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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Amy Held. The historic shock to the world's oil supply is reverberating. Three weeks into the war in Iran, President Trump is calling on other nations to protect the passage for global supply that Iran is blocking. And as NPR's Arezu Rezvani reports, the response to that call has been pretty quiet.
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President Trump wants China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK and other nations to send their warships to the Strait of Hormuz to help secure the key shipping route south. The UK's defense ministry says it's exploring its options, but so far no country has committed to Trump's call. Since the start of the war, Iran has blocked some oil tankers and attacked cargo vessels trying to pass through the strait, which has led to a huge spike in global oil prices. Nearly a fifth of the world's oil supply typically passes through this vital oil export route. The waters off Iran's coast have become a strategic battleground in the war. The US Bombed military targets on Iran's Khark Island Saturday. Trump said the US Might hit the island again then, quote, just for fun if Iran continues interfering with ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Arizu Rezwani, NPR News, Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
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Since the war, the price of oil has spiked more than 40%. That will have wide reaching consequences in the US even though it is less reliant on imports than other nations. Here's KPMG chief Economist Diane Swonk.
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We're seeing everything from freight, shipping costs to transportation costs, prices at the gas pumps to what you will see at the grocery store. Everything that gets moved is going to be affected by these price hikes.
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AAA says the price of gas is now about $3.70 a gallon. That's up about 78 cents from one month ago. The chair of the Federal Communications Commission is threatening the licenses of broadcasters over what he says is federal fake news about the war. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports.
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FCC Chair Brendan Carr made the threat in a social media post that accused outlets of, quote, running hoaxes and news distortions, unquote. He added, quote, broadcasters must operate in the public interest and they will lose their licenses if they do not.
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Unquote.
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In the post, Carr attached a social media post in which President Trump said that outlets including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal want the US to lose the war in Iran. He also characterized workers at those outlets as truly sick and demented people. The administration has multiple times accused news organizations of pushing fake news after running stories about difficulties and damages the US has suffered in the war. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News, U. S. China
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trade talks are underway in Paris. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant is leading the US Delegation. These meetings expected to pave the way for Trump to travel to China in a couple of weeks. This is NPR News. Blizzard conditions are blanketing much of the central US now, dealing with heavy snow and high winds, but it's heat and dryness plus high winds that are bringing critical fire danger farther south. Texas and New Mexico are under red flag warnings today. Meantime, a cold front is sweeping eastward, bringing the chance of severe weather to parts of the mid Atlantic by tomorrow. That includes tornado risk. The Academy Awards will be handed out tonight. In Los Angeles, NPR's Mandalit del Barco reports.
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The big prize at the Oscars could be a showdown between two of the 10 films vying for best picture. Sinners, the supernatural thriller set in the Jim Crow south, has a record breaking 16 nominations. Ryan Coogler is up for best director and for best actor. Michael B. Jordan. He plays two roles as the twins Smoke and Stack.
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Be careful.
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I will.
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Sinners is facing one battle after another, which was written, directed and produced by Paul Thomas Anderson. He's nominated as best director and the film stars best actor nominee Leonardo DiCaprio. He plays a washed up revolutionary, Viva Revolution. Also competing for best picture are Hamnet, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, the secret agent Begonia, F1 Frankenstein and Marty Supreme. Mandalit Del Barco, NPR News.
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Thousands of spectators are lining the streets of South Boston for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. It's one of the biggest celebrations of Irish heritage in the US and also one of the oldest. Organizers say Boston first held festivities in 1737. St. Patrick's Day is Tuesday. This is NPR News.
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With March Madness getting underway, coaches are pushing their players to the limits. But an investigation finds that in some instances, tough coaching can go too far.
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She would call us idiots, stupid, worthless,
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low of the low on the Sunday story, coaches accused of emotional abuse and the players who push back The Sunday story from the up first podcast. Listen now on the NPR app.
Date: March 15, 2026
Host: Amy Held
This episode of NPR News Now provides a concise yet comprehensive update on the major news of March 15, 2026. The bulletin covers the ongoing war in Iran and its global oil shock, economic effects, escalating tensions over media reporting, U.S.-China trade talks, extreme weather conditions across the U.S., a preview of the Oscars, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and a preview of an investigative story on coaching abuse in college sports.
- Main Coverage: [00:01 – 01:43]
Escalating Conflict:
Economic Impact:
- Main Coverage: [01:44 – 02:46]
- Main Coverage: [02:46 – 02:56]
- Main Coverage: [02:57 – 03:31]
- Main Coverage: [03:31 – 04:20]
- Main Coverage: [04:20 – 04:39]
- Main Coverage: [04:39 – 05:00]
This summary brings together the top stories and memorable moments from NPR News Now’s five-minute headline bulletin, contextualizing each report for listeners seeking a quick yet thorough briefing.