NPR News: 03-05-2026 7AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: March 5, 2026, 7AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman (NPR)
Episode Duration: 5 minutes
Theme: Key global and U.S. national news updates

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode summarizes major global events and notable U.S. developments, focusing heavily on the escalating conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, the succession crisis in Iran, a new AI pledge from major tech firms, the release of a major clergy abuse report in Rhode Island, and political shake-ups in Montana.

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Key Topics & Highlights

1. Widening War: U.S., Israel & Iran (00:17–02:13)

• New Fronts in Conflict:

  • Iranian drones reportedly strike Azerbaijan, a U.S. ally. Civilians are injured, and a drone falls near a school.
  • An Iranian ballistic missile headed for Turkey is shot down by NATO air defenses—marking NATO’s first direct involvement in the conflict.

• Notable Moment:

  • Turkey urges all parties to avoid escalation.
    • “Turkey is calling on all parties engaged in the conflict in the Middle East to, quote, refrain from actions that would lead to further escalation.”
      —Terry Schultz (00:50)
  • NATO's stance:
    • “The alliance condemns what she referred to as Iran's targeting of Turkey.” (Terry Schultz summarizing NATO spokeswoman, 01:10)
  • The U.S. Incirlik base in Turkey has not been used for offensive war measures.
    • (Terry Schultz, Brussels, 01:16)

• Iran’s Leadership Vacuum:

  • Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in airstrikes; his successor to be selected by a religious panel.
  • Top candidate: Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, described as a hardliner with strong relationships in both the IRGC and his father's office.
  • “Of all the candidates, he's the one who is closest to the powerful Islamic Republican Guard Corps, the IRGC.”
    —Jackie Northam (01:55)
  • “If they support him, there's a good chance he'll be Iran's next leader.”
    —Jackie Northam (02:08)

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2. Tech Giants’ AI Power Pledge (02:13–03:09)

• White House Meeting & New Pledge:
  • Seven major tech firms—including Google, Meta, and OpenAI—promise not to pass on electricity rate increases from their AI data centers to consumers.
  • Google President Ruth Porat:
    • “We're committed not only to pay for 100% of the energy we use, but very importantly, the infrastructure to support that growth, whether or not we end up using that energy.” (02:49)
  • The initiative is not legally binding. States continue moving on related legislation.

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3. Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Report Released (03:09–04:13)

• Findings & Fallout:
  • Rhode Island’s attorney general unveils a 300-page report on decades of sexual abuse in the Providence Catholic Diocese.
  • Systemic pattern:
    • Priests accused of abuse were repeatedly transferred to new parishes.
    • “Bishops knew. Bishops knew and did nothing. Worse than nothing, they transferred priests.” —David Wright (03:38)
  • 31 priests reassigned at least five times each, per church records since 1950.
  • The diocese claims it has adopted safeguards and has no credibly accused clergy in active ministry.

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4. Major Political Announcements in Montana (04:13–04:56)

• Senator & Representative Departures:
  • Montana Senator Steve Daines (R) will not seek reelection. His announcement comes minutes before the candidate filing deadline.
  • President Trump immediately endorses U.S. attorney Kurt Almi for the Senate seat.
  • Montana's only congressman, Ryan Zinke, is also retiring. He backs his former staffer, while Trump endorses talk show host Aaron Flint.
• Political Ripple Effect:
  • Sudden, high-level departures and endorsements hint at major shifts in Montana’s GOP landscape.

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:17–02:13: U.S./Israel/Iran war escalation, NATO’s involvement, Iran’s succession
• 02:13–03:09: Tech companies AI electricity pledge
• 03:09–04:13: Rhode Island clergy sexual abuse report
• 04:13–04:56: Montana political announcements

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Notable Quotes

• “Turkey is calling on all parties engaged in the conflict in the Middle East to, quote, refrain from actions that would lead to further escalation.”
  —Terry Schultz (00:50)
• “Of all the candidates, he's the one who is closest to the powerful Islamic Republican Guard Corps, the irgc.”
  —Jackie Northam (01:55)
• “We're committed not only to pay for 100% of the energy we use, but very importantly, the infrastructure to support that growth, whether or not we end up using that energy.”
  —Google President Ruth Porat (02:49)
• “Bishops knew. Bishops knew and did nothing. Worse than nothing, they transferred priests.”
  —David Wright (03:38)

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains NPR’s factual, concise, and serious tone, with clear attributions and a direct reporting style.

