NPR News: 03-18-2026 2PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now — Episode Summary

Podcast: NPR News Now
Episode: NPR News: 03-18-2026 2PM EDT
Host: Lakshmi Singh
Date: March 18, 2026

---

Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a concise roundup of pressing national and international news as of March 18, 2026. The bulletin covers major political developments in the U.S., updates on escalating conflict in the Middle East, economic decisions from the Federal Reserve, a historic policy move on medical psilocybin in New Mexico, and a spacewalk at the International Space Station.

---

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Heated Senate Confirmation Hearing: Mark Wayne Mullen for Homeland Security Secretary

• (00:01–01:05)
• Mark Wayne Mullen, the nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, faced intense scrutiny in his Senate confirmation hearing.
  • Bipartisan outrage over Mullen's controversial past remarks.
  • Senator Rand Paul confronted Mullen for previously calling him a "freaking snake" and allegedly supporting a physical attack on Paul.
    • Rand Paul [00:20]: “To know that you supported the felonious, violent attack on me from behind.”
  • Mark Wayne Mullen rebuttal: Denied supporting violence, said he "understood it," not approved it.
    • Mullen [00:32]: “I did not say I supported it. I said understood it. There's a difference.”
  • Democrats criticized Mullen for blaming two US citizens for their deaths at the hands of immigration agents; he conceded he should have retracted those statements.
• Reporter: Claudia Grizales

2. Federal Reserve Leaves Interest Rate Unchanged

• (01:05–01:18)
• The Federal Reserve decided to keep its benchmark interest rate stable, aiming to balance a softening job market against persistent inflation.
• Wartime spikes in energy prices are a concern amid ongoing economic uncertainty.

3. Intelligence Chiefs Grilled on War with Iran

• (01:18–01:51)
• Senators pressed U.S. intelligence leaders on what information the Trump administration had prior to launching military action against Iran.
• Senator Jon Ossoff queried DNI Tulsi Gabbard on claims regarding Iran’s nuclear program:
  • Jon Ossoff [01:37]: “That opening statement ... stated that as a result of last summer's airstrikes, quote, iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated, end quote. Correct?”
  • Denali Wilson [01:50]: “That's right.”

4. President Trump Temporarily Lifts Jones Act to Lower Gas Prices

• (01:51–02:31)
• In response to gas price spikes tied to the ongoing US-Iran conflict, President Trump announced a 60-day suspension of the Jones Act.
• This move allows foreign-built and -operated ships to carry domestic cargo, aiming to increase supply and reduce costs during a politically sensitive election year.
  • Reporter: Deepa Shivaram

5. Escalation in the Iran-Israel Conflict

• (02:31–02:52)
• Israeli forces reportedly assassinated Iran's Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib, the latest in a series of targeted killings since war broke out over two weeks ago.
• Iran's supreme leader was killed earlier in the conflict.

6. New Mexico Launches Medical Psilocybin Access Fund

• (02:52–04:07)
• New Mexico becomes the first U.S. state to allocate public funds, $630,000, for equitable access to medical psilocybin treatment, regardless of income.
• Denali Wilson, Healing Advocacy Fund [03:22]:
  • “Psilocybin is a type of psychedelic and psychoactive compounds that temporarily alters a person's senses. How we perceive our environment, how we're perceiving time, our emotional state.”
• The program will cover treatment for PTSD, depression, substance use disorder, and end-of-life care. Legal groundwork was laid by the New Mexico Medical Psilocybin Act in 2025, with the program launching later this year.
  • Reporter: Jeanette Didios

7. NASA Astronauts Conduct Spacewalk at ISS

• (04:07–04:40)
• NASA successfully conducted a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. A prior attempt was delayed in January due to a medical emergency among Crew 11, which led to their evacuation back to Earth.

8. Stock Market Update

• Dow Jones fell by over 400 points; S&P and NASDAQ down by about half a percent each.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Rand Paul confronts Mullen [00:20]:
  “To know that you supported the felonious, violent attack on me from behind...”
• Mark Wayne Mullen clarifies stance [00:32]:
  "I did not say I supported it. I said understood it. There's a difference."
• Jon Ossoff pushes DNI Gabbard [01:37]:
  “…[the] airstrikes, quote, Iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated, end quote. Correct?”
• Denali Wilson on psychedelics and therapy [03:22]:
  “Psilocybin is a type of psychedelic and psychoactive compounds that temporarily alters a person's senses...”

