NPR News: 03-03-2026 3PM EST

Summary

---

NPR News Now – March 3, 2026, 3PM EST

Episode Overview

This five-minute news update from NPR News Now, anchored by Amlakshmi Singh, delivers the latest global and U.S. headlines. The episode focuses on escalating conflict in the Gulf region involving Iran, repercussions on global energy, political tensions between the U.S. and Spain, developments regarding former President Bill Clinton’s deposition about Jeffrey Epstein, and a looming media merger that could impact creative industries.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Escalating Conflict in the Gulf: Iran vs. U.S. Interests

• Summary:
  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been targeted by more than 185 missiles and 800 drones since hostilities between the U.S. and Iran began. Most projectiles are intercepted; fatalities largely result from debris.
• Firsthand Reporting:
  • Zeh Batrawi, reporting from an official government press conference in Abu Dhabi, describes viewing charred missile and drone fragments.
  • Despite the scale of the attacks, authorities emphasize successful interception of most threats.
• Quote:
  • Zeh Batrawi (00:40):
    “It's a very surreal moment... the government has brought select press to attend a press conference... they have brought fragments in front of me... charred, burnt, fragments of some of the more than 185 missiles and hundreds of drones that they have intercepted... And they say nearly all of this has been intercepted and the three deaths that have been recorded so far... have been a result of debris not from any direct hit.”

2. U.S. Response: Military Strategy & Diplomatic Fallout

• Main Points:
  • President Trump has authorized the U.S. Navy to start escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz to protect global oil supply chains, which are under threat due to Iranian blockades.
  • President Trump announces intention to cease all trade with Spain after Spain denies U.S. access to its military bases for operations against Iran.
• Quote:
  • Donald Trump (02:11):
    “They wanted to keep it at 2% and they don't pay the 2%. So we're going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don't want anything to do with Spain.”
• Tariffs:
  • Trump claims to have increased a controversial “global tariff” from 10% to 15%, though no official confirmation has followed.
• Market Impact:
  • Tensions have sent shockwaves through the global energy and trade markets.

3. Regional Safety & War Duration

• State Department Advisory:
  • Americans in over a dozen Middle Eastern countries are advised to leave due to escalating violence.
  • U.S. embassies in both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have been struck.
• War Projections:
  • President Trump predicts the war could last four to five weeks but emphasizes the U.S. could sustain a longer campaign.

4. Bill Clinton Deposition Released

• House Oversight Committee Action:
  • Republicans have made public portions of Bill Clinton’s deposition regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
• Clinton’s Testimony:
  • Clinton asserts the connection was mainly related to the Clinton Foundation’s AIDS work and ended around 2003.
• Quote:
  • Bill Clinton (03:37):
    “I thought Mr. Epstein was an interesting man, but he… I didn’t think he was really interested in what I was doing.”
  • He denies witnessing or suspecting any illegal acts by Epstein.
• Note:
  • Clinton is not accused of any wrongdoing.

5. Media Industry Merger and Creative Independence

• Latest Merger:
  • Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Brothers Discovery paves the way for HBO Max and Paramount Plus to merge.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential threat to creative independence.
• Quote:
  • David Ellison, Paramount Skydance CEO (paraphrased by Elizabeth Blair, 04:14):
    “HBO would be given the resources and independence to do what it does best.”

6. Markets Update

• At-a-Glance:
  • Dow Jones down 292 points (0.5%), closing at 48,613.
  • S&P down 55 points; Nasdaq down 199 points.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On UAE missile debris:
  • Zeh Batrawi (00:40):
    “Charred, burnt, fragments of some of the more than 185 missiles and hundreds of drones that they have intercepted...”
• On U.S.-Spain trade tensions:
  • Donald Trump (02:11):
    “…we're going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don't want anything to do with Spain.”
• Clinton on Epstein:
  • Bill Clinton (03:37):
    “I thought Mr. Epstein was an interesting man, but he… I didn't think he was really interested in what I was doing.”

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:14 — Iran’s attacks on UAE and regional war update
• 01:27 — U.S. military response, tanker escorts, and Trump’s remarks on Spain
• 02:43 — State Department travel advisories and war outlook
• 03:31 — Clinton’s deposition on Epstein relationship
• 04:01 — Creative independence and the HBO Max-Paramount Plus merger
• 04:34 — Financial markets update

---

This summary covers the essential headlines and insights from the March 3, 2026, 3PM edition of NPR News Now, providing listeners with a concise overview of rapid global developments.

