NPR News: 03-12-2026 4AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – March 12, 2026, 4AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now update delivers the latest headlines and developments from around the globe in a concise five-minute segment. The episode covers escalating military conflict in the Persian Gulf, political maneuvering in the U.S., ongoing fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, major tax legislation in Washington state, and pressing weather alerts in the Southeast.

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Key Discussion Points and Segments

1. Escalation in the Persian Gulf War

00:22 – 01:13

• New Hostilities:
  • The U.S. and Israel continue striking targets inside Iran.
  • Iran, in retaliation, attacks neighboring Persian Gulf nations and ships for the first time in the current war.
  • Two oil tankers struck near Iraqi ports; Iran aims to choke off vital oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

  “Iran is effectively choking off vital oil supplies shipped through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.”
  — Korva Coleman (00:41)

• U.S. Military Response and Ongoing Threat:
  • Most of Iran’s navy sunk, including mine-laying ships, but Iran uses drones, rockets, and missiles on passing ships in the 20-mile-wide Strait.
  • Several ships hit in the last 24 hours.

  “The Strait of Hormuz is just 20 miles wide or so at its narrowest point. And Iranian forces can fire drones or rockets or missiles at passing ships.”
  — Greg Myre (00:55)

2. U.S. Presidential Response and Internal Party Politics

01:13 – 02:18

• Strategic Oil Reserve Release:
  • President Trump to release 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to stabilize global supply—insufficient to cover the loss from Iran’s blockade.
• Trump’s Unorthodox Campaigning:
  • While in Kentucky, Trump actively campaigns against Republican incumbent Thomas Massie, breaking party norms.

  “Massie’s a complete and total disaster as a congressman and frankly as a human being.”
  — President Trump (01:48)

  • Trump and Massie’s clashes range from war authority to federal spending and the release of the “Epstein files.”

3. Jeffrey Epstein Scandal: New Testimony

02:18 – 03:16

• Accountant’s Testimony:
  • Richard Kahn, Epstein's former accountant and current co-executor of the estate, tells House oversight lawmakers he was unaware of Epstein's crimes during his tenure.

  “He said that any gifts to women from Epstein did not raise any red flags.”
  — Eva Berger (03:03)

  • Kahn regrets potentially aiding Epstein unknowingly.

4. Washington State Millionaire Tax Approved

03:16 – 04:15

• Legislation Details:
  • State legislature passes a 9.9% tax on household incomes over $1 million.
  • Expected to affect 30,000 households, generate $3 billion annually for programs like childcare and education.

  “We’re on our way toward reforming a tax system that for 93 years has punished poor and working people and has not asked enough of our wealthiest and most successful.”
  — Jamie Peterson, Senate Majority Leader (04:03)

• Implementation and Pushback:
  • Law takes effect in 2029; legal and political challenges anticipated.

5. Departure of a High-Profile Resident

04:26 – 04:38

• Howard Schultz Leaves Seattle:
  • Former Starbucks CEO announces move from Seattle to Florida after 40+ years.
  • Does not cite the new tax but expresses hope for Washington’s business climate.

6. Severe Weather in the Southeast

04:38 – End

• Storm Warnings:
  • Forecasters issue tornado warnings for Georgia, South Carolina, and the Florida Panhandle due to a powerful storm.

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Iran’s new Gulf tactics:

  “Several ships have been hit in the last 24 hours.”
  — Greg Myre (01:09)

• On high earner tax reform:

  “We’re on our way toward reforming a tax system that for 93 years has punished poor and working people and has not asked enough of our wealthiest and most successful.”
  — Senator Jamie Peterson (04:03)

• On intra-party conflict:

  “Massie’s a complete and total disaster as a congressman and frankly as a human being.”
  — President Trump (01:48)

• On Epstein’s accountant’s regrets:

  “He also told lawmakers he regrets that he may have, quote, unknowingly assisted Epstein in any way.”
  — Eva Berger (03:09)

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Timestamps — Key Segments

• Persian Gulf & Oil Crisis: 00:22 – 01:13
• Trump & Kentucky Primary: 01:13 – 02:18
• Epstein Accountant Testimony: 02:18 – 03:16
• Washington State Millionaire Tax: 03:16 – 04:15
• Howard Schultz Exit: 04:26 – 04:38
• Southeastern US Storm Alerts: 04:38 – 04:55

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This episode encapsulates major international and domestic events of the day: military escalation and its energy repercussions, unconventional political campaigns, the far-reaching impact of the Epstein scandal, progressive tax reforms, and urgent weather advisories—all delivered in NPR’s straightforward, news-driven tone.