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Mark Wayne Mullen Confirmation Hearing — 00:01–01:05
• Federal Reserve Rate Decision — 01:05–01:18
• Intelligence Briefing on Iran War — 01:18–01:51
• Trump Lifts Jones Act — 01:51–02:31
• Iran-Israel Conflict Update — 02:31–02:52
• New Mexico Psilocybin Fund — 02:52–04:07
• NASA Spacewalk — 04:07–04:40
• Market Update — 04:40

---

This five-minute bulletin delivers a brisk yet thorough sweep of the day's key political, economic, and scientific developments, maintaining NPR’s straightforward reporting tone while highlighting political tensions and emerging trends.

Transcript

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Heated start today to the Senate confirmation hearing for Senator Mark Wayne Mullen, President Trump's nominee for secretary of Homeland Security. NPR's Claudia Grizales reports. The Oklahoma Republican faced bipartisan outrage from committee members for his past controversial remarks.

[Rand Paul]

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rand Paul confronted Mullen for calling him a, quote, freaking snake and accused Mullen of celebrating a 2017 physical attack on Paul.

[Mark Wayne Mullen]

To know that you supported the felonious, violent attack on me from behind. I did not say I supported it. I said understood it. There's a difference. So that means you really didn't approve of it, just completely understand it.

[Rand Paul]

Mullen argued the two can have their differences, but said he'd bring a new peace of mind to dhs. Democrats also took Mullen to task for his comments, blaming two US Citizens, Renee Goode and Alex Preddy, for their deaths at the hands of immigration agents. Mullen said he should have retracted those statements. Claudi Reesales, NPR News, the Capitol.

[Lakshmi Singh]

We've just learned the Federal Reserve is leaving its benchmark interest rate unchanged. The central bank is trying to navigate a challenging economy. The job market softening and stubborn inflation could be made worse by wartime spike in energy prices. Lawmakers are questioning the nation's top intelligence chiefs about the information the Trump administration had before it went to war with Iran nearly three weeks ago. Senator Jon Ossoff question the director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard about the administration's latest assessment that Iran posed an imminent threat months after a US Strike on Iranian targets.

[Mark Wayne Mullen]

That opening statement as submitted to the committee in advance of this hearing, stated that as a result of last summer's airstrikes, quote, iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated, end quote. Correct?

[Denali Wilson]

That's right.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Meanwhile, President Trump is temporarily lifting the Jones act as his administration attempts to lower gas prices, which have increased during the U.S. s war with the Iran. NPR's Deepa Shivran reports. The law limits domestic shipping routes to just US vessels.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Trump announced a 60 day pause on the Jones Act. That means domestic shipping routes can now be utilized by ships built and operated outside the U.S. the decision comes as gas prices have shot up in the aftermath of the US And Israel's war on Iran. High prices remain a top of mind concern for voters in the midterm elections later this year, which are expected to be close in determining control of Congress. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News, the White House.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Israel has killed another member of Iran's leadership, Intelligence Minister Ismail KHATIB he is among at least nine of Iran's most powerful figures Israeli forces say they have assassinated since the start of the war more than two weeks ago. Iran's supreme leader was killed on the first day of U S. Israel strikes on Iran. At last check on Wall street, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 422 points. You're listening to NPR News. The governor of New Mexico has signed the state's annual budget last week, which included $630,000 for the creation of a medical psilocybin treatment equity fund. New Mexico is the first state in the country to allocate funds that will ensure residents can receive treatment no matter their income. Member station KUNM's Jeanette Didios has details.

[Denali Wilson]

Psilocybin is a type of psychedelic and psychoactive compounds that temporarily alters a person's senses. How we perceive our environment, how we're perceiving time, our emotional state. That's Denali Wilson, director of strategic support at the Healing Advocacy Fund. She says psilocybin can be used for post traumatic stress treatment, resistant depression, substance use disorder, and end of life care needs. Wilson says the New Mexico legislature laid the groundwork for the equity fund by establishing the New Mexico Medical Psilocybin act in 2025, which created the state regulated therapy program. The state's medical psilocyb program will launch at the end of this year. For NPR News, I'm Jeanette Didios in Albuquerque.

[Lakshmi Singh]

NASA astronauts have been conducting a spacewalk outside the International Space Station today. The spacewalk was previously scheduled in January, but those plans were scrubbed when a member of SpaceX Crew 11 mission experienced a medical issue and the entire team was evacuated back to Earth. The Dow is down more than 400 points or more than three quarters of a percent. The S and P is down half a percent. NASDAQ also down half a percent or 114 points. You're listening to NPR News.

[Warby Parker Announcer]

This message comes from Warby Parker Prescription eyewear that's expertly crafted and unexpectedly affordable. Glasses designed in house from premium materials starting at just $95, including prescription lenses. Stop by a Warby Parker store near you.