NPR News: 02-28-2026 10PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: 02-28-2026 10PM EST

Date: March 1, 2026
Host: Jeanine Herbst

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Episode Overview

This five-minute news roundup covers top global and national events, focusing on the fallout from US-Israeli strikes in Iran—including the reported death of Iran's supreme leader, global reactions from politicians and the public, updates on the Ukraine conflict, a major Hollywood business acquisition, entertainment news, and art preservation efforts at the Vatican.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US-Israeli Strikes in Iran: Death of Supreme Leader ([00:14]–[02:08])

• Background: Iranian state media report the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, his daughter, and grandchild in US-Israeli strikes.
• US Response:
  • President Trump, on social media, calls Khamenei "one of the most evil people in history."
  • Trump urges Iranians to "take over your government," hoping security forces join civilians.
  • Vows that bombing "will continue uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary" to achieve "peace throughout the Middle East and indeed the world."
• Casualties: The Iranian Red Crescent reports over 200 killed and more than 700 wounded so far.
• Quote:
  • Danielle Kurtzleben (NPR): "Trump...touted the U.S. intelligence and Technology that had led to Khamenei's death." ([00:35])
  • Trump (via social media): "The U.S. bombing campaign, quote, will continue uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary to achieve our objective of peace throughout the Middle East and indeed the world." ([00:35])

2. Global and Community Reactions ([01:19]–[02:08])

• Celebration and Protests:
  • Rallies in cities with large Iranian communities, notably West Los Angeles ("Tarantulas"), with hundreds celebrating, waving pre-revolutionary flags, and dancing.
  • Smaller rallies at LA City Hall opposing the strikes.
• Memorable Moments:
  • Ryan Razavi, rally attendee:
    • "I'm 49 years old, so ever since I remember, I hate this regime." ([01:42])
    • "I was waiting for this moment the whole my entire my life. I feel like I'm dreaming." ([01:51])

3. Ukraine's Response ([02:08]–[03:08])

• Endorsement of Strikes:
  • Ukrainian President Zelensky supports the strikes, framing them as a chance for Iranians to oust an "oppressive regime."
• Connection to Russia:
  • Zelensky emphasizes Iran's alliance with Putin—particularly the supply of Shahed drones.
  • Russian strikes in Ukraine using Iranian-designed drones exceed 57,000 since the war began.
• Quote:
  • Joanna Kakissis (NPR): "The Iranian regime chose to be an accomplice to Putin and supplies him with shaheds. Zelensky said, not only with the drones, but with the technology to make them." ([02:20])

4. Entertainment & Business News ([03:08]–[04:06])

• Hollywood Developments:
  • Paramount Pictures' "hostile takeover" of Warner Bros announced as successful.
  • "Scream 7" opens to a record $60 million, nearly doubling the "Wuthering Heights" opening from two weeks earlier.
• Quote:
  • Ghostface (Scream): "I'm gonna make everyone you love suffer." ([03:40])
  • Bob Mondello (NPR): "Industry estimates have Scream 7 bringing in nearly $60 million by Sunday night. That easily tops the opening of every previous Scream movie." ([03:43])

5. Business & Art News ([04:06]–[04:54])

• Berkshire Hathaway:
  • New CEO Greg Abel issues his first shareholder letter following Warren Buffett’s step down to Chairman at the end of last year.
• Vatican Art Conservation:
  • Restoration underway of Michelangelo's "The Last Judgment," removing salt film caused by humidity and visitors.
  • Using Japanese rice paper dipped in distilled water as a gentle cleaning method.
• Context:
  • The restoration addresses damage from around 25,000 daily museum visitors.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• President Trump (via social media):

  • "[Khamenei is] one of the most evil people in history." ([00:35])
  • "The U.S. bombing campaign...will continue uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary to achieve our objective of peace throughout the Middle East and indeed the world." ([00:35])

• Ryan Razavi (Los Angeles Resident):

  • "I'm 49 years old, so ever since I remember, I hate this regime." ([01:42])
  • "I was waiting for this moment the whole my entire my life. I feel like I'm dreaming." ([01:51])

• Zelensky (via NPR):

  • "The Iranian regime chose to be an accomplice to Putin and supplies him with shaheds...with the technology to make them." ([02:20])

• Bob Mondello (NPR):