Transcript

[Carvana Announcer]

This message comes from Carvana, who makes car selling easy. Enter your license plate or vin, get a real offer in minutes and have your car picked up from your door. Sell your car the easy way with Carvana. Pickup fee may apply.

[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News, Amlakshmi Singh. Iran's keeping up its attacks on U.S. interests in Gulf states, among them the United Arab Emirates. The UAE has been struck by more than 185 missiles and more than 800 drones since the U.S. israeli war on Iran started Saturday in Abu Dhabi. NPR's Abitrawi has more on the war that has directly and indirectly drawn in more than a dozen countries.

[NPR Correspondent Zeh Batrawi]

It's a very surreal moment because I'm standing in a five star luxury hotel ballroom where the government has brought select press to come and to attend a press conference where they have been giving us some more information about their position, their policies, domestic and international right now in the midst of this war. But also they've brought fragments in front of me, right before me. I can see them, charred, burnt, fragments of some of the more than 185 missiles and hundreds of drones that they have intercepted since the start of this war fired from Iran at the uae. And they say nearly all of this has been intercepted and the three deaths that have been recorded so far in the United Arab Emirates have been a result of debris not from any direct hit.

[NPR News Anchor]

NPR's Zeh Batrawi President Trump says, if necessary, U.S. navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible. The strait has been facing a blockade by Iran, which has sent shockwaves through global energy markets. The strait is located between Oman and Iran and functions as a key artery for global trade. Today, Trump said he will cut off all trade with Spain after that country denied the US Permission to use bases in the country for bombing Iran. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more.

[Narrator/Reporter on Trump]

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump expressed anger regarding Spain's stance on the Iran attacks and also lashed out at the country for refusing to spend 5% of its GDP on defense, a target NATO has set for 2035.

[Donald Trump]

They wanted to keep it at 2% and they don't pay the 2%. So we're going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don't want anything to do with Spain.

[Narrator/Reporter on Trump]

Trump added that he intends to impose more tariffs to replace those the Supreme Court recently ruled were unlawful. The White House has been unclear on one new tariff, a 10% global tariff Trump imposed under a law called Section 122. He has said he is raising that to 15% and now says he has done so. However, there is no sign from the White House that this has happened. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

Well, the State Department is advising Americans in the more than dozen countries in the Middle east to leave in the last 24 hours. U.S. embassies in Kuwait and most recently Saudi Arabia were hitting. Meanwhile, the death toll is climbing across the region as a result of the launch of the war Saturday and Iran's retaliatory strikes on US Partners in the region. President Trump says the war could last four to five weeks, but the U.S. has a capability to fight longer. This is NPR. Republicans on the House Oversight Committee have released video from their deposition of former President Bill Clinton about his history with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. NPR's Sage Miller reports. Clinton testified his relationship with Epstein centered around the Clinton Foundation's work on AIDS research.

[NPR Reporter Sage Miller]

Clinton told the committee the relationship mostly started after he was president and ended around 2003.

[Donald Trump]

I thought Mr. Epstein was an interesting man, but he I didn't think he was really interested in what I was doing.

[NPR Reporter Sage Miller]

He added that he didn't notice anything that made him think Epstein was a criminal or involved in the trafficking or sexual abuse of underage girls. Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing.

[NPR News Anchor]

Concerns about creative independence are being amplified by major mergers on the horizon. NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports on a deal between HBO Max and Paramount plus after Paramount Skydance's recent deal to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery.

[NPR Reporter Elizabeth Blair]

HBO Max is home to popular shows like the White Lotus, the Last of Us and Game of Thrones. Paramount plus includes Top, Mission Impossible and South Park. Paramount Skydance Chairman and CEO David Ellison told investors this week that HBO would be given the resources and independence to do what it does best.

[NPR News Anchor]

That's NPR's Elizabeth Blair reporting. At a last check on Wall street, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 292 points, or roughly half a percent, at 48,613. The S&P is down 55 points and Nasdaq is down 199 points. You're listening to N News.

[NPR Promo Announcer]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR newsnow +@ +npr.org that's +npr.org.