NPR News: 02-28-2026 7PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now

Episode: NPR News: 02-28-2026 7PM EST
Date: March 1, 2026
Host: Jeanine Herbst, NPR
Duration: 5 Minutes

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Overview

This episode provides rapid-fire coverage of dramatic global developments, including the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and escalating US-Iran hostilities, regional impacts in the Gulf, Russia's diplomatic response, and cultural news featuring a remarkable film discovery and Vatican art restoration.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Escalating Tensions Between the US and Iran

• President Trump’s Announcement (00:15–01:23)
  • President Trump declares, via social media, that Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei is dead, pending Iranian confirmation.
  • Trump claims US intelligence and technology facilitated Khamenei’s death and characterizes him as “one of the most evil people in history”.
    • “One of the most evil people in history.”
      — Donald Trump, as cited by Danielle Kurtzleben (00:38)
  • He calls on Iranians to “take over your government,” urging key military groups like the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian police to side with the people.
  • The US pledges an ongoing bombing campaign in Iran:
    • “The US 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.”
      — Danielle Kurtzleben, relaying Trump’s statement (01:05)
  • Humanitarian impact: Iranian Red Crescent reports over 200 killed and 700+ injured in the strikes.

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2. Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes and Regional Fallout

• Attacks Across the Gulf (01:23–02:23)
  • Iran retaliates by targeting Gulf Arab military bases that host US troops; civilians and infrastructure are caught in the crossfire.
  • Dubai faces its first direct missile threat—air raid alerts prompt residents to seek shelter; interceptor missiles shoot down incoming threats.
    • “On Saturday, people’s phones here beeped with the sound of national emergency alerts, telling them to seek shelter in, quote, secure buildings due to missile threats.”
      — Arya Botrai, from Dubai (01:41)
  • Notable incidents:
    • Debris falls near the Burj Khalifa; the Fairmont Hotel on Palm Island catches fire.
    • Abu Dhabi reports a fatality from fallen debris; Kuwait airport and a residential tower in Bahrain are also hit by Iranian drones.

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3. Russia’s Diplomatic Reaction

• Condemnation of US/Israeli Actions (02:23–03:09)
  • Russian Foreign Ministry labels US and Israeli strikes on Iran as “preplanned and unprovoked acts of aggression,” urging immediate diplomatic intervention.
    • “The ministry also accused Washington and Tel Aviv of falsely hyping threats surrounding Iran’s nuclear program to pursue regime change…”
      — Charles Maynes (02:40)
  • Russia warns of possible “uncontrolled escalation” in the region, reaffirming its status as a key Iranian trade partner but refrains from direct military intervention due to its ongoing war in Ukraine.

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4. Cultural Highlights

Historic Film Discovery (03:09–04:19)

• The Library of Congress restores “Guiguese et l’ Automatte” (“Gugues and the Automaton”), a 45-second silent film by Georges Méliès, possibly featuring the earliest robot in cinema history.
  • “A child sized robot clown grows to the size of an adult and then attacks a human clown with a stick. The human then destroys the machine with a hammer.”
    — Chloe Veltman (03:40)
• Rediscovered among family possessions donated by descendants of early technology adopter William de Lisle Frisbee.

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Art Restoration in the Vatican (04:25–end)

• Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment” receives a gentle cleaning using Japanese rice paper soaked in distilled water—a technique combatting salt deposits from the museum’s frequent visitors.

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Notable Quotes

• On Iran strikes:
  “The US 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.”
  — Danielle Kurtzleben, relaying President Trump (01:05)

• On the Gulf attacks:
  “In a first for this emirate, fighter jets flew overhead. An interceptor shot down Iranian missiles targeting Dubai.”
  — Arya Botrai, Dubai (01:48)

• On the film discovery:
  “A child sized robot clown grows to the size of an adult and then attacks a human clown with a stick. The human then destroys the machine with a hammer.”
  — Chloe Veltman (03:40)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• US-Iran crisis, President Trump’s announcement: 00:15–01:23
• Gulf region under fire, civilian impact in Dubai/UAE: 01:23–02:23
• Russia’s condemnation and context: 02:23–03:09
• 19th-century film rediscovery: 03:09–04:19
• Vatican restoration update: 04:25–end

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This concise yet impactful newscast delivers critical global updates and showcases NPR’s breadth—from breaking conflict coverage to celebrating cultural milestones.

