NPR News Now – March 13, 2026, 9PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst

Date: March 14, 2026

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now update offers a succinct roundup of major global and U.S. news events. The episode covers heightened military tensions between Israel and Iran, a significant U.S. military deployment, legal developments concerning the Federal Reserve, progress on federal housing legislation, leadership changes at the Kennedy Center, and new scientific findings about pre-industrial pollution in the Alps. The reporting features multiple on-the-ground NPR correspondents and audio from those affected by these events.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Israel-Iran Escalation

• Israel strikes in Iran: Israel's military claims responsibility for striking a central square in Tehran amid a major rally supporting Palestinians.
  • Warning messages were sent on Israeli military’s Farsi social media but likely not widely seen due to internet blocks. (00:42–01:29)
  • The strike was caught on Iranian state TV during a live broadcast as an official, unfazed by the blast, declared resilience.
  • "Immediately after the blast, the official raised his fist, defiantly, vowing never to surrender." — Carrie Khan (00:55)
  • Crowds responded by burning U.S. and Israeli flags.
  • Israel reports over 200 Iranian military targets hit in a 24-hour span.

2. U.S. Military Engagement Increased

• President Trump’s comments and military action:
  • Trump claims the U.S. "totally obliterated every military target in Iran's Kronjil Harg island," avoiding oil infrastructure unless provoked in the Strait of Hormuz.
    • “He didn’t wipe out the oil infrastructure there, but that he would if anyone interferes with ships in the Strait of Hormuz.” — Jeanine Herbst (01:30)
  • About 2,200 U.S. Marines aboard the USS Tripoli are heading to the Middle East, strengthening U.S. naval presence amid conflict. (01:29–01:57)

3. Legal Ruling Halts Probe of Federal Reserve

• Federal investigation on hold:
  • Federal Judge James Boasberg halts a Justice Department subpoena into Federal Reserve headquarters renovation, calling it a “pretext” to harass Chairman Jerome Powell for not lowering interest rates quickly enough. (01:57–02:38)
  • “The Justice Department offered no evidence that Fed Chairman Jerome Powell had committed a crime other than displeasing the president.” — Scott Horsley (02:12)
  • The case is seen as a significant test of the Fed’s independence from political interference.
  • Senator Thom Tillis calls the probe “weak and frivolous.”

4. Affordable Housing Legislation Moves Forward

• Senate advancement of major housing bill:
  • The legislation would relax restrictions on factory-built homes to address nationwide affordable housing shortages. (02:38–03:23)
  • Example highlighted: Petersburg, Virginia, sees vacant lots filled with manufactured homes.
    • “This neighborhood has transformed.” — Councilman Howard Myers (03:00)
    • Residents appreciate significant cost savings: “Saving, definitely saving it makes my life a little easier.” — Resident Kenesha, Missouri (03:11)
  • The bill aims to further lower costs and increase access to these housing options.

5. Leadership Change at the Kennedy Center

• Trump appoints new CEO and renovation plans:
  • Matt Flacco is named to lead D.C.'s Kennedy Center after serving as VP of Operations, replacing Trump appointee Richard Grenell. (03:23)
  • Trump previously announced plans to close the center for two years for renovations, though details remain unspecified.

6. Pre-Industrial Pollution Found in Alpine Ice

• Scientific discovery in the Alps:
  • Researchers drill deep into a glacier near the Italy-Austria border, analyzing 6,000 years’ worth of ice layers. (04:09–04:59)
  • Findings show spikes in heavy metals like lead and copper during the medieval era due to increased mining, indicating early human impacts on the atmosphere.
    • “Human activity was already leaving a detectable mark on the atmosphere.” — Azura Spagnasy, climatologist (04:39)
  • Other layers show pollution from large fires, possibly from land-clearing for farming.
  • The study appears in Frontiers in Earth Science and is especially urgent as the glacier melts.

7. Stock Market Update

• Markets close lower:
  • Dow: -119 points
  • NASDAQ: -206 points
  • S&P 500: -40 points

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Immediately after the blast, the official raised his fist, defiantly, vowing never to surrender.”
  — Carrie Khan reporting from Tel Aviv (00:55)
• “The Justice Department offered no evidence that Fed Chairman Jerome Powell had committed a crime other than displeasing the president...”
  — Scott Horsley (02:12)
• “This neighborhood has transformed.”
  — Petersburg City Councilman Howard Myers (03:00)
• “Saving, definitely saving it makes my life a little easier.”
  — Kenesha, Missouri, resident of manufactured housing (03:11)
• “Human activity was already leaving a detectable mark on the atmosphere.”
  — Azura Spagnasy, CA Foscari University of Venice (04:39)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Israel strikes in Iran: 00:42–01:29
• U.S. military escalation: 01:29–01:57
• Federal Reserve investigation halted: 01:57–02:38
• Senate housing bill: 02:38–03:23
• Kennedy Center leadership change: 03:23–04:09
• Alpine ice-core pollution discovery: 04:09–04:59
• Market update: 04:59

Summary

This NPR News Now episode delivers fast-moving, top-priority updates, marked by deepening Israel-Iran hostilities and an active U.S. military posture. Domestic news focuses on the independence of the Federal Reserve in the face of political pressure and Congressional moves to ease America's housing crisis. The scientific segment provides a long-term perspective on human environmental impact, tying today's climate anxieties to a 6,000-year history. The show maintains NPR’s calm, direct tone, balancing breaking political, scientific, and economic news for an audience that values clarity and context.