NPR News: 03-10-2026 12AM EDT

Summary

---

NPR News Now: March 10, 2026 – 12AM EDT

Host: Jael Snyder
Duration: 5 minutes (news content: ~00:18 to 04:57)

---

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode provides a concise roundup of major U.S. and global headlines for March 10, 2026. Key topics include developments in the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, the resignation of Ohio State University's president amid controversy, a shift in party affiliation by a California congressman, a foiled terror incident in New York, a lawsuit resolution between healthcare giants, and a canceled NBA promotional event. The tone is factual, urgent, and focused on breaking news.

---

Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. Escalation and Possible Conclusion of the U.S.-Iran War

[00:18 – 01:26]

• President Trump’s Statement:
  • "We're achieving major strides toward completing our military objective, and some people could say they're pretty well complete. We've wiped every single force in Iran out very completely." — President Trump (00:25)
  • Stated from Miami, Trump implies the U.S. is close to finishing its military objectives in Iran but doesn't specify an end date.
  • Warns of possible escalation if Iran interferes with oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz, stating on social media:
    • The U.S. would "hit Iran 20 times harder than it already has."
• Economic Impact:
  • Oil prices, which had peaked at $115 per barrel, drop below $90.
  • Asian stock markets rebound alongside falling oil prices.
• Casualties:
  • The U.S. military confirms the death of a seventh American soldier in the conflict.
    • 26-year-old Benjamin Pennington from Kentucky succumbed to injuries from an Iranian attack on a U.S. airbase in Saudi Arabia (March 1).
    • Pennington was described as having "dedication, strength, professionalism and a sense of duty." (Justin Hicks, Kentucky Public Radio, 01:26–02:04)

---

2. Ohio State University President Resigns Amid Scandal

[02:04 – 02:55]

• Resignation of President Walter Ted Carter Jr.:
  • Carter admits to an inappropriate relationship granting access to school leadership.
  • The relationship involved "someone seeking public resources to support her personal business."
  • The university withheld further details; Carter served for two years.
• Campus Context:
  • Ongoing controversy and student protests, with some focused on university building names linked to billionaire Les Wexner and his connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
  • University pledges further updates on new leadership soon.
• Alyssa Nadworny summarizes:
  • "[T]here has been controversy and student protests on campus this semester. Many buildings are named for Les Wexler, a retail billionaire with strong ties to Jeffrey Epstein." — (02:16)

---

3. Political Shift in the House of Representatives

[02:55 – 03:25]

• California Congressman Kevin Kiley:
  • Kiley, in his second term, announces he will drop party affiliation to serve as an independent.
  • He plans to continue caucusing with House Republicans.
  • His move comes amid tough re-election prospects due to redrawn California congressional districts.
• Implication:
  • The already narrow House Republican majority grows more precarious.

---

4. Foiled Terrorism Plot in New York

[03:25 – 03:52]

• Event:
  • Two men, allegedly inspired by ISIS, threw homemade explosives (which failed to detonate) at a protest outside NYC’s mayoral residence.
  • They face charges including attempting to support a terrorist group and use of a weapon of mass destruction.

---

5. Novo Nordisk & HIMS Settle Legal Dispute Over Weight Loss Drug

[03:52 – 04:40]

• Lawsuit Settlement:
  • Novo Nordisk withdraws its suit against HIMS.
  • In exchange, HIMS will halt advertising its compounded generic of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy.
  • HIMS can still offer compounded semaglutide but will also sell brand-name Wegovy via its telehealth platform.
  • Sydney Lupkin explains:
    • "Compounded drugs are made by a specialized pharmacy, not a drug company. ... Novo Nordisk then sued Hims for patent infringement and now has withdrawn that suit." (03:52)

---

6. NBA Halts Atlanta Hawks Strip Club Promotion

[04:40 – 04:57]

• The NBA cancels the Hawks’ plan to honor Magic City, Atlanta’s famed adult entertainment club, after "concerns from many across the NBA."
• The planned promotional night sparked leaguewide attention and critique.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• President Trump (00:25):
  • "We've wiped every single force in Iran out very completely."
• Trump’s Escalation Warning (paraphrased by Jael Snyder, 00:40):
  • "The US will hit Iran 20 times harder than it already has."
• Justin Hicks (01:26):
  • "The army says Pennington enlisted in the military in 2017 and was assigned to an army space battalion last year. His unit's commanding officer said he was dedicated and led with strength, professionalism, and a sense of duty."
• Alyssa Nadworny (02:16):
  • "There has been controversy and student protests on campus this semester. Many buildings are named for Les Wexler, a retail billionaire with strong ties to Jeffrey Epstein."
• Sydney Lupkin (03:52):
  • "Compounded drugs are made by a specialized pharmacy, not a drug company. HIMS will continue to offer compounded semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, but on a more limited scale."

