NPR News: 03-10-2026 6AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 10, 2026 – 6AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: ~5 minutes
Date: March 10, 2026

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Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a concise five-minute update on the latest global and national news headlines. The newscast covers escalating conflict in the Middle East, judicial actions limiting federal force on protesters, notable election updates, growing use of AI chatbots in schools, and a major airline disruption. The reporting maintains NPR’s signature factual, measured tone.

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Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Escalation in the Middle East

(00:11–02:19)

• Ongoing Hostilities: Iran fires drones and missiles at Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait as the regional war intensifies.
• US Military Involvement: President Trump describes the ongoing US operation as a "short excursion" and insists the war is near its end. He also issues an online warning:
  • Quote (Trump via report, 00:33):

    "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."

• Iran's Response:
  • A spokesman for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps asserts that Iran, not the US, will decide when the war is over.
  • Trump warns via social media that if Iran blocks oil through the Strait of Hormuz, the US "will hit Iran 20 times harder."
  • Iran threatens to stop all oil exports from the region if attacks continue.
• Impact on Oil & Gas Prices:
  • Crude oil fell to ~$90/barrel overnight, yet US gas prices rose by 5 cents (now averaging $3.54/gallon).
• Conflict in Lebanon:
  • Israel continues strikes against Hezbollah militants.
  • Lebanese officials: Nearly 500 dead, including at least 125 women and children and ~12 paramedics.
  • Controversy over attacks on medical workers and allegations Israel is using white phosphorus munitions in civilian areas.
    • Quote (Lebanese Ministry of Public Health via Jawad Rizkala, 01:41):

      "[The ministry] accused Israel of systematically targeting ambulance teams and disregarding international law."

    • Israeli military denies targeting anything but military sites.
    • Human Rights Watch alleges the use of illegal weapons leading to "lifelong suffering."
      • Quote (Jawad Rizkala, 01:41):

        "Human Rights Watch also accused Israel of using white phosphorus in residential areas, which is illegal under international law, partly because it can cause death or cruel injuries that result in lifelong suffering."

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2. Federal Legal Action in Portland Protests

(02:19–03:10)

• Court Ruling:
  • A federal judge in Oregon bars immigration officers from using excessive force on peaceful protesters at a Portland ICE facility after finding a pattern of such conduct designed to deter First Amendment activity.
• Civil Rights Advocacy:
  • Attorney Ashley Albee (with ACLU of Oregon):
    • Quote (02:49):

      "It sends a clear message that the government has to refrain from tear gassing and using munitions against its own people merely for engaging in peaceful protests."

• Ruling Nuances:
  • Non-lethal crowd control is still allowed if there's an "imminent threat of physical harm."
  • Decision is likely to be appealed.

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3. Election Updates

(03:10–03:31)

• Georgia Special Election:
  • 17 candidates vying for the Congressional seat formerly held by Marjorie Taylor Greene.
  • Notably, party affiliation does not factor into this open contest.
• Mississippi Primaries:
  • Voters select candidates for midterm elections.

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4. AI Chatbots in Schools

(03:31–04:33)

• Classroom Technology Trends:
  • Report from Securly finds students in 1,300 schools (across 39 states) are using AI chatbots for education.
  • Key Statistics:
    • 1.2 million student-AI conversations analyzed
    • 80% deemed educationally appropriate
    • 20% violated local digital safety policies
    • 2% related to self-harm, violence, or bullying
• Wellness Alerts:
  • CEO Tammy Winkup notes trend toward students asking about sensitive topics:
    • Quote (Ashley Albee, via Chatterjee report, 04:15):

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

  • Alerts trigger follow-up by school officials.

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5. JetBlue Ground Stop Resolved

(04:33–04:53)

• Airline Disruption:
  • JetBlue flights were grounded for over an hour due to a system outage; FAA has lifted the stop and normal operations have resumed.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• President Trump (Conrad Wilson reporting, 00:33):

  "We’ve wiped every single force in Iran out very completely."

