NPR News: 03-10-2026 12PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — March 10, 2026, 12 PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh

Episode Overview

This five-minute update delivers the latest on the expanding U.S.-Iran war, its economic consequences, a new FDA drug approval, a notable congressional party switch, and insights into student use of AI chatbots in schools across the country.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. U.S. and Israel at War with Iran

• Escalation and Casualties (00:19)

  • The war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has gone on for ten nights, with over 1,000 lives lost (most in Iran), and at least seven U.S. service members dead.
  • The Trump administration asserts the U.S. is succeeding in diminishing Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities.
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated ongoing strikes against Iran’s defense industry, with focus on avoiding protracted nation-building, unlike Iraq or Afghanistan.

  "The US has lost at least seven service members in combat. But the Trump administration maintains the US is winning this war to eradicate Iran's missile and nuclear capabilities." — Lakshmi Singh (00:19)

• Military Operations and Ongoing Uncertainty (00:54–01:39)

  • General Dan Kaine reported destruction of 50 Iranian ships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, essential for global oil shipments.
  • President Trump gave conflicting messages: the war is “mostly complete” yet could extend “for some time.”
  • Despite claims of progress, air raid sirens disrupted Tel Aviv during latest statements.

  "Targeting of Iran's defense industrial base continues... 50 Iranian ships have been destroyed in an effort to protect navigation through the Strait of Hormuz." — Quill Lawrence (00:54)
  "Even as he spoke, air raid sirens were heard in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, sending people running to shelters." — Quill Lawrence (01:26)

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2. Economic Impact: Gasoline and Housing Markets

• Fuel Prices Spike (01:39–02:21)

  • Gas prices have jumped 50 cents per gallon since war's outbreak; latest average at $3.54/gallon, diesel at $4.78.
  • The rise is directly linked to war-related disruptions.

  "The average price of gasoline rose by another 6 cents a gallon overnight. AAA puts the national average at $3.54." — Scott Horsley (01:50)

• Housing Snapshot

  • Housing market shows minor recovery: existing home sales up 1.7% in February, average price at $398,000; mortgage rates averaged 6%.

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3. FDA Approves Drug for Ultra Rare Genetic Disorder

• Leucovorin Approval (02:21–03:16)

  • FDA approved leucovorin for a rare cerebral folate transport deficiency (less than one in a million affected).
  • The decision used a systematic medical literature review, not new clinical trials.
  • Previously discussed as potential autism treatment, but data were inadequate.

  "The FDA approved leucovorin to treat a genetic condition that causes seizures and developmental delays... affects less than one in a million people." — Sidney Lupkin (02:34)
  "The FDA initially looked at whether leucovorin could be used to treat autism spectrum disorder, but the data was insufficient." — Sidney Lupkin (03:16)

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4. Congressional Party Shift Amid Election Pressure

• Rep. Kevin Kiley Becomes Independent (03:16–04:05)
  • California’s Rep. Kevin Kiley is leaving the Republican Party to become an independent, citing redistricting challenges.
  • Despite the change, he’ll still caucus with House Republicans.

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5. AI Chatbots in Classrooms: Opportunities and Risks

• Student Use in Schools (04:05–04:49)

  • Students in 1,300 schools (39 states) are using AI chatbots on school-issued devices.
  • 80% of 1.2 million analyzed chats were educationally appropriate, 20% broke school district guardrails, and 2% involved topics like self-harm, violence, and bullying.

  "Students have already added AI into their digital diet on topics around wellness, on topics around self harm, on topics around bullying and violence." — Tami Winka, CEO of Securly (04:31)

  • Such conversations trigger wellness alerts for intervention.