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:18 — U.S.-Iran war update; Trump’s claims and economic impact
• 01:26 — Soldier’s death and tribute (Justin Hicks)
• 02:04 — Ohio State president resignation (Alyssa Nadworny)
• 02:55 — House majority tightens; Kiley turns independent
• 03:25 — New York City protest bomb plot; ISIS links
• 03:52 — Novo Nordisk vs. HIMS lawsuit resolved (Sydney Lupkin)
• 04:40 — NBA cancels Hawks’ Magic City promotion

---

Overall Tone and Takeaway

The episode delivers rapid and clear reporting on some of the day's most consequential news. It highlights ongoing U.S. military engagement abroad, serious domestic controversies, shifting political dynamics, legal battles in healthcare, and the intersection of sports and social issues. The overall tone is urgent and factual, underscoring the persistent volatility in both national and international arenas as well as within U.S.-based institutions.

---

Transcript

[Mint Mobile Announcer]

This message comes from Mint Mobile. If you're tired of spending hundreds on big wireless bills, bogus fees and free perks, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop [e-mail] Switch taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.

[Jael Snyder]

Live from NPR News, I'm Jael Snyder. President Trump said Monday the Iran war could be over soon.

[President Trump]

We're achieving major strides toward completing our military objective, and some people could say they're pretty well complete. We've wiped every single force in Iran out very completely.

[Jael Snyder]

Speaking with reporters in Miami, Trump said the US Is ahead of its initial timeline, but he did not say when the war could end, and he left open the possibility of an escalation if Iran disrupts the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. On social media, he said, the US will hit Iran 20 times harder than it already has. Oil prices are sharply lower in Asian trading after shooting up to $115 a barrel on Monday. Oil now trading below $90 a barrel. And stock markets in Asia are rebounding. A seventh American soldier has died following an Iranian attack on another US Air base in the region. The additional death comes in the second week of coordinated attacks by the US And Israel and Iran. From Kentucky Public Radio, Justin hicks has more.

[Justin Hicks]

26 year old Benjamin Pennington from Glendale, Kentucky, was at an air base in Saudi Arabia on March 1 when Iran retaliated for the initial strikes against the country by the US And Israel. He died Sunday due to injuries from the attack. The army says Pennington enlisted in the military in 2017 and was assigned to an army space battalion last year. His unit's commanding officer said he was dedicated and led with strength, professionalism and a sense of duty. In remarks to a firefighter, Association Vice President J.D. vance alluded to Pennington saying he would be coming home. For NPR News, I'm Justin Hicks in Louisville.

[Jael Snyder]

The president of Ohio State University has resigned after acknowledging an inappropriate relationship that allowed access to school leadership. As NPR's Alyssa Nadworny reports, the university's

[Alyssa Nadworny]

president, Walter Ted Carter Jr. Had been in the job for two years. While the university did not provide more details on whom the relationship was with or what access was granted, Carter recently disclosed he had a relationship with someone seeking public resources to support her personal business. The university in Columbus, Ohio, serves more than 60,000 students. There has been controversy and student protests on campus this semester. Many buildings are named for Les Wexler, a retail billionaire with strong ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Regarding new leadership, the university said it would share more information in the coming days Alyssa Nadworny, NPR News.

[Jael Snyder]

On Capitol Hill. The narrow House majority got tighter on Monday. California Congressman Kevin Kiely says he will still caucus with House Republicans, but he is dropping his party affiliation to serve as an independent. Kiley, a two term congressman, is facing a tough reelection battle after California redrew its congressional boundaries. This is npr. A court complaint against two men who brought explosives to a protest outside New York City's mayoral Manchin over the weekend says they were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group. The two appeared in court Monday on charges that included attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction. The devices were homemade but did not explode after they were hurled during a Saturday protest. The drug maker Novo Nordisk and The telehealth company HIMS have reached a deal to end their legal fight. NPR's Sydney Lupkin has more.

[Sydney Lupkin]

Novo Nordisk will drop its lawsuit against himss. In exchange, HIMSS will stop advertising its compounded version of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy. Compounded drugs are made by a specialized pharmacy, not a drug company. HIMSS will continue to offer compounded semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, but on a more limited scale. It says it will also offer brand name Wegovy injections and pills on its telehealth platform starting later this month. HIMS launched a compounded version of Novo Nordisk's brand new weight loss pill in February after Novo threatened to sue and federal regulators signaled a crackdown. HIMS said it would drop its copycat pill. Novo Nordisk then sued Hims for patent infringement and now has withdrawn that suit. Sidney Lupkin, NPR News.

[Jael Snyder]

The NBA says it's called off the Atlanta Hawks plan for a promotional event at a strip club. The league says it stepped in after hearing concerns from many across the NBA. The Hawks announced a plan to celebrate Atlanta's Magic City adult entertainment club last month. This is NPR News.

[Alexa Advertisement]

Support for this podcast and the following message come from Alexa. Say hello to Alexa and see how the experience is tailored to you. Planning a vacation? Ask Alexa to recommend a trip. Use Alexa to find the name of that song you love, discover new favorite shows or recipes and so much more. Ask Alexa anything and now Alexa is free with prime on your Amazon Devices like echo and Fire TV. Get started at Amazon.com Alexa.