• Iranian Revolutionary Guard spokesman (paraphrased, 00:48):

  "Iran will determine when the war ends."

• Attorney Ashley Albee (02:49):

  "It sends a clear message that the government has to refrain from tear gassing and using munitions against its own people merely for engaging in peaceful protests."

• Human Rights Watch via Jawad Rizkala (01:41):

  "Human Rights Watch also accused Israel of using white phosphorus in residential areas, which is illegal under international law, partly because it can cause death or cruel injuries that result in lifelong suffering."

• Tammy Winkup (quoted by Ashley Albee, 04:15):

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

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Structure & Tone

• Fast-paced, factual, and neutral reporting
• Emphasis on accuracy, brevity, and clarity
• All stories linked to current events with global/national significance

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For Further Listening

Stay tuned for hourly updates on NPR News Now for the latest headlines as events continue to develop.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Iran is firing drones and missiles today toward Israel, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as the war in the Mid east continues. President Trump spoke twice yesterday. He described the US Military operation in the region as a short excursion. His he also said the war would be ended soon.

[Conrad Wilson]

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.

[Korva Coleman]

A spokesman for Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said Iran will determine when the war ends. Trump later wrote online. He said if Iran tries to stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, the the US will hit Iran 20 times harder than they've already been struck. But Iran says it won't allow a single liter of oil to leave the region if the attacks persist. Crude oil prices have fallen overnight to about $90 a barrel, but US gas prices jumped another nickel overnight. AAA says it's $3.54 on average for a gallon of regular. Meanwhile, Israel continues to attack Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Lebanese health officials say nearly 500 people have been killed. That includes at least 125 women and children and nearly a dozen paramedics. NPR's Jawad Rizkala reports from Beirut.

[Jawad Rizkala]

Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health says some of the latest Israeli strikes hit two civil defense posts near villages in southern Lebanon, killing a paramedic at each site. In a statement, the ministry accused Israel of systematically targeting ambulance teams and disregarding international law. The Israeli military told NPR the claim is absurd, saying its attacks are directed solely at military targets and comply with international law. Human Rights Watch also accused Israel of using white phosphorus in residential areas, which is illegal under international law, partly because it can cause death or cruel injuries that result in lifelong suffering. Joad Rizkhalla, NPR News, Beirut.

[Korva Coleman]

A federal judge in Oregon has barred federal immigration officers from using indiscriminate force against peaceful protesters that this applies at a specific ICE facility in Portland, Oregon. Public Broadcasting's Conrad Wilson has more.

[Conrad Wilson]

The judge found homeland Security officers at the Portland ICE building had an unwritten policy to use excessive force on nonviolent protesters, in part to chill their First Amendment rights. Attorney Ashley Albee worked alongside the ACLU of Oregon representing protesters.

[Ashley Albee]

It sends a clear message that the government has to refrain from tear gassing and using munitions against its own people merely for engaging in peaceful protests.

[Conrad Wilson]

The ruling still allows crowd control devices so long as there's an imminent threat of physical harm to officers or others. The decision is likely to be appealed. For NPR News, I'm Conrad Wilson in Portland.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to npr. There are more elections today. There's a special election in the Georgia congressional district formerly held by Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Republican. There are 17 candidates, all running against each other because party affiliation does not matter in this election. Separately, Mississippi is holding its primary elections today to select candidates for this year's midterm elections. The digital safety company Securly says students in 1300 schools across the country are already using AI chatbots in the classroom. NPR's Ritu Chatterjee reports.

[Ritu Chatterjee]

Securely analyzed 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 Tammy Winkup.

[Ashley Albee]

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. Ritu Chatterjee, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The Federal Aviation Administration has lifted a ground stop for all JetBlue airlines. They were grounded overnight for a little more than an hour. Several News reports say JetBlue officials cited a brief system outage that has now been resolved. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, in Washington.

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