  • "Industry estimates have Scream 7 bringing in nearly $60 million by Sunday night. That easily tops the opening of every previous Scream movie." ([03:43])

• Ghostface (Scream Charter):

  • "I'm gonna make everyone you love suffer." ([03:40])

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Segment Timestamps

• Iran Strike & Political Fallout: [00:14]–[02:08]
• Ukrainian Reaction & Drone Warfare: [02:08]–[03:08]
• Box Office & Hollywood Business News: [03:08]–[04:06]
• Berkshire Hathaway & Vatican Art Restoration: [04:06]–[04:54]

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Summary prepared for listeners seeking a fast, comprehensive overview of the news cycle, with the most crucial updates and memorable moments clearly contextualized.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, his daughter and grandchild were killed in the US Israeli strikes in the country today, according to Iranian state media. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports. President Trump says on social media the US Will bomb Iran indefinitely.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

In his post, Trump called Khamenei, quote, one of the most evil people in history and touted the U.S. intelligence and Technology that had led to Khamenei's death. Earlier today, Trump had urged Iranians to, quote, take over your government. Trump, in his post said he hopes the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian police will join the people in that. He added that the U.S. bombing campaign, quote, will continue uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary to achieve our objective of peace throughout the Middle east and indeed the world. In an interview with Iran's state news agency today, Red Crescent has said that more than 200 people have been killed and more than 700 wounded thus far in the strikes. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Several cities with large populations of Iranian descent held rallies celebrating the attacks and the ayatollah's death. Steve Futterman has more from 1. In Los Angele, in a section of

[Steve Futterman]

West Los Angeles nicknamed Tarantulas, hundreds showed up in front of the federal building. For a while they blocked traffic. Many waved pre revolutionary Iranian flags and danced on the streets.

[Ryan Razavi]

I'm 49 years old, so ever since I remember, I hate this regime.

[Steve Futterman]

One of those welcoming the news was Ryan Razavi.

[Ryan Razavi]

I was waiting for this moment the whole my entire my life. I feel like I'm dreaming.

[Steve Futterman]

A smaller rally took place in front of L A City hall opposing the military action. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Ukraine's President Zelensky seemed to endorse the strikes on Iran today, saying it gives the people an opportunity to get rid of an oppressive regime. NPR's Joanna Kakisis has more.

[Joanna Kakissis]

In a video address, Zelensky talked about the Iranian leadership's close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. And now during four years of all out war, Russia has struck Ukrainian cities more than 57,000 times with Iranian designed shahed drones. The Iranian regime chose to be an accomplice to Putin and supplies him with shaheds. Zelensky said, not only with the drones, but with the technology to make them. Shaheds resemble small airplanes and often carry explosives. The drones buzz like mopeds when they fly into Ukrainian cities, often tearing into apartment buildings. Russia now produces thousands of these drones every month using Iranian blueprints. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kiev.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. The seventh movie in the Scream horror franchise is making a lot of noise at the box Office this weekend. NPR's Bob Mondello has more.

[Bob Mondello]

Paramount Pictures has a lot to Scream about this weekend. The company appears to have won its hostile takeover bid to acquire Warner Bros. A rival Hollywood studio. And Ghostface, Paramount's masked villain in the Scream movies, is scaring up some serious ticket dollars.

[Ghostface (Scream Character)]

I'm gonna make everyone you love suffer.

[Bob Mondello]

Industry estimates have Scream 7 bringing in nearly $60 million by Sunday night. That easily tops the opening of every previous Scream movie. It's also close to double the opening of Wuthering Heights two weeks ago, which had been the best weekend start of 2026. Bob Mondello, NPR News, Berkshire Hathaway's new

[Jeanine Herbst]

CEO, Greg Abel, issued his first shareholder letter today. Warren Buffett stepped down at the end of last year, but he does remain the company's chairman. Michelangelo's the Last Judgment is getting spruced up, a facial, if you will. Restorers at the Vatican Museums are removing the chalky white film of salt that's accumulated over the fresco since its last major renovation three decades ago. And they're using a simple technique, Japanese rice paper dipped in distilled water and then applied to the fresco to remove the film. That film, though, comes from the many visitors to the Vatican museums, around 25,000 a day, who emit particles and create ambient humidity the that reacts with the fresco. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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