Did you watch the Oscars? In its most ideal version, the Academy Awards should be a big, warm, sincere celebration of film. Of course, what’s ever ideal? Last night’s ceremony was a little messy but that’s what made it interesting. And everyone seems to agree that host Conan O’Brien made it as fun as a three-hour and 45-minute award show can be.

Before the requisite roasting of nominees, O’Brien also took the opening moments of the show to share his earnest feelings about what the Academy Awards mean. “Every film we salute is the product of thousands of people speaking different languages, working hard to make something of beauty,” he continued. “We pay tribute tonight, not to just film but to the ideals of global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience and that rarest of qualities today, optimism.”

One Battle After Another which was nominated for 13 awards, received the highest honor of the night: best picture. Paul Thomas Anderson won for best director and Sean Penn, though he chose to go to Ukraine instead of the ceremony, received the best supporting actor award. The film also won in the newly added category, best casting (Cassandra Kulukundis).

With a record-breaking 16 nominations, Sinners took home four awards. Its writer-director Ryan Coogler won best original screenplay, and its star, Michael B. Jordan beat out Leo and Timothée for best actor and claimed his statue to a standing ovation from the crowd.

As for surprises, there was a tie (the first since 1968) and an appearance by Anna Wintour’s naked eyeballs. This year’s in memoriam segment was both beautiful and moving. The theme from Kpop Demon Hunters had an amazing performance and “Golden” became the first Kpop track to ever win the Oscar for best original song—but the moment was slightly tarnished when one of the song’s writers was cut off mid-speech. And if you’re curious about the other winners, The Hollywood Reporter has the full list.

Going into the third week of war against Iran, President Donald Trump may soon be ready to declare victory. But he confronts a challenge: A hardened regime in Tehran remains in power, and it is roiling global oil markets by choking off the vital shipping lane that allows oil and gas out of the Persian Gulf. And it could get worse if other Gulf states join the conflict.

The president and top aides spent the weekend framing the operation as a resounding military success while imploring other countries to join their effort to resolve a worsening energy crisis related to the Strait of Hormuz. Trump urged Beijing to help address disruptions on the strait. He claimed there’s been “some positive response” after reaching out to countries for help with securing the strait and warned that NATO faces a “very bad” future if allies fail to assist.

The price of oil Sunday rose to its highest level since July 2022. Brent crude was past $105 a barrel. In the early hours of Monday in the Middle East, airstrikes again hit Tehran, including at an airport. In Beirut, the Lebanese capital, the sound of airstrikes and thunder mingled indistinguishably in the first hour of Monday morning. And the authorities in Dubai said “a drone-related incident" in the vicinity of its international airport had damaged a fuel tank and caused a fire. The airport is normally among the world’s busiest but it has contended with multiple drone attacks in recent weeks.

It’s no surprise that U.S. politics are getting more polarized. But you might not have seen this coming: So are state income-tax systems. GOP-led states are looking to entice new residents with lower taxes, while Democratic-led states seek higher taxes on top earners to shore up budgets and social services.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Republican-led states are now racing each other to flatten, cut and eliminate individual income taxes, with 23 states lowering their top income-tax rates since 2021. And Democratic-controlled states are moving the opposite way, pushing to increase taxes on top earners to combat inequality and plug budget holes expected from Republicans’ cuts to federal health and nutrition assistance programs.

A key example: After a grueling 25 hours of debate, complete with an almost show-stopping filibuster effort of more than 81 amendments by Republicans to stop the bill from moving forward, Washington just made history with the passage of a millionaires tax bill, which would create the first income tax in the state’s history.

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