Transcript

[A]

Who should win the Oscar for the best original song this year? On the latest All Songs Considered from NPR Music, we rank the nominees.

[B]

I think Diane Warren should have won two Academy Awards. The problem is very often the lyrics are not much more insightful than you would find on the nearest throw pillow.

[A]

Hear the NPR Music podcast on the NPR app or wherever you get podcasts.

[C]

Live from NPR News In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The US And Israel say they're continuing to strike targets inside Iran. On this 13th day of the war, Iran is fired at other Persian Gulf nations and it has attacked ships in the Persian Gulf for the first time in this war. Two oil tankers have been hit near ports in neighboring Iraq. NPR's Greg Myre says Iran is effectively choking off vital oil supplies shipped through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.

[D]

The US has sunk most of Iran's navy, including mine laying ships. But Iran still has other ways to hit these oil tankers and cargo ships. The Strait of Hormuz is just 20 miles wide or so at its narrow, narrowest point. And Iranian forces can fire drones or rockets or missiles at passing ships. And several ships have been hit in the last 24 hours.

[C]

NPR's Greg Myhrey reporting. President Trump says that he will release 172 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The goal is to stabilize the world oil supply, but it's not enough to replace what Iran is now cutting off. Meanwhile, the president campaigned in Kentucky yesterday. NPR's Mara Liasson reports. Trump is trying to help defeat a fellow Republican.

[E]

Presidents usually campaign on behalf of their party's incumbents, but not this time. President Trump was in Kentucky's 4th congressional district, represented by Thomas Massie since 2012.

[F]

Massie's a complete and total disaster as a congressman and frankly as a human being.

[E]

The district is safely red and Trump is confident that if Massey loses the primary, a Republican will still win in November. The president and Massie have clashed over many issues, including Trump's constitutional authority to conduct the war in Iran, federal spending and the Epstein files. Massie forced Trump to back down and release the files when he and other Republicans banded together with Democrats. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[C]

The former accountant for Jeffrey Epstein spoke to lawmakers on the House oversight committee yesterday. NPR's Eva Berger reports. He spoke of his years long relationship with the late sex offender.

[G]

Richard Kahn managed Epstein's finances from 2005 until Epstein's death in 2019. Kahn told lawmakers that he was, quote, not aware of Epstein's crimes when he worked for him. Epstein was convicted in 2008 in Florida on state charges involving the sexual abuse of a child and served 13 months on work release. Epstein died in jail awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges in 2019. Now Khan is a co executor of Epstein's estate. Khan's lawyer shared his prepared opening statement with npr. In that statement, he said that any gifts to women from Epstein did not raise any red flags. He also told lawmakers he regrets that he may have, quote, unknowingly assisted Epstein in any way. Eva Berger, NPR News, Washington.

[C]

On Wall street and pre market trading, Dow futures are lower. This is npr. Lawmakers in Washington state have approved a tax on those making more than a million dollars a year. The tax is expected to affect about 30,000 households in that state. From member stations KUOW and KNKX, Sarah Maestan reports.

[H]

A bill that would levy a 9.9% tax on all household incomes over a million dollars has passed its final legislative hurdle and is now on its way to the governor's desk. The tax is predicted to generate over $3 billion annually from the state's highest earners. Senate Majority Leader Jamie Peterson, who shepherded the tax through the Legislature, says the money is desperately needed to support programs like childcare and education.

[B]

We're on our way toward reforming a tax system that for 93 years has punished poor and working people and has not asked enough of our wealthiest and most successful.

[H]

The new tax would go into effect in 2029, but court challenges and a potential ballot initiative to repeal it are expected in the coming months. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Mizes Tan. In Olympia.

[C]

This week, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz posted on social media he and his wife would be moving from Seattle to Florida after living in the city for more than 40 years. Shultz did not cite the new tax, but said he hoped Washington state would remain a place for business and entrepreneurship to thrive. A powerful storm is raking the southeastern US this morning. Weather forecasters have posted tornado warnings and watches for parts of Georgia, South Carolina and the Florida Panhandle. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, in Washington.