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Summary

This five-minute newscast offers a brisk yet thorough rundown of top global and national stories, notably the intensifying U.S./Israel/Iran conflict and its political implications, the succession crisis in Iran, efforts by tech leaders to address AI energy impacts, a major church abuse report in Rhode Island, and significant political shifts in Montana. The episode efficiently captures key developments and their contexts, providing listeners with the essential details and voices driving today's headlines.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran has widened again today. Officials in Azerbaijan say drones launched from neighboring Iran hit an airport in its southern region of Another drone fell near a school, and two civilians have been hurt. Azerbaijan is a US Ally. Meanwhile, an Iranian missile that was headed for Turkey was shot down yesterday by NATO air defense. Iran has denied firing the missile, but Terry Schultz reports this is the first time the military alliance has been drawn into the US And Israeli war on Iran.

[Terry Schultz]

Turkey is calling on all parties engaged in the conflict in the Middle east to, quote, refrain from actions that would lead to further escalation. It's not clear specifically where the ballistic missile was aime as it passed over Iraq and Syria, approaching Turkish airspace, before being shot down by NATO air and missile defense systems stationed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. NATO spokeswoman Alison Hart said the alliance condemns what she referred to as Iran's targeting of Turkey. The US has air forces at the Incirlik base in southern Turkey, but Turkish officials say the base has not been used for offensive measures in the war. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.

[Korva Coleman]

Meanwhile, Iran is also firing at Qatar today while the US And Israel continue to fire at Iran separately. It is not yet clear who will take over as Iran's supreme leader after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in airstrikes last Saturday. That person will be chosen by a panel of Iranian clerics. NPR's Jackie Northam says one leading contender to be Iran's supreme leader is Khamenei's son Mochaba, who is considered a hardliner.

[Jackie Northam]

Now, Mosheba has important connections. Of all the candidates, he's the one who is closest to the powerful Islamic Republican Guard Corps, the irgc. He's also well connected in his late father's own office. And these are the two most important parts of the regime. And if they support him, there's a good chance he'll be Iran's next leader.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Jackie Northam reporting. Leaders of seven big tech companies met at the White House yesterday and signed a pledge to keep AI from raising electricity prices. They say they'll cover the cost for the electricity and infrastructure needed for data centers. And NPR's Stephen Bisaha reports the companies

[Stephen Bisaha]

that signed the pledge are some of the leaders in AI like Google, Meta and OpenAI. The data centers they're building across the country have also sparked fears of rising energy prices. Google President Ruth Porat said the company plans to grow the nation's power capacity without driving up the costs for everyday consumers.

[Korva Coleman]

We're committed not only to pay for 100% of the energy we use, but very importantly, the infrastructure to support that growth, whether or not we end up using that energy.

[Stephen Bisaha]

The pledge is not legally binding. State governments have been passing and considering their own laws to try and prevent data centers from raising power bills. Stephen Basaha, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Google is among NPR's financial supporters. You're listening to NPR News. Rhode Island's state attorney general has released a report. It documents decades of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church Diocese of Providence. From Ocean State Media, David Wright has more.

[David Wright]

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Narona's 300 page report documents an all too familiar pattern. Priests accused of abuse shuffled from parish to parish by local bishops. Bishops knew. Bishops knew and did nothing. Worse than nothing, they transferred priests. According to the report compiled from church records dating back to 1950, the diocese transferred 31 priests to new jobs at least five times each. In response, the bishop of Providence said that the diocese adopted new safeguards decades ago and that there are no credibly accused clergy in active ministry. For NPR News, I'm David Wright in providence.

[Korva Coleman]

Montana's Republican U.S. senator Steve Daines has announced he won't seek reelection. He revealed his decision yesterday, just minutes before the deadline expired for candidates to file paperwork for the November general election. President Trump immediately announced he was endorsing another Republican candidate, the U.S. attorney for Montana, Kurt Almi. Earlier this week, Montana's only representative, Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke, also announced that he planned to retire. Zinke backed his former staff member for the job. Talk show host Aaron Flynt Flint was also quickly endorsed by President Trump. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, in Washington.

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