Transcript

[Jeanine Herbst]

This message comes from Mint mobile. Starting at $15 a month. Make the [e-mail] Switch $45 upfront payment for 3 months 5 gigabyte plan equivalent to $15 a month Taxes and fees Extra first 3 months only. See Terms live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump says Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei is dead, though Iran hasn't confirmed this. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports. Trump announced that the U.S. will be bombing Iran indefinitely in a Saturday afternoon social media post.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

In his post, Trump called Hamani, 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 US 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. 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]

Iran's been striking Gulf Arab bases hosting US Troops in response to deadly Israeli and US Attacks on the country. Heavy Razari Batrawi reports. Civilian areas in the Gulf have also been targeted, including Dubai Airport, the world's busiest for transit.

[Arya Botrai]

Dubai is billed as a safe haven, a playground for the rich. It has no bomb shelters or bunkers. But on Saturday, people's phones here beeped with the sound of national emergency alerts, telling them to seek shelter in, quote, secure buildings due to missile threats. In a first for this emirate, fighter jets flew overhead. An interceptor shot down Iranian missiles targeting Dubai. Throughout the day and past midnight, debris fell near the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower. The Fairm Hotel on Dubai's iconic Palm island was also hit, possibly by a drone or debris catching fire and wounding people. Nearby Abu Dhabi says a person there was killed by fallen debris, as upscale parts of that emirate also saw fiery debris falling. Meanwhile, Kuwait's airport was hit and a residential tower in Bahrain was struck by an exploding Iranian drone. Arya Botrai, NPR News, Dubai.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Russia's condemning the strike's warning they risk destabilizing the WIDER Middle East. NPR's Charles Mains reports.

[Charles Maynes]

The Foreign Ministry's statement called the U. S Israeli strikes on Iran a pre planned and unprovoked act of aggression, and demanded an immediate return to diplomatic talks. The ministry also accused Washington and Tel Aviv of falsely hyping threats surrounding Iran's nuclear program to pursue regime change and warned the Middle east was in danger of plunging into a cycle of uncontrolled escalation. The Russian response was in line with its objections to recent US Military pressure against Kremlin allies in Venezuela, Cuba and elsewhere in the Middle East. Yet Moscow has thus far stepped back from taking more forceful actions with the vast majority of its military resources devoted to the war in Ukraine. Charles Maynes, NPR News, Moscow.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Russia has been a key trade partner for Iran. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Library of Congress has found and restored a long lost film by the pioneering 19th century French filmmaker Georges Melia. NPR's Chloe Velbin reports. Experts are saying this is likely the first instance of a robot ever captured

[Chloe Veltman]

in a Moving image, the 45 second long silent film Guiguese et l' Automatte or Gugues. And the Automaton is nearly 130 years old, but the subject matter feels very timely. A child sized robot clown grows to the size of an adult and then attacks a human clown with a stick. The human then destroys the machine with a hammer in an Instagram post. Library of Congress moving image curator Jason Evans Groth says the film arrived in a box from a donor in Michigan. Bill McFarland, McFarland's great grandfather, William de Lisle Frisbee, a Pennsylvania potato farmer and school teacher, was fascinated by new technologies.

[Charles Maynes]

Must have bought a projector and a bunch of films and decided to drive

[Jeanine Herbst]

them around in his buggy to share them with folks in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York.

[Chloe Veltman]

The film is available on the Library of Congress's website. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Michelangelo's the Last Judgment is getting spruced up. Restorers at the Vatican Museums are removing the chalky white film of salt that's accumulated over the since the last major renovation three decades ago. And they're using a simple technique, Japanese rice paper that's been dipped in distilled water and then applied to the fresco to remove the film. That film comes from the many visitors to the Vatican Museums. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington. This message comes from Mint mobile. Starting at $15 a month. Make the [e-mail] Switch $45 upfront payment for 3 months 5 gigabyte plan equivalent to $15 a month Taxes and fees Extra first 3 months Only see terms.