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6. Market Update

• Dow Jones (04:49)
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up nearly 200 points.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On war’s shifting realities:

  "In the past day, President Trump has said both that the war is mostly complete and also that it could go on for some time." — Quill Lawrence (00:54)

• On student interactions with AI:

  "These chats lead to wellness alerts to school districts for appropriate follow up actions." — Ritu Chatterjee (04:42)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• U.S.-Iran war update: 00:19–01:39
• Economic impact (gas/housing): 01:39–02:21
• FDA drug approval: 02:21–03:16
• Congressional switch: 03:16–04:05
• AI chatbots in schools: 04:05–04:49
• Market news: 04:49

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This concise news summary covers all critical developments, providing context and direct quotes for listeners who missed the episode.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

live from NPR News. I'm Lakshmi saying for 10 nights now, the U.S. and Israel have been locked in war with Iran. For nearly two weeks, the war has escalated across the region. More than 1,000 lives have been lost, the majority in Iran. According to local officials. The US has lost at least seven service members in combat. But the Trump administration maintains the US Is winning this war to eradicate Iran's missile and nuclear capabilities. And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said as much today as NPR's Quill Lawrence reports.

[Quill Lawrence]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Kaine said targeting of Iran's defense industrial industrial base continues. Kaine said that 50 Iranian ships have been destroyed in an effort to protect navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point for worldwide oil exports. In the past day, President Trump has said both that the war is mostly complete and also that it could go on for some time. US Officials have been consistent that there will be no protracted nation building effort like the US Tried for decades in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Sidney Lupkin]

There will be.

[Quill Lawrence]

Hicks has said Iranian missile and drone capabilities were severely diminished. But even as he spoke, air raid sirens were heard in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, sending people running to shelters. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

As for the war's economic impact, the cost of gasoline continues to climb. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. Prices have jumped more than 50 cents a gallon since the start of the war.

[Scott Horsley]

The average price of gasoline rose by another 6 cents a gallon overnight. AAA puts the national average at $3.54, right around $3 a gallon before the US launched its war against Iran. Diesel prices have jumped even more sharply to an average of $4.78. Sales of existing homes perked up a little bit last month. The national association of Realtors says sales rose 1.7% in February. The average sales price was $398,000. The average mortgage rate last week was 6%. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Food and Drug Administration is approving the drug leucovorin as a treatment for an ultra rare genetic disorder. This comes after the the administration touted the drug as a potential autism treatment last fall. Here's NPR's Cindy Lupkin.

[Sidney Lupkin]

The FDA approved leucovorin to treat a genetic condition that causes seizures and developmental delays. It is the first treatment approved for a type of cerebral folate transport deficiency. The FDA said the disease affects less than one in a million people. The drug company gsk, said in September that it would apply to expand the drug's label to include this use at the FDA's request. To make its decision, the agency relied in large part on a systematic review of existing medical literature instead of new clinical studies. An agency official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the FDA initially looked at whether leucovorin could be used to treat autism spectrum disorder, but the data was insufficient. Sidney Lupkin, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This is npr. California Congressman Kevin Kiley says he is switching his political affiliation from Republican to independent. He represents the state's third Congressional District, spanning most of the California Nevada border and includes all or parts of 10 counties. After two terms, Kiley faces a tough reelection race after congressional boundaries in the Democratic leaning state were redrawn in response to redistricting in GOP leaning states. Kiley has said he will still caucus with U.S. house Republicans. The digital safety company securely says students in 1300 schools across the country are already using AI chatbots in the classroom. NPR's Ritu Chatterjee with details securely analyzed

[Ritu Chatterjee]

1.2 million conversations between students and AI platforms on school issued devices in 39 states. 80% of these chats were educationally appropriate, but 20% violated safety guardrails set up by individual school districts. That includes the 2% of conversations involving topics of self harm, violence and bullying, says security CEO Tami Winka.

[Tami Winka]

Students have already added AI into their digital diet on topics around wellness, on topics around self harm, on topics around bullying and violence.

[Ritu Chatterjee]

These chats lead to wellness alerts to school districts for appropriate follow up actions. Read the Chatterjee, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up nearly 200 points. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.

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