (NBC NEWS)

📌 Rwanda Genocide 30 years Later: Country’s president says that the world failed the country(BBC NEWS)

📌 The world’s oldest man says the secret to his longevity is luck, plus regular fish and chips (AP)

📌 Tens of thousands protested against the government of Viktor Orban in Budapest (REUTERS)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

📌 8.2 million Tide Pod bag packages recalled because they might split open and allow the pods to be ingested (NBC NEWS)

📌 Boeing engine part fell off during Southwest flight takeoff, FAA says (CNBC)

📌 Russian Soyuz spacecraft brings crew of 3, including NASA astronaut, back to Earth (CBS NEWS)

📌 Insurance companies are using aerial images of homes as a tool to ditch properties seen as higher risk (WSJ)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

📌 Kristen Wiig inducted into ‘SNL’s’ Five-Timers Club by Ryan Gosling, Paul Rudd, Matt Damon during he hosting gig (NY POST)

📌 Bronny James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, will enter the 2024 NBA Draft (MO NEWS)

📌 Larry David reveals why he is really ending Curb and that he speaks with Richard Lewis after his death (DAILY BEAST)

📌 Biggest Night In Country Music: All the CMT Music Award winners (CBS NEWS)

📌 Video of Aoki Lee Simmons, 21, and ‘boyfriend’ Vittorio Assaf, 65, in St. Barts causes concern (PAGE SIX)

Mo News Podcast: A daily conversation about the news that matters.

🗓 ON THIS DAY: APRIL 8

• 1864: The US Senate passed, 38-6, the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution abolishing slavery. The House of Representatives passed it the following January and the amendment was ratified in December 1865.

• 1994: The genocide begins in Rwanda, as members of the Hutu ethnic majority murder as many as 800,000 people, mostly the Tutsi minority, over 100 days. The US & France are among the countries that later apologize for not doing more to stop the bloodshed.

• 1974: Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s record, in an Atlanta Braves game against the LA Dodgers.

• 2000: ‘Saturday Night Live’ premieres the ‘More Cowbell’ sketch featuring Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken.