NPR News: 03-17-2026 6PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – March 17, 2026, 6PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst (NPR)
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode delivers urgent updates on escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, Illinois’s primary elections, TSA disruptions from a partial government shutdown, new findings on cannabis and mental health, and the financial crisis facing the U.S. Postal Service.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Israel-Iran Conflict: Targeted Assassinations

[00:00–01:06]

• Israeli Strikes: Israeli forces carried out targeted strikes overnight, which reportedly killed Golam Reza Soleimani (leader of Iran's paramilitary forces known for suppressing domestic protests) and Ali Laranjani (overseeing Iran's military since the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei).
• Official Statements: Israel's Defense Minister says the mission will continue, instructing the military to "keep hunting the leadership."
• Regional Escalation: The UAE's defense ministry reported intercepting 10 ballistic missiles and 45 drones in the early hours of Tuesday.

Quote:

• Israel's defense minister:

  "...he's instructed the military to continue, quote, 'hunting the leadership.'" ([00:28])

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2. Illinois Primary Elections: Voters Speak Out

[01:06–02:12]

• Election Stakes: Chicago voters turn out in frigid weather for a pivotal primary, including an open U.S. Senate seat and four key House races.
• Economic Pressures:
  • Voter Tiffany Shockley voices concerns over rising prices and struggles as a single earner:

    "Gas, food crisis. I have like one income. I have a son. I cannot, I cannot live like that." – Tiffany Shockley ([01:36])

  • Edward Ellis, frustrated with tariffs and divisive politics, reflects on the importance of voting despite disillusionment:

    "When you think about what people have been through to vote, I just feel that it is my duty to vote." – Edward Ellis ([01:53])

• Generational Divide: Democratic candidates span Gen X to Gen Z, outcomes may signal the party's future direction.

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3. TSA Shutdown Fallout: Security at Risk

[02:12–02:45]

• Operational Threats: Acting TSA Administrator Adam Stahl warns of possible security lane closures and shutdowns at smaller airports if the government shutdown persists.

• Impact on Workforce: 50,000 TSA officers are working unpaid; absenteeism is rising due to financial strain.

• Union Perspective:

  "Just unreasonable to expect anybody to continue to go to work for such long periods of time without receiving any pay." – Antoinette Wade, TSA agent and union rep ([02:37])

• Political Context: Deadlock over Department of Homeland Security funding continues, amid contentious debate on immigration and recent violence in Minnesota.

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4. Cannabis & Mental Health: Major Study Finds Little Benefit

[02:45–04:03]

• Landmark Review: University of Sydney review in Lancet Psychiatry finds little evidence cannabis is effective for anxiety, depression, PTSD; minor support exists for insomnia, autism, Tourette's.
• Expert Commentary:
  • Ziva Cooper (UCLA, not involved in study) cautions about study limitations:

    "There are significant limitations with these types of studies," – Ziva Cooper ([03:44])

• Call for Research: While the review is comprehensive, some data suggesting benefits were excluded. More controlled trials are needed.

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5. U.S. Postal Service Financial Crisis

[04:03–04:40]

• Fiscal Cliff: Without Congressional funding, the USPS will run out of money for salaries and vendors within a year.
• Testimony on Capitol Hill: Postmaster General David Steiner reports a $9 billion loss for FY2025; points to borrowing from the Treasury and pension payment delays as stopgaps.
• Systemic Issues: Ongoing debate around the self-funding model and operational reforms.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Security and Leadership:

  "He's instructed the military to continue, quote, hunting the leadership." – Israel’s Defense Minister ([00:28])

• On Everyday Hardship:

  "Gas, food crisis. I have like one income. I have a son. I cannot, I cannot live like that." – Tiffany Shockley, voter ([01:36])

• Civic Responsibility:

  "When you think about what people have been through to vote, I just feel that it is my duty to vote." – Edward Ellis, voter ([01:53])

• On Unpaid Work:

  "Just unreasonable to expect anybody to continue to go to work for such long periods of time without receiving any pay." – Antoinette Wade, TSA ([02:37])

• On Evidence Limitations:

  "There are significant limitations with these types of studies." – Ziva Cooper, UCLA ([03:44])

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:00] – Breaking: Israeli strikes kill top Iranian officials
• [01:06] – Live from Chicago: Voter perspectives in the Illinois primary
• [02:12] – TSA warns of airport disruptions amid shutdown
• [02:45] – New science: Review challenges cannabis mental health claims
• [04:03] – USPS warns of looming financial crisis

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This episode succinctly condenses major national and international stories with first-hand accounts and expert commentary, providing listeners with a crucial update on evolving situations across war, politics, science, and public services.

Transcript

[A]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Iranian state TV has now confirmed the assassinations of two of its highest level officials since Ayatollah Khamenei was killed at the start of the war. Israel says it launched targeted strikes overnight, killing Iran's security and paramilitary chiefs. NPR's Kerry Khan has more.

[B]

Israel's defense minister made the announcement saying both men were killed overnight and he's instructed the military to continue, quote, hunting the leadership. Israel's military confirmed it had killed Golam Reza Soleimani, the leader of the besieged paramilitary forces responsible for violently suppressing street protests against the Iranian government earlier this year, and that an Israeli airstrike killed Ali Laranjani, who it says had been in charge of directing Iran's military efforts since Israel killed the supreme leader in the beginning of the war. The UAE defense ministry says it has engaged 10 ballistic missiles and 45 drones just in the early Tuesday hours. Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[A]

On a frigid day in Chicago, voters are out at the polls after months of a high stakes Illinois primary election season. This year's ballots include an open U.S. senate seat and four Chicago area House seats. Esther Yoonji Kang Kang Rather from member station WBEZ spoke with Democratic primary voters this morning.

[C]

Tiffany Shockley brought her young son with her to vote. Top of mind is one issue, prices

[D]

and gas, food crisis. I have like one income. I have a son. I cannot, I cannot live like that.

[C]

Edward Ellis says he's fed up with the tariffs, the wars and what he calls the dysfunction of both political parties. He almost didn't come today, but then

[E]

when you think about what people have been through to vote, I just feel that is my duty to vote.

[C]

The Democratic candidates span three generations from Gen X to Gen Z, and the outcome may indicate how far left the party's voters are looking to go. For NPR News, I'm Esther Yoonji Kang in Chicago.

[A]

Acting TSA Administrator Adam Stahl says they may have to close some security lanes and possibly some smaller airports around the country if the partial government shutdown continues. Some 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay, and Stahl tells Fox News the callout rate is growing every day. Antoinette Wade has been a TSA agent for 18 years and is a union representative.

[F]

Just unreasonable to expect anybody to continue to go to work for such long periods of time without receiving any pay.

[A]

This as the sale made over funding for the Department of Homeland Security continues over immigration tactics, including the killing of two US Citizens protesting in Minnesota earlier this year. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Many Americans who use marijuana say they do so for mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. But a major review of the evidence published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry concludes there is little to no evidence that it actually works. NPR's Will Stone has more.

[G]

This is the largest effort to date to pull together all the data from high quality trials on cannabis and mental health. The researchers at the University of Sydney concluded there was no indication cannabis is effective for anxiety, depression, PTSD and other conditions. It found limited support for a few areas like insomnia, autism and Tourette's syndrome. Ziva Cooper is a cannabis researcher at UCLA who was not involved in the new paper.

[H]

I would say that there are significant limitations with these types of studies, she says.

[G]

Yes, there is a need for more well controlled trials on cannabis, but the new review excluded other evidence that does show certain compounds in the plant can be beneficial for anxiety and other symptoms. Will Stone, NPR News.

[A]

The postmaster general says without an influx of cash from Congress, the the U.S. postal Service will run out of money for its workers and vendors in about a year. David Steiner told lawmakers on Capitol Hill today that the post office, which doesn't get tax dollars to operate, ended fiscal year 2025 with a net loss of $9 billion. Mail service continues, though, because the post office borrowed money from the US treasury while halting payments to some pension obligations over the years. It's the latest in a long standing money problem at the post office. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